During a recent interview I was asked, “What do rural voters want?” I thought about that question a bit, because it struck me as a little odd. I mean, those of us who live in rural areas like Maryland’s First District want the same things as people everywhere, right? We want financial security. We want good health care. We want educational and economic opportunities for our families and children. We want safety and security in our homes and our communities.
But as I thought about it, I realized that the question “what do rural voters want” reflects something deeper that’s happening in this country, something not unlike what I observed when I was coordinating economic development programs in underdeveloped areas of the world. The gap between the haves and have nots in the U.S. is growing, and in many respects, it’s a gap between urban and rural. More and more of the wealth and economic opportunity in this country is becoming concentrated in big cities and suburbs, while small towns and rural areas are falling farther and farther behind. This gap is expanding, even though so many of the goods that are necessary to sustain the American economy and way of life are still produced in places like the First District. This makes rural voters feel overlooked and left out.
So what do rural voters want?
We want our share. If you want your share, please make a $10 contribution to my campaign today. [[link removed]]
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I’m running for Congress because I think I can bring our fair share of economic development and growth to the people of the First District just like I did in parts of the world where doubters said it couldn’t be done. I think the First District can become a success story in the new economy, and I have a plan to do it.
Our district is blessed with abundant natural resources. The small farms along the Eastern Shore and North West Counties and the world famous water-based economy of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries form the heart of our district. We need to connect our farmers and watermen with high-end markets around the world, so we can supply them with the top quality, farm-to-table and bay-to-table products they want. That takes improved infrastructure, and I will make sure we get our share of the benefits of the recent bipartisan infrastructure legislation as quickly as possible, including high-speed Internet, improved roads, bridges, power and water. I’m also committed to protecting the Bay and our environment to protect their bounty, continue to attract visitors, and encourage the growth of small breweries, wineries, and agro-tourism.
If agriculture and water are the heart of our district, then small businesses are its backbone. As a small business owner myself, I’ve seen how unnecessary regulations strain business owners across America and our district. Regulation need not be one size fits all, and I will introduce a regulatory approach that recognizes and prioritizes the needs of small businesses.
We can also capitalize on new technologies as an area of opportunity and growth. The First District can become a center for the innovation and development of new climate technologies. We can create incubators to design and test new uses for solar, wind, and other forms of renewable energy. We can become a manufacturing center for new technologies and align our trade schools to train skilled workers for good-paying jobs in these new economies.
Rural voters want respect. We want to be valued for all we contribute to the nation’s economy, for our hard work, for our way of life. We don’t want to be left behind while economies in other areas of the country grow.
I want to help the people of our district unlock our potential and become a leader in the economy of the future. Please join my effort by chipping in any amount to my campaign today. [[link removed]]
Thank you,
Dave Harden
Dave Harden is a Democrat running for Maryland's 1st Congressional District. Dave's running to replace Andy Harris and will help the 1st District unlock its extraordinary potential. Support Dave with a donation today.
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Harden for Congress
P.O. Box 584
Hampstead, MD 21074
United States
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