Allen B. West for Congress-08

As many of you know this site will be focusing on minority candidates running under the GOP banner this up and coming election season. This weeks candidate is LTC Allen West an American patriot who has lived his life in service to America.

In 2004, when it was time to retire from more than twenty years of service in the US Army, Col. West brought his wife and two young daughters to Broward County, Florida, where he taught high school for a year. Col. West then returned to Afghanistan as an advisor to the Afghan army, an assignment that he finishes in November 2007.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Col. West received BS (UT) and MS degrees in political science (KSU). He also holds a Master of Military Arts and Sciences from the US Army Command and General Staff Officer College in political theory and military history and operations. "Education is the great equalizer," he says. "With a good education, any child in America can live his dream."

Col. West knows that for our children to live their dreams, they need to be safe. He has faced down the world's terrorists: in Operation Desert Storm, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was battalion commander for the Army's 4th Infantry Division, and in Afghanistan, where he trains Afghan officers to take on the responsibility of securing their own country.

In his Army career, Col. West has been honored many times, including a Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals (one with Valor), and a Valorous Unit Award. He received his valor award as a Captain in Desert Shield/Storm, was the US Army ROTC instructor of the year in 1993, and was a Distinguished Honor Graduate III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas Air Assault School.

Excellence is a West family tradition. His lovely wife, Angela, holds an MBA and PhD. and works as a financial planner. His daughter, Aubrey, 13, was just accepted into Cambridge academic program at Ft Lauderdale HS and his daughter, Austen, 10, is a budding young pianist.

Facts about the race..hatip Atlas Blog

Retired Army Col. Allen West is campaigning in Florida's 22nd U.S. Congressional District, hoping to unseat freshman Democratic Rep. Ron Klein, who toppled 26-year Republican incumbent Clay Shaw in a contentious battle in 2006.

The well-funded and very politically active Klein is not about to give up his seat easily, but West is banking on his notoriety as much as his military experience to make his case.West, 46, cuts an intriguing figure. He is a war hero to his supporters, but his opponents see him as a symbol of a war gone wrong.

West commanded the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery, Fourth Infantry Division in Iraq, then spent two years as a private contractor helping to train the Afghan army.
He's not only up on military and national security issues, but he has worked briefly as a teacher in the Palm Beach/Broward County area public schools.

"Allen is one of the most compelling figures I've ever worked with," said Donna Brosemer, an unpaid campaign strategist and spokeswoman for West. "He's a non-traditional candidate at a time when the public is sick of traditional candidates."

According to Wikipedia ..Klein ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 22nd congressional district against 13-term Republican incumbent Clay Shaw. Alhough Shaw won re-election easily in the 2004 election (his opponent dropped out before the election), John Kerry carried the district by a margin on 50-48 percent over George W. Bush in 2004.

On Election Day 2006, Klein defeated Shaw by a margin of 51%-48% and assumed office when the 110th Congress convened on January 4, 2007. Klein was aided by voter discontent over the war in Iraq and the scandal involving Republican Congressman Mark Foley in the neighboring district.

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http://www.allenwestforcongress.com/