Howard runs for Congress as Democrat and Republican
Running an end around the long-accepted election system, a Crossville businessman is seeking election to Congress in two separate districts, running as both a Democrat and Republican.
The candidate, Harvey Howard, 71, is on the ballot as a Republican in both the 4th District, which includes Warren County and his home Cumberland County. At the same time, he is running in the 6th District, which includes several counties in Middle Tennessee, as a Democrat.
In pulling the political surprise, Howard pointed out it is not required a congressional candidate actually reside in the district in which he or she is seeking office. Instead, Howard said the law requires the person only to have resided in the state for seven years, be a U.S. citizen and at least 25 years old.
By seeking office as both a Democrat and Republican, Howard said it shows how the current system is slanted to ensure the two major parties retain control.
“The Republican and Democratic parties are two hairy arms connected to the same head,” Howard said. “People pay no attention to the Constitution anymore. They put their hand on the Bible and swear to uphold the Constitution when they haven’t read either one.”
Howard said his major goal, besides proving anyone can qualify to run for Congress without money or any other traditional qualifications, is to inform the electorate that government is growing out of control.
“We’ve got to stop the growth sometime,” Howard said. “People can vote themselves into slavery. The Germans proved that, but you can’t vote yourself out of slavery. To get control of spending you must get control of Congress.”
Howard said he, and other candidates like him around the country, have one major objective should they get elected.
“I will not vote on any bill if it is not clearly constitutional,” Howard said. “I will vote no on any bill that increases the size, power or reach of government. The greatest tragedy of our time is the growth of government.”
Howard said while he can run in separate districts at the same time, he could not legally serve as congressman in both districts, and, should he be elected to both, he would have to make a choice as to which one to serve. However, Howard noted he does not feel he stands “a snowball’s chance in hell” of being elected. Instead, Howard said the messages that anyone can be a candidate and that governmental growth is out of control, is the important thing about his campaign.
“I’ve already accomplished what I set out to do,” Howard said. “And I haven’t spent a cent doing it. When you accept money when you run for office, you are beholding to the person who gives that money.”