Gary Crispin

Gary Crispin (independent) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Nevada's 3rd Congressional District. He did not appear on the ballot for the general election on November 3, 2020.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Together, my partner and I share the responsibility of preparing 6 children for a world that we can not predict. To me, there is nothing more important than ensuring that my children, and all of the children throughout the community, have a chance to grow up ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow. There's no way of truly knowing what tomorrow will bring, so it is our duty to bring them up in a way that fosters the creativity necessary to meet whatever challenges that may come their way. We've strayed far from who we are, & we struggle from the family level all the way to the top job in the country. We have to be better at seeing each other, and accepting that we all face the same daily struggles. We have to see those without the security of a home as people; they're people who just like us, have made mistakes, physically looked the wrong way, have suffered trauma or have a mental illness, were not taught how to be productive, or any number of reasons they've ended up in a tough place. We have to see those around us who struggle, and find out what they need. When we build a way of life around a set of values meant to empower and enlighten, we can begin to feel more comfortable about where we may be going.

I'm a man who sees the struggle of those around him and does his best to understand how to help. I'm a father who worries about a selfish world consuming his children. And I'm a proud member of a community that struggles to see itself, and how we all connect.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Wealthy politicians do not connect with the average American, nor do they care to. I've spent my life as an activist for what matters (ending endless wars, climate & environmental action, animal abuse, helping those without food or shelter).As a parent, our education system has been eroded to create workers, and not to foster creativity. I've put together a set of policies to get our children ready for the challenges they'll face, and to prop our teachers up to show them how important their role truly is to us as a society.Our way of life has been devastated by war, but the gradual change has been hard to see. I'll introduce a plan to put the power of our military into the hands of the people, and take it from the media and it's corporate interests.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Environment ~ A comprehensive bill must be passed to address climate change. Our food system, from the produce we grow to the live animals we raise for slaughter, is rapidly destroying our fragile ecosystem. My top priorities are to enact legislation meant to revolutionize how we grow, distribute, and consume our food, which chemicals we put into the environment and how we decide on their level of harm (animal testing vs artificial intelligence), and a national recycling program aimed at gathering the necessary resources to build a sustainable infrastructure to replace our crumbling bridges, roads, buildings, and schools. Any proceeds should go towards research and projects aimed at cleaning the oceans.

Equality ~ Every person in America should have the same rights and the same protections afforded to us by the United States Constitution. Many of our communities are suffering, and have for far too long. I will work to give minority communities exclusive representation in the House of Representatives (See https://garycrispinforcongress.com/policies-to-empower-people/ to learn more).

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to all those who have come before me who were willing to stand up for what was right. My heroes are mostly anonymous, as they are the teachers, parents, artists, doctors, and everyone in between who make this all possible, and who have paved the way for us to keep pushing forward.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities of a person elected to the House of Representatives is to have a direct method of communication set up with constituents and an understanding of how to bring about the resources needed by those constituents.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was 11 years old in 1991 when I first saw the effects of famine. The images of starving children covered in flies have never left me. Somalia, who struggles today with devastating famine, was my introduction to my own relationship with food, and it was my introduction to true suffering. As a vegan, I've aligned my values, and what I know of the scientific and natural world, with how I live. I currently grow a portion of the food that my family eats and am always ready to grow more when necessary. Food security should be at the top of the list of any person or country, and we often forget the important things as we get busy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_famines

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The United States House of Representatives, as an institution, has been sold to the highest bidder. Congress has a loose grip on it's intended function to serve the people who cast the votes and that loose grip is the last quality remaining. The ability to gather in an effort to coordinate our needs is vital to moving forward as a people, under the Constitution of the United States.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe that our system has been manipulated to affect any representative who has been there for any significant amount of time; eventually one must choose money over people to stay in office. We need Representatives who possess a passion and creativity to accomplish what needs to be done for the people who put them there. We need people with a real connection to the people, who are willing to keep fighting even when the mic is turned off.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

We must fulfill our moral obligation to pass down to our children, a world free from the wars and pollution that has such a grip on our way of life. When we decide to replace our wealthy representatives with common interested citizens, and we take control of how our system of voting functions, we can begin to rebuild our infrastructure, and our food systems, we can educate our children to learn rather than profit, and we can begin to see our neighbors as people rather than monsters with political ideologies.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Committees I would like to be a part of:

Agriculture, Appropriations (Agriculture, Rural Development, Defense), Ethics

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

I believe that 2 years is a good term length if we overturn Citizens United, and have publically funded campaigns. Our representatives should be representing us, not raising money.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

I am a non partisan candidate.

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