Campaign Blog

1. I will serve only two terms.

2. I will give my two years’ salary to charity if I am not reelected after my first term.

3. I will fight to end taxpayer funded bonuses.

4. I will fight to end lame duck sessions of the Legislature.

5. I will fight to end partisan districting designed to protect politicians.

6. I will fight to ban gifts from lobbyists to politicians.

7. I will fight to put legislators and staff salaries online.

8. I will fight to give you the right to send your child to the school of your choice.

9. I will fight for more police to secure the safety of our neighborhoods.

10. I will continue to make John Street-style politics a thing of the past.

Yesterday, our campaign had the honor of picking up the endorsement of Senator Arlen Specter.  Joining Senator Specter in endorsing a slate of Congressional candidates and key State House and Senate candidates, were Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and State GOP Chairman Rob Gleason.

Many of you have asked about the person against whom I am running, Representative Babette Josephs. I would explain just how bad her leadership is and just how anti-reform she is myself except it looks like someone has already beaten me to the punch. Thanks Nathan. http://www.CommonwealthFoundation.org/commentary/cerberus-general-assembly

I had the real honor of going to battle with some political heavyweights last week at a North Philadelphia High School. You can read about it here and more about it here.

For those of you that know me, not being intimidated by the big boys is nothing new. In fact, its one of the reasons I am running for office and feel that I would make a great agent for “change.” Real change requires the guts to stand up to entrenched leaders from both parties. When you are considering the “change” candidate, think about about who can “walk the walk” as well as “talk the talk.”

I am pleased to announce the Grand Re-Opening of the Market Place of Ideas – a.k.a the Loyal Opposition.  The Loyal Opposition – of which I am member - is a 25 member group concerned with the weakening of the Republican Party in Philadelphia and with it the competition of ideas, which are vital to a properly functioning democracy and good government.

We believe that true reform and change cannot occur unless the issues are properly debated.  In the current one party system, this is not possible.  Moreover, in the current one party system, bad government is allowed to fester unchecked.

In November 1940, during the height of FDR’s New Deal, Wendell Wilkie delivered a powerful speech entitled “Loyal Opposition’s Constructive Criticism,” which explains the importance of competing ideas.  The full text of the speech can be found at http://www.usa-patriotism.com/speeches/willkie1.htm

This election when you consider a candidate and when you hear the words “reform” and “change” remember the words of Mr. Wilkie “[i]t is your constitutional duty to debate the policies of this or any other Administration and to express yourselves freely and openly to those who represent you in your state and national government.”

In 1980, nine members of the terrorist organization, Move, were convicted of the 1978 assassination of Philadelphia Police Officer, James Ramp. Now, eight of the nine members are eligible for parole. They are: Debbie Sims Africa #006307, Janet Holloway Africa #006308, Janine Phillips Africa #006309, Michael Davis Africa #AM-4973, Charles Sims Africa #AM-4975, William Phillips Africa #AM-4984, Delbert Orr Africa #AM-4985, and Edward Goodman Africa #AM-4974. Cop killer sympathizers and Mumia heads are on the internet aggressively urging for the murders’ parole.

Philadelphia is already in a crime emergency. We don’t need more thugs and criminals on the street. Please join me in writting letters to the Parole Board urging it to deny parole for these killers. The Parole Board’s address is: Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, 1101 South Front Street, Suite #5100, Harrisburg, PA 17104-2517. Also, please sign this online petition against parole www.gopetition.com/petitions/no-to-parole-for-the-move-9.html.

We need to send a message to the Parole Board that cop killers do not deserve a second chance.

The time to kickoff the campaign is finally here. Without your support and energy, my campaign to renew Philadelphia will not happen. Please take a few seconds to sign up for my newsletter to stay current with my campaign to bring positive change to the City. If you would like to be more active in revitializing Philadelphia, please give your name, address, and phone number.

Thank you for visiting my site. I look forward to seeing you all on the campaign trail. If you would like to speak with me please email me at zimolong2008@gmail.com. We are going to make Philadelphia better. Together we can do it.