Michael Tabacchi

Michael Tabacchi was born in Carbondale, Illinois. Tabacchi's career experience includes working as a coach, cost analyst, budget analyst, and cook. He earned an associate degree from Kaskaskia College in 1979 and a bachelor's degree from the Southern Illinois University, Carbondale in 1982.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I graduated from Nashville Community High School in 1977,and played on its golf team four years. I graduated from SIU-Carbondale's College of Business and Administraton 1982.

In my mid-20s, I was an active member in Toastmasters International.

I was employed as a civilian Budget Analyst for seven years with the U.S. Department of Army.

I have lived in Bad Kreuznach and Stuttgart, Germany. I now live in Nashville.

My dad, Ray Tabacchi was inducted into the SIU-Carbondale Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. My mom, Jean Heern Nichols, is from Makanda. I have two sisters and two brothers-in-law

I have a visual disability. It was diagnosed as retinal dystrophy in 2022. However, this condition has not prevented me from living a full life nor being a contributon to my country. I had the highest honor and good fortune of serving my country with the U.S. Army Europe & 7th Army during the final days of the Cold War.

I have political experience at the local level. I was elected Board Member for the Middletown Area Town Hall - MATH - serving South Lake County, California. MATH was extensively focused on safety, public health and land use issues.

I also completed the educational requirements and graduated from the Academy for Coaching Excellence in Sacrament, California.

A run for Congress has been a goal for 45 years. I believe God is supporting me as I take on the biggest challenge of my life.

I will defeat Congressman Mike Bost in the Primary Election.

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?

These are my visions for my campaign, the vital role to be played by the 12th Congressional District, and the impact on society.

1. I will be PROACTIVE. I will convene a series of public town hall meetings, and together, wel will conduct a comprehensive examination of:

MENTAL HEALT CARE IN RURAL AMERICA

2. We will demonstrate COMPASSIONATE leadership. Over the next few months, the 12th Congressional District will become a beacon of principles. EMPATHY, TRUTHFULNESS and SEEKING FIRST TO UNDERSTAND will underpin our efforts to discipline and refine the disasterous tone of our national political discours.

3. Over the next few months, together, we will begin to take steps to dismantle the unfounded STIGMAS of mental health conditions.To the voters of the 12t Congressional District, I PROMISE you the following:

1. This campaign will be punctuated by positive and productive conversations.

2. This congressional district will play a powerful role by reframing and reshaping how we view each other as fellow Americans and our role in this troubled world.

3. Together, we will demand that our lawmakers take action to transition our mental health care delivery systems into ones whereby those with mental health conditons are EDUCATED, EMPOWERED and ENCOURAGED to thrive in society.NTBD

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Ensuring HONESTY and INTEGRITY in governance

National Security

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

Abraham Lincoln: he united our country!

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

HONESTY AND INTEGRITY

Are you ready for more ethical Members of Congress?

Honesty means not only speaking the truth but more broadly acting in ways that are genuine and sincere. Honesty also involves taking responsibility for actions. Honest people are typically viewed as trustworthy, which contributes to healthy, positive relationships.

The Committee on Ethics should be truth-seekers. They should prefer to tell their truth, look for the truth, and have others tell them the truth. Members of Congress make mistakes, and they should be held accountable for their mistakes and shortcomings.

Honesty is a strength of courage. Not only should the Committee on Ethics be truthful in their communication with others but their general way of being consists of actions that are genuine and without pretense.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

BRILLIANT, COMPASSIONATE, COURAGEOUS, MAGNANIMOUS, OPTIMISTIC, PERSISTENT, PERSPECTIVE, BEING PROACTIVE

What legacy would you like to leave?

The best Speaker of the House ever!

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

Assassinationof JFK - aged 4 or5

What is your favorite book? Why?

Manhunt: The Twelve Day Search for Lincoln's Killer

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Harvest Moon

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

Last month I submitted a Letter to the Editor which revealed some of the mental health challenges that President Lincoln overcame. This month I will describe, in some detail, my very own first episode of depression. Here’s a Google AI overview of Major Depressive Disorder.

“Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and changes in mood and behavior that significantly impact daily life. It's more than just feeling down; it's a serious illness that can affect how one thinks, sleeps, eats, and handles their daily activities.”

My first episode of MDD occurred while I was an undergraduate at SIU-Carbondale. It was my second year there (1980-81). However, in the day, the term MDD was not used. Instead, this mental health condition was more commonly referred to as a “nervous breakdown.”

During my late teenage years and early twenties, I believed I wanted to be a huge success story in business: fabulous wealth. My recollection is that Ted Turner was the dominant entrepreneur at the time, and he had just established CNN.

My first year at SIU-C (1979-80) was uneventful. However, trouble was brewing. Imagine going from my somewhat sheltered existence in Nashville, Illinois to a large university with students from Boston, Chicago, New York, Iran and Japan.

I had always been highly introverted, painfully shy, and suffered from social anxiety. How was I ever going to be a huge success in business if I didn’t develop a more extroverted and gregarious personality?! Imagine my incoherence.

So, I decided I would transform myself into a social butterfly during my second year at SIU-C.

It didn’t happen. I lost weight. I couldn’t sleep. I wanted to die. I was depressed, big time! This wouldn’t be my last episode of MDD.

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

Yes!

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

LACK OF BIPARTISANSHIP/TEAMWORK IN CONGRESS

What is Teamwork?

Teamwork means to work well as a member of a group working alongside others - working hard and supporting others to accomplish group or team goals.

What does this mean about me?

My signature strength of teamwork involves feeling a positive sense of duty to the group(s) that I am part of. When I use my teamwork in the work setting, it is likely I reap the benefits of feeling engaged in my work, developing high-quality connections with others, and I can be creatively involved in a group process. Being part of a team helps me feel a sense that I am part of something important - greater than myself. In addition, I