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Fimian kicks off campaign with fiscally conservative message
As businessman Keith Fimian (R) kicked off his second campaign for the 11th Congressional District last Saturday in Haymarket, he checked off an imagine list of conservative positions. Pro-second amendment? Check. Anti-card check, or what he called "forced unionization?" Check. Pro-life? Check. "Secure our borders?" Check. Tough on terror? Check. Yet all those issues to a back seat to the economy, particularly the money going in and out of the federal government. Fimian, who first ran for the 11th Congressional district in 2008, railed against taxes, government spending and "career politicians" after receiving an introduction by Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart (R). "You're money's your money," he told the audience of more than 100 people gathered on the second floor of Giuseppe's Italian Restaurant. "I just don't trust politicians anymore. I think you should have more of your pay, so I took the no-tax pledge." Fimian focused his message on the concept that he's created jobs in the private sector while Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11th) and Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Spingfield) have not, despite any claims to the contrary. "...I know what it takes to create jobs," said the former CEO of US Inspect. "It's what I do. It's what I'm good at. And I've created hundreds of jobs. That's something we don't have in government, it's something we desperately need." Though he never directly named Connolly or Herrity during his speech that also included a question-and-answer session, his references against "career politicians" refers back to them. Connolly worked in the private sector for SAIC even while serving on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors as a supervisor and chairman, and Herrity is still serving his first term in office while holding a full-time job. Herrity ran for and lost a special election to fill the vacancy at chairman created by Connolly's resignation after he defeated Fimian in 2008. Fimian's concept of what the career politicians are though centers on them being "insiders" who are guided by self-preservation. "They're opportunistically ambitious," said Fimian. "All they care about is getting re-elected or moving up in the run, the next run of the political career ladder. And they are dangerous. They are dangerous! Look what is happening!" He called the group of current elected officials "circus clowns" and chastised the "career politicians" for being for "everything you are for" and against "everything you're against. "And of course that's impossible. Yet they want every one of us to think that, and they're willing to dole out all kinds of goodies to make us believe that. It's one thing if they were doling out today's goodies. But we're talking about tomorrow, the next generation, and the one after it," said Fimian. The GOP candidate embraced the "party of no" label, saying that he's running "because I'm worried to death about the future that I'm leaving my kids and their kids. We have got to say no. And frankly, I feel more privilege coming back to the district telling you that, the programs I shot." Fimiam, 53, recited a series of buzz words like "freedoms," "liberties," free enterprise," "free markets" and "innovation" while discussing the causes he champions. He used direct populist appeal repeatedly as he asked for support, declaring, "Americans are what make America great" at one point and saying he would cut $50,000 from his salary as a representative. "Help me. Help us. Look at me as your representative. Help us win. Help me win this seat," Fimian said. When asked what programs he could cut to balance the budget, Fimian responded, "I don't know enough about the details of the programs to be able to answer that question effectively" before pivoting into what he's done to cut costs within his own company. Part of that meant splitting saved moneys with different departments if they choose not to rehire when an employee left. "We have a lot of very capable federal employees," said Fimian, "and I'm sure they'd like to have a little more." After the speech, Fimian elaborated during an interview. "My point there is there are many programs in the federal government that are duplications of other existing programs without going into detail now, even state and local programs. Everyone wants their share of the pie and we've not been forced to look carefully at what each of these programs is and how they can be managed in a way that makes us better stewards of those dollars," said Fimian. When asked to cite what are some duplicative programs directly affecting the 11th district, Fimian replied, "I don't have specifics to offer you right now. I'm just aware that there are many programs with duplications and there's so much spending, there's so many places to start. We've got to look at this as good stewards would. We are spending our grandkids money now. It didn't used to be this way." In contrast to Connolly, who is against term-limits because he said he thinks voters should have to right to keep their elected officials or throw them out, Fimian supports term-limits though he's not sure exactly how many years is enough. "I tend to think it's 12," he said.As for running again, Fimian said, "I don't need this job. I want this job because I'm principled. Because I'm principled, I know that I can make a difference."
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