I have had the eye opening experience of my life.
I want to thank all my supporters who risked the rain and bad weather to vote for me. Also, all the poll workers who stood for hours in the drizzle to wave signs. I can never say thank you enough to the volunteer staff who walked precincts and did what was necessary to get the Castellano name out.
I want to thank all the candidates, Eddie Adams, Tony Buntyn and Mike Prendergast for running a clean campaign which is something most candidates do not do.
I want to congratulate the winner, MIKE PRENDERGAST and let him know that I will do what I can to help him beat the incumbent Representative, Kathy Castor.
I have had the eye opening experience of my life. I have seen a Republican change to a Democrat to run in the Primary only to lose and I've seen a Democrat change to a Republican and win. With the present anti-business climate of this administration, I thought a small businessman who had experienced the challenges that businesses face everyday would get the support from those businesses to help get back the entrepreneurial spirit. That did not happen.
Until the 80% of the Republicans who did not bother to come out to the polls wake up and start voting, nothing is going to change.
I can only think that they were too busy trying to trying to save their businesses that they just could not get involved.
We still live in the greatest country in the world. For how much longer is the question. We don't live in "Kansas Anymore, Toto." By that I mean we are in the middle of the transformation our country and the transfer of wealth, only it is not the transfer of wealth form the rich to the poor of the United States; it is the transfer of wealth of the rich and the middle class and the poor of the United States, to the poor countries of the world. How else can you explain the sending of so many jobs overseas to employ foreigners rather than keeping them here to employ our own citizens?
We still buy clothes, furniture, tires, electronics, televisions, cell phones and all the amenities of life. Those things just aren't made in America anymore. We have become a service sector nation and now much of those services are being sent overseas.
Now is the time to wake up our neighbors, relatives, friends and foe to the fact that we have to become more involved in what is going on in Washington and stop sending the same stereotypes.
Thank you once again for all your support and I look forward to meeting you in the future.
Tommy Castellano
Thank You To Everyone For Your Support
This is from one of my volunteers. I think it says it all.
"Well, friends, the rain is back and it's time to stop walking and rest up for poll working tomorrow. No matter the outcome, what a fabulous group of people to work with - this includes the candidate, his family and friends and all the volunteers. And we've come together from being strangers because we all know in our hearts that this country is in real trouble, really scary trouble and we need a man like Tommy Castellano to help us dig our way out.
What heartens me is that I've met so many people who were asleep, as I was, who are waking. Every door we've knocked, every hand we've shook and every conversation we've had with strangers has helped to wake up so many more - they hopefully will pass the message on. That's the real reason I worked this campaign - not because I believe in the candidate, which I do, but because I am sick that we have almost thrown all of this away - the freedom to live, really live and prosper - because we are able, because we are Americans, because we are blessed to live in the greatest nation this world has ever seen."
Thank you for all of your support and thank you for those who have voted and will vote today.
Tommy Castellano
Last day until the election. This has been an experience that has opened my eyes to the reality of political powers.
Last day until the election. This has been an experience that has opened my eyes to the reality of political powers. While the Hillsborough County Republican Committee will not endorse a candidate until after the election, the Republican Clubs still have their favorites and it's the behind the scene activities that give politics a dirty name.
When I first started this endeavor, I was told I'd have to raise a ton of money and was told that money is the only way to win. In my opinion, it's votes that win elections. I already know that Kathy Castor will always out raise me when it comes to money. If I raise a million, she'll raise 2 million because the unions aren't going to let her run out of money. That means I have to out work her and her political machine. But why is it that in politics you have to spend a million dollars to get a job that pays $175,000.00?
I've already proved that point. One of my opponents has outspent me by almost 5 times the amount I have raised but my team has out worked his team. You know why he can outspend me by five times? Because he has OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY! Much of that money has been raised from out of state.
Only one candidate is born and raised in the 11th Congressional District. Only one candidate has served his community for over 36 years. Only one candidate in this race has continued to employ and hire people while running a political campaign. Only one candidate has continued to make a payroll and pay all the taxes that go with it. And only one candidate has won the endorsements of a Liberal newspaper, The St. Pete Times: a Conservative newspaper, The Tampa Tribune and a Tri Lingual Newspaper, La Gaceta.
I have enjoyed meeting sooooooooooooooo many people over the last 8 months. Knocking on doors is a task I will never forget. I've seen people who are surviving this depression. I've seen people who are losing things. Even local government workers are feeling the pinch.
