Local ex-Libertarian candidate elected to N.H. House as Republican | Eastern North Carolina Now

    On Nov. 2, 31-year-old Bath native Cameron DeJong enjoyed his first political success, winning a seat in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Though DeJong started his political career as a Libertarian, when he ran in 2000 and 2002 for a seat on the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners, he got elected to the N.H. House as a Republican.

    DeJong left the Libertarian Party in 2003, at the age of 24, following his second Beaufort County loss.

    "That election is what really wiped me out because we invested so much time and money in it, and we found that the people just weren't in it," said DeJong. "When I finished last that was a heart breaker. That was the beginning of the reality factor."

    DeJong had considered himself a Libertarian since his days at Northside High School, when he and liberal-leaning history teacher Gerald Klas would debate politics.

    "Sometimes when you get criticized over something you want to do more of it," said DeJong. "So, I just kind of ran with it."

Past Beaufort County resident and commissioner candidate Cameron DeJong (right) stands next to Manchester, New Hampshire, Mayor Ted Gatsas, who endorsed DeJong during his winning bid for N.H. House Representative.

    DeJong still identifies with libertarian principles of fiscal conservatism and social moderation, but he realized that if he wanted to win, rather than just simply change the outcome of, an election, he needed to affiliate with one of the two main political parties. He credits this 'reality check,' in large part, to the advice and example of Beaufort County Commissioner Stan Deatherage, and conservative activists Velma and Charles Hickman.

    "Those people were very influential in me being a Republican," he said. "They've definitely shaped what I've been able to become."

    The events surrounding the 2004 Beaufort County Board of Commissioners election helped DeJong internalize and take ownership of his new Republican Party affiliation. He said he regretted endorsing that year's Libertarian candidate for commissioner, Joel Turner.

    "I was the person promoting the Libertarian candidate, and I go in and vote for Stan," said DeJong. "I felt great about it. I felt liberated. I was getting really tired of the Libertarian party, especially with the candidate we had. He was not the ideal candidate."

    DeJong moved to New Hampshire in Sept. 2006, when he was offered a promotion by Verizon Wireless. The fact that New Hampshire happened to be a sort-of mecca for Libertarians and conservative Republicans was purely a bonus. Though there are more Republicans than Libertarians in state government, political culture in New Hampshire rests squarely along the libertarian tenets of individual responsibility. For example, New Hampshire does not assess an income tax or sales tax, its representatives make an annual salary of $100, it has the second-lowest level of dependence on federal spending in the U.S., and it avoids seatbelt, helmet, and other similar laws for adults.

    "It's great because there's so many people of like mind that could just as easily be Libertarian that are Republican," said DeJong. "The Libertarian mindset is very well respected in New Hampshire. I think that, collectively, we'll have a very Libertarian viewpoint that will have a big influence on the issues in the next couple of years."

    Still, DeJong said, there is a small faction of liberal Republicans, known as Republicans In Name Only, which reminds him of politics in Beaufort County.

    "The Republicans in New Hampshire that we consider to be true Republicans are very fiscally conservative," said DeJong. "RINOs tend to be more fiscally moderate, kind of like the RINOs on the board of commissioners in Beaufort County."

    New Hampshire Democrats shocked the state four years ago by taking over the Legislature for the first time in more than a century. Over the last two years, these Democrats, along with RINOs, increased state spending by 24 percent, so that, in a state of 1.2 million people, there is now an $800 million budget deficit.

    "A lot of that came because of the federal government stepping in and doing all of these so-called wonderful things that the state has to pay for now," said DeJong.

    This unbridled spending was the catalyst that convinced DeJong to reenter politics, he said. The citizens of New Hampshire were likewise motivated, voting on Nov. 2 to oust many Democrats from office. Republicans reversed the balance of power in this election, by winning 298 of the 400 seats.

    "We totally flipped everything in the state except for the governorship (held by Democrat John Lynch)," said DeJong.

    DeJong received 1365 votes for a second place (out of six) finish in Manchester, Ward 2. He ran an aggressive campaign, knocking on roughly 2000 doors, and speaking to around 1000 households, he said. He spent $4800 this election cycle.

    "The proudest part of that $4800 was that $4300 was contributions. I only had to put $500 of my money into it," he said. "And that's always a good thing, if you can get people to believe in you."

    While in office, one of the projects DeJong wants to help promote is the creation of a House Constitution Committee, which would ensure the Constitutionality of a bill before it is brought before the entire body to be voted on. He said such a committee would aid in House efficiency, and could even reduce the legislators' session times.
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( December 8th, 2010 @ 7:47 pm )
 
It is wonderful to see a young man, like Cameron, set his sights on something (politics) where he believes he can make a contribution to society, and eventually earn his success.
Like those folks in New Hampshire that contributed to your candidacy, I believe in you too. You are the proverbial "local boy done good."
I thank you now, and I pray I can thank-you again later for your service to our America.



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