Mar 25 2008
“Dean” of Lincoln County GOP Endorses Sigmon Over McHenry
The senior partner of a 96-year-old Lincoln County law firm that produced two Republican members of the U.S. Congress last week endorsed the candidacy of Lance Sigmon in the 10th District congressional race.
Harvey A. Jonas Jr., 88, who practiced law for many years with the late Congressman Charles R. Jonas in Lincolnton, sized up Sigmon with a broad smile: “I like the way you look; yes sir, you look like a Congressman.”
Harvey Jonas’ first cousin, Charles Raper Jonas, represented Lincoln County in the U.S. Congress for 20 years, 1953-1973, and was only the second Republican elected to represent North Carolina. His father, Charles Andrew Jonas, was the first, elected in 1928.
Charles R. Jonas, who died at age 84 in 1988 and lived in Denver after his retirement, became known in North Carolina as “Mr. Republican.” A staunch conservative in Congress on both social and fiscal matters, he was known for slashing the budgets of four U.S. presidents—Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon.
The N.C. General Assembly in 1991 honored “the life and memory” of Charles R. Jonas, who also served in the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps in World War II, with a joint resolution. The City of Lincolnton also has named its public library in his honor.
“I am proud to seek the office of U.S. congressman in the same conservative Republican tradition of Charles R. Jonas,” said Sigmon. “When elected, I will work hard to earn the same reputation of respect and integrity.”
Sigmon is challenging incumbent Patrick McHenry in the May 6 Republican primary.
Apparently, “Dean” Jonas feels it is better to Look Good than to Be Good. His statement: “I like the way you look; yes sir, you look like a Congressman.” makes it very clear. Why not talk about substance rather than appearance. How dare McHenry be short!
I respect Lance’s military career, but don’t see any platform other than he doesn’t think McHenry is doing a good job.
In my own 20 Year military career, I was assigned in both Red and Blue states. The one thing I could depend on was that Dems across the nation was that they seemed to spend most of their time complaining about the performance of Reps, but never had a plan to do better. Reps (for the most part) seemed to avoid that approach. I encourage Lance to do the same and start talking about his substance rather than the flaws of fellow Reps.
Is there a lack of substance because of only 3 years back in the area?