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Dean Young
| Dean Young | ||
 | ||
| Candidate for | ||
| U.S. House, Alabama, District 1 | ||
| Party | Republican | |
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | University of Southern Mississippi, 1985 | |
| Personal | ||
| Birthday | July 8, 1964 | |
| Profession | Businessman | |
| Religion | Christian | |
| Websites | ||
| Campaign website | ||
Contents |
Biography
Young was raised in rural Mississippi. After dropping out of high school at age 16, he graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi at age 20. He is a businessman whose ventures include real estate, property rental and marketing. He currently owns and operates four companies. He previously served as an Orange Beach Planning and Zoning Commissioner. Young also worked an an aide to former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore. [1]
Issues
Campaign themes
2012
Young's campaign website listed the following issues:[2]
- Jobs & Economy
- Excerpt: "Encourage business growth by cutting taxes and regulations."
- Faith & Family
- Excerpt: "100% Pro-Life, and will fight for the rights of the unborn."
- Taxes & Regulations
- Excerpt: "Provide tax relief for individuals. Your tax burden is too heavy."
- Out of Control Government
- Excerpt: "Fight to repeal ObamaCare."
- Constitution & The Bill of Rights
- Excerpt: "Support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America."
- National Defense & Border Security
- Excerpt: "Protect our Nation by supporting a strong national defense."
Economic issues
Young was a vocal critic of incumbent Jo Bonner's votes for both the TARP financial bail out package and the U.S. debt limit increase. He says, "We've given Jo Bonner 9 years to fix the problem, and the truth is, he has become part of the problem. You don't bail out companies with other people's money." [1] Young was endorsed by conservative website RedState, which called Young, "the only challenger who has spent some money and has gained any traction." RedState also said, “Although Young has no record as an elected official, he has successfully fought against tax increases on a local level and will clearly be more conservative than Bonner." [3] Young advocates for a 25% congressional pay cut until Congress passes a balanced budget. [2]
Ethics
In September 2011, Young sent a letter to the United States House Committee on Ethics requesting that committee chairman Jo Bonner recuse himself from any oversight of his personal financial disclosure statement. Young made the request due to allegations that Bonner improperly received investigative information from the committee’s probes of two lawmakers. The alleged secret communication concerned the investigations of Charles B. Rangel and Maxine Waters. The committee’s former staff director accused two committee attorneys of improperly sharing investigative information with Republicans on the panel, including Bonner. [4][5]
Campaign for Primary Accountability
The Campaign for Primary Accountability, a Houston-based, anti-incumbent super PAC, assisted Young in his effort to unseat Bonner.[6]
Impeachment of President Obama
Young and one of his 2012 opponents Pete Riehm, speaking at a Tea-Party sponsored event in early 2012, said they would support the introduction of an article of impeachment against President Barack Obama. Young indicated he would put President Obama "on notice" prior to attempting impeachment. "First, I would cut off his funding. If that didn’t work, I would introduce a resolution describing what he’s done wrong. The last resort, which I am willing to take, would be to impeach him. We simply cannot allow him to continue to operate the way he has," Young said. Riehm cited violations of the U.S. Constitution and added, "failure to recognize wrong-doing is moral dereliction and, when you have the authority, failure to uphold the law is accessory to the crime." Incumbent Jo Bonner and candidate Peter Gounares said they did not support pursuing impeachment.[7]
Elections
2012
Young ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House, representing Alabama's 1st District. Young was defeated by incumbent Jo Bonner in the March 13, 2012, primary.
| U.S. House, Alabama District 1 Republican Primary, 2012 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Jo Bonner Incumbent |
55.6% | 48,481 |
| Dean Young | 24.3% | 21,216 |
| Pete Riehm | 15.7% | 13,744 |
| Peter Gounares | 4.4% | 3,828 |
| Total Votes | 87,269 | |
2010
In 2010, Dean ran for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama. He dropped out of the race after then-Treasurer Kay Ivey switched from the governor's race to the lieutenant governor's race, saying "I don't see the reason for two people that are fiscal conservatives to have a big battle when the real battle should be against the Democrats this fall." [8]
2002
Young ran for Alabama Secretary of State in 2002. [9]
External links
- Dean Young Official Campaign Website
- Project Vote Smart biography
- Dean Young Campaign Facebook Page
- Twitter feed
- Dean Young 2012 Youtube Channel
Personal
Young has been married to his wife, Jan, for 26 years. The couple has three children.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Press Register "Conservative Orange Beach businessman Dean Young to challenge Jo Bonner in GOP primary" Accessed December 31, 2011
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Campaign website, Issues
- ↑ Al.com "Presidential candidates stump on Gulf Coast; latest endorsements and more (Political Skinny)," March 12, 2012
- ↑ Al.com "Dean Young chides Rep. Jo Bonner over Ethics Committee controversy," September 14, 2011
- ↑ Talking Points Memo "Only In Washington: Ethics Questions Follow Ethics Chairman," September 22, 2011
- ↑ New York Times "Anti-Incumbent Sentiment Fuels Primary Fights in Deep South," March 12, 2012
- ↑ Alabama Press-Register "Alabama candidates vow: 'Impeach Obama' (George Talbot column)" February 1, 2012
- ↑ Al.com "Dean Young of Gulf Shores drops out of lieutenant governor's race," April 2, 2010
- ↑ Al.com "Dean Young, former Roy Moore aide from Orange Beach, runs for lieutenant governor, AP reports," January 26, 2010
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