A special election will be held on May 24, 2011 for public office to the U.S. House of Representatives for New York Congressional District 26, since its seat was vacated by Republican Chris Lee on February 9.  Western New York’s District 26 is traditionally a Republican area with a “Cook PVI rating of R+6” and a constituency that is comprised of every day rural Americans who overwhelmingly support center right policy positions.

Uniquely ripe for a conservative candidate to run, former Staff Sgt. David Bellavia has emerged from the grass roots, tea party arena, embodying all of the qualities we like: honesty, courage, and common sense.

In an interview today, David Bellavia says:

“We have an on-the-ground operation that is resonating with the voters.  The people desire new leaders and young conservatives who realize the greatness of America.  We want America to return to its moral principles.  In Western New York, voters understand that true competition in the market creates jobs, and that government has to get out of the way.  I am not a career politician.  I am a combat veteran ready to put the same effort into representing the people, as I represented America in Iraq.  I want to build a better party, a better Congress, and after my tour of duty, I want the person after me, to be better than me.”

This is precisely the kind of representative government the voters have been advocating for since the liberal Democrats took over the White House and Congress in 2008.  The people are tired of the status quo politicians, Republicans and Democrats alike, patting each other on the back, and promoting each other and their own incumbency as its highest priority.

We can be sure that a patriot such as David Bellavia has our best interests at heart, whereas with many political party leaders, we have no choice but to be skeptical of their motives.  This race, in fact, is reminiscent of the debacle that occurred in New York Congressional District 23, where a liberal Democrat won in a Republican-stronghold district thanks to a Republican Party leadership that spurned the conservative candidate and supported the “Rockefeller Republican” instead.

“Recall that this was the race [special election – Nov. 2008] that pitted a liberal Republican vs. a Conservative Republican vs. a liberal Democrat. Third party candidate Conservative Republican Doug Hoffman in normal circumstances would not have a chance in hell against deep pocketed and intrinsically politically connected – the Republican and Democrat Party respectively – but because he was the only true conservative in the race, this unknown and boring accountant came a hairline away from becoming one of just a handful of third party candidates elected to the United States Congress.” (RaquelOkyay.com)

Republican leaders are doing it again in District 26 where they have hand- picked a candidate that does not represent the values of the district, and have brushed aside tea party favorite David Bellavia in favor of the “Rockefeller Republican.”

“One of my goals is to eliminate federal taxes on gas purchases, which would help to reduce rising costs.  We must eliminate it at least temporarily, while gas prices are rising due to unrest and uncertainty in the Middle East. But this cut could be permanent – especially when we know that this excise tax is funding “high speed rail” projects nobody wants – except the big political donors who build these boondoggles.”

“I support drilling for natural gas right here in Western New York which would improve a failing economy that is driving New Yorkers out of state.  A failing economy is not just fiscal irresponsibility, but also a national security issue, because we are handing over interest payments to China, for instance, and China is building bigger and better military aircraft with our tax payer dollars.” (David Bellavia)

Calling out the troops

Last week former U.S. Senate candidate Gary Berntsen sent out an email calling for volunteers to help David, a fellow combat veteran, get the thousands of signatures he needs to get on the ballot in NY26. Gary called it “Fire Mission Bellavia” because he knows what a do-or-die situation the petition process is for the Bellavia candidacy.

Please consider taking time off next weekend when “Fire Mission Bellavia” will attract many tea party and grassroots activists to NY26 to give David the final push for petitions he deserves. As Gary said:

“Please drive to the sound of the guns in Western New York Friday through Sunday, March 18-20! You can sign up at David’s Web site www.BellaviaforNY.com.”

Now is the time to support conservative Republican David Bellavia for Congress

There comes a point in time where principles matter.  It is not enough to say a candidate has the money to win.  It is not enough to say the candidate is pro-life, but be supportive of aborting life in the first trimester.  It is not enough to say a candidate is formidable, when the candidate does not represent our values.

David Bellavia, hands down, unabashedly supports our conservative principles, and that is why David Bellavia can win.  Do what you can, tell your friends, visit his website, and donate your time and money.  Get David Bellavia elected now and call it a win for conservatives.