- Tell us a little about yourself. Who are you? Why are you running for President?
I’m basically living proof that the American Dream can be achieved by those who are inspired to pursue it. My parents were from Mexico, but by a stroke of luck, I was born in the United States, in the beautiful city of San Diego.
During my formative years, I was able to experience the culture of both countries and come to appreciate the differences as well as the similarities. I am bilingual as a result.
I was educated in both countries and ultimately received a bachelor’s degree in Physics and Mathematics. I’m very proud to have graduated Magna Cum Laude, and my love for numbers remains strong. Perhaps that love is what attracted me to business.
I actually started my first business at the age of nine and employed my first co-workers at the age of eleven. I guess it would be an understatement to say I have an entrepreneurial spirit.
I started in the automotive business as a sales associate at the age of 20. Less than two years later, I became a General Manager of a dealership. Two years after that, I purchased my first automobile dealership, and I added 27 more over the next 16 years. About halfway through that time, I became the Chairman of the National Dealer Council for what was then the third largest automobile manufacturer in the world.
Also during that time, in 1982, I created 11 currency exchanges and three banks to help Mexico survive the economic crisis it was suffering as the result of its banks being nationalized by presidential decree. The exchanges facilitated the free-flow of trade between that country and the United States and alleviated some of the pressure the Mexican economy was suffering.
Ultimately, I left the banking sector, sold all but one of my dealerships, and began investing in real estate throughout the United States. That continues to remain my focus in the private sector today.
While the success I have achieved has been rewarding, the real bonus has been in creating thousands of jobs across our country and seeing the impact it has had on people’s lives. I’ve seen the importance of providing opportunities that pay a fair wage and offer vital benefits to the families that receive them. I’ve seen how life-altering it can be to simply give someone a chance.
That is one of the reasons I chose to run for President. Most candidates have fallen into the trap of running for themselves and for their parties. They’ve lost touch with the reality that their role should be to provide for the best interests of the People.
I will admit Donald Trump played a role in my initial decision as well. When he denigrated an entire class of people of whom I was a member and no one took him on for it, I thought someone should provide a voice to that community. As a result, I jumped into the race. Since then, my perspective has broadened greatly.
I’m not a polished politician. I’m just like you. I haven’t spent my life in the fantasy world of Washington, D.C. or in a gold-encrusted penthouse in Manhattan. I’ve spent my life working side-by-side with everyday Americans; the ones who truly make America great.
Now, I am focused on trying to restore integrity to our electoral process. The Democratic and Republican Parties have established a political duopoly that no longer serves the People’s interests. It’s time for reform, and what better way to pursue it than as the Reform Party’s presidential candidate.
- If elected, what do you want to accomplish?
If elected, there are a myriad of things I would like to accomplish. I would like to develop a cogent foreign policy. I would like to frame an intelligent plan to protect our environment and manage our energy resources. I would like to reform our education system to ensure the uniformity of its quality in grades K-12 and to make higher education and trade schools more accessible to everyone who is inspired to pursue them. I would like to rationalize the regulatory environment for businesses to help grow jobs and expand the economy. I would like to build a strong defense while eliminating the waste and unjust enrichment that exists within our current DoD budget. I would like to eliminate the blatantly ineffective and inefficient practices within our federal government and advocate programs that preserve liberty and promote an equal opportunity among all Americans. And perhaps as a starting point, I would like to establish substantive election and campaign finance reform so that individuals, who wanted to serve their country, would have a level playing field without the barriers to entry the major parties have erected that also contribute to the undue influence of money.
The harsh reality is that it will be extremely difficult to get elected given the way of electoral system has been abused. However, I will continue to pursue these goals regardless of the outcome in November.
- You’ve seen the establishment cut you out of the political system, do you care to tell us about that?
I’ve actually posted three blogs about what happened to me at each stage of the primaries. Rather than reiterating them here, I would encourage you to go to “Rocky’s Blog” (at https://www.rocky2016.com/rockys-blog) and read the posts that were made on August 31, 2016, about Party Barriers to Ballot Access, Election Manipulation, and the Realities of Election Fraud. They describe the unfathomable treatment that candidates who do not possess “political privilege” have to endure. After you’ve read those blogs, you’ll probably understand why I am so adamant about pursuing substantive election reform.
- Tell us about your political views, what do you think are the important issues?
I’ve already mentioned what I deem to be important within the context of what I would like to achieve elected. As for my political views, I would like to see us follow the Constitution and the general premises of the Declaration of Independence.
The Constitution frames the federal government as far more narrowly focused than our state governments. All you have to do is read and understand the Tenth Amendment. Instead, we have allowed our federal government to grow well beyond the boundaries that were originally prescribed for it. I would like to see us begin to correct that.
A good starting point would be for the Legislative Branch to restrict itself to the two major facets of Article I, Section 8: “…to provide for the common Defence (sic) and general Welfare of the United States.” If Congress were to use those two categories as they were intended, much of the glut of government would go away.
As for the Declaration, I think the operative phrase is, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” If we were to truly embrace that concept, most of our critical social issues would begin to resolve themselves. Unfortunately, the major parties seem to delight in inequality because it affords them a platform upon which to create constituencies that they can control. I would like to see that change.
If I were to summarize my political views, it would be to say that I am for a “responsible” federal government; one that recognizes its fiduciary duty to be both fiscally and socially responsible.
- What do you think about the Reform Party and its future?
I have always admired the Reform Party. I suppose I can relate to its name and its purpose: to “reform.” Its purpose isn’t to unfairly dominate; it is to restore democracy to our country. That is my focus as well.
We need to return to providing for the best interests of the People rather than the best interests of a party, and I think that is congruent with the Reform Party’s mission. We may not always agree on every issue, but we respect each other’s beliefs. Within the context of the major parties, that is not always the case. You either mimic those parties’ platforms or they will abandon you.
That is why I think the Reform Party potentially has a bright future. People are tired of the games the major parties play including their favoritism among candidates and the way it limits voters’ choice. The Reform Party is in a position to set a new and better standard.
The only reason I said “potentially has a bright future” is because it is up to the Reform Party’s membership. If the membership chooses to sit on the sidelines rather than provide the Party with the economic and volunteer support it needs to expand, the “potential” will never be fulfilled. The Green and Libertarian Parties have failed because they primarily resurrect themselves only during presidential election cycles. The key to the Reform Party’s success will be dependent on how its members stay the course during non-election years and mid-terms. I have high hopes for the Party in that regard because I have faith that its members will do the right thing.
- Is there anything else you would like to add?
I appreciate being given the opportunity to have this discussion. I want to remain in close communication with the Party and its members. Together we can achieve great things.
About the only thing I would like to add is that I consider it to be a great honor to have won the Reform Party’s presidential nomination. You had an amazing slate of candidates, anyone of which would have been an excellent ambassador of the Party. Of this you can be certain: I will do my best to promote the principles of the Reform Party and to represent the Party with the integrity and distinction it deserves.
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