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Eric in His Own Words
I
first came to Corning, New York in the early nineties, but the
journey that brought me here began when my grandparents emigrated
from southern and central Italy during the Great Depression. My
grandfather died at a very young age, and before the phrase, -single
mother- was even invented, my grandmother, now 100 years old and
still very much in charge of family reunions, raised the family on
her own. My mother's family saw two sons enlist and serve in both
the pacific and European Theaters coming home to a new and hopeful
America. My father joined the Navy as a World War II era
non-commissioned officer and spent more than 30 years on active duty
as a Navy pilot. He married his sweetheart, my mother, a nurse, who
raised the family all over the world. We returned from overseas duty
so I could graduate from High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. I
was then privileged to attend, and honored to graduate from the US
Naval Academy at Annapolis Maryland.
 I was commissioned as a Naval Officer and spent a total of 24 years on
active duty serving in every operational area that the Navy sailed
in. Along this un-chartered journey, I fell in love with and married
my wife, Beverly. We raised a family moving all over the world, much
like my experiences growing up. One deployment saw us for many
months off the coast of Beirut in direct support of our Marines
ashore. During another cruise to the Middle East we were on station
during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and throughout the opening of
Desert Storm. My capstone military assignment was Special Assistant
to General Wes Clark, both in Panama and then when he became Supreme
Allied Commander of NATO forces. I served with Wes in Washington DC,
Panama, and in the European Theater of Operations.
My career was cut short when I was diagnosed with terminal
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The good news is the Doctors got the
prognosis wrong and with Faith, family and friends I was able to
find the strength to overcome the odds, and I beat cancer. I stand
before you today healthier than I was six years ago. I spent the
last part of my military career working as a cancer outreach
advocate. I traveled across the country, talking with other cancer
patients who were in the same position I had been. It was meeting
these people, and talking with them and their families that made me
realize, for the first time, how important Healthcare for all
Americans really is.
When my Naval career officially ended I retired and returned to
Corning New York. I went to work in the Photonics division of
Corning Inc. and eventually the automotive environmental division. I
joined Corning the day the stock reached its highest point and I
rode it all the way down until the company was forced to lay off
almost half of its work force. When the tech bubble burst I, and
many thousands of other tech workers got wet. My wife and I made the
decision to stay in Corning. I was offered a position as a
Professional Staff Member to the House Armed Services Committee for
the United States Congress, in Washington, DC. I found a way to
commute to Washington, and keep my family in our home in Corning,
New York.
As a Professional Staff Member I expressed grave concerns to the
Republican Party and wrote several dissenting documents about the
plans to invade Iraq. When I saw what was happening to our returning
Veterans, I again documented my concerns to the Republicans. When my
former Commanding Officer and friend, Wes Clark joined the
Presidential race, I refused to allow partisan politics to come
between myself and my loyalty for my old Boss. I left my position on
the House Armed Services Committee over the plans and strategies
dealing with the Iraq war and its aftermath and have not looked back
since. While I was not on the House Floor when the vote to invade
Iraq took place, I voted with my feet by joining the Wesley Clark
for President Campaign in New Hampshire.
After the campaign, I returned home and watched the outcome of the
2004 elections. I grew even more concerned about the future as I saw
a small group of right-wing partisan politicians, highjack the party
I had left the year before. Vote after vote in both the House and
the Senate results in legislation that continues an unending assault
on the very backbone of our nation - the hard working families of
America that form our Middle Class.
It
is my responsibility to pass on to my children a nation as solid and
as improved as the country I inherited from my parents. When I look
at my kids, Justin and Alexandra, I see the burden of the mistakes
being made today weighing on their futures. The security of our
economic future is not clear and becomes more in question every day.
Jobs are being shipped overseas, access to health care is more
difficult and more expensive. The deficit fueled by tax cuts and
unrelenting government spending has created a true toddler tax of
over $27,000 dollars for every new child born in this nation. We are
failing to secure the future for our children.
This is what brings me here today, and I want to turn that around.
I am working to earn your vote and lead the fight to protect those
who built this region, this state, and this country; the working
families and middle class. I look forward to meeting each of you,
and talking about your concerns, and most importantly, hearing your
thoughts and ideas about how I can help you recapture the true
future of our region.
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