I'll never forget the faith that my volunteer staff has placed in me. While many of my friends and relatives thought I was insane for taking on this tremendous challenge, those volunteers showed up everyday and worked with a passion. I sincerely appreciate all everyone has done and I have made many, many lasting friendships. We have become family.
Your job now is to go out and vote for Thomas C. Castellano! No excuses. VOTE LIKE YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT.
Thomas C. Castellano is a Republican Candidate for the Congress US House of Representatives, District 11. Castellano has been a Tampa small business owner for over 36 years and a Vietnam War veteran.
Spotlight on District 11: The Sad Truth about Hillsborough County
Do you want to know what is going on in Hillsborough County? Just go to the Court House at 800 E. Twiggs Street. Go to the 3rd floor and look into a court room that handles bad debts. You will see people who have lost their jobs, owe money and can't pay their debt.
You will also notice that these people have lost something else.
I watched as some of the people acknowledged the fact that they owe the money and just stared at the ground. I'm sure some of those people were "dead beats"; isn't that what collection people call them? But there was also a look in their eyes of hopelessness. That was something I was unprepared for. That was something I thought I would never see in the United States of America.
AND THE ROOM WAS FULL! AND THERE WERE PEOPLE WAITING IN THE HALL TO BE CALLED IN.
To get another taste of what is really going on in Hillsborough County, you can also go to a home where there 2 senior citizens live: one has a mental disorder, the other is more like a caretaker. They live in a house that they own outright. One senior gets $500.00 a month Social Security. The other with the disorder gets 0 because he can no longer earn money and Red Tape seems to keep getting in the way. In addition, their 45 year old nephew has moved in because he has been unemployed and cannot find work. They get some food stamps. For the past year, they have had no water or electricity because they can't pay the bill. Yesterday, the Sherriff showed up and told them they have 30 days to vacate. They have to get out of the house they own outright because they owe back property taxes. The tax bill is $8,000.00 and the county or city sold it on the auction block for $13,000.00. And where are they supposed to go?
But let's bail out Haiti with $ 2.9 billion. Lets send $76 million to Pakistan to house people who don't even like us.
This all is so wrong.
I don't know. Maybe it's just me. But how do we allow people to lose their homes when they don't pay property taxes because they CANNOT pay them?
It's time to stop taxing personal property. It's time for a tax overhaul of the system. Unemployment in Hillsborough County in my opinion is 20 percent. More people are going to lose their homes before this is over. We need to have someone in Congress representing our District and its people. You see, it is not just Hillsborough County. We need someone who actively pursues well being for this District. I have lived here my whole life and it sickens me to see what people like Castor have done to my community.
It's time to take a stand for the people who are losing their homes. For the people who cannot find employment. For the hard working unemployed Americans who have had to put their pride in their pockets and accept food stamps so their children can eat. For small business owners putting "For Rent" signs on their dreams. It is time to take a stand for YOU, for ME, for our CHILDREN and for future AMERICANS.
Next Tuesday, On August 24, Vote for Thomas C. Castellano. Vote like your future depends on it!
Thomas C. Castellano is a Republican Candidate for the Congress US House of Representatives, District 11. Castellano has been a Tampa small business owner for over 36 years and a Vietnam War veteran.
The Stimulas IS working!!
The Federal Government says, "We are doing what needs to be done. The STIMULUS is working."
Are they kidding????
I guess on one level they are right: Yes, the stimulus is working in Iraq. Yes, the stimulus is working in Afghanistan. Yes, the stimulus is working in Pakistan. Yes, the stimulus is working in Haiti and yes, the stimulus is working in Greece. It is working there because of the hard working American Tax payer.
But the stimulus is NOT WORKING IN LOUISIANA. IT IS NOT WORKING IN FLORIDA, IT IS NOT WORKING IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND IT IS NOT WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
THIS IS WRONG! IT IS TIME TO TAKE A STAND FOR AMERICA!
IT IS TIME TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR OURSELVES, OUR CHILDREN AND THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ALL AMERICANS.
On August 24,th, Vote for Thomas C. Castellano.
Vote like your future depends on it.
Thomas C. Castellano is a Republican Candidate for the Congress US House of Representatives, District 11. Castellano has been a Tampa small business owner for over 36 years and a Vietnam War veteran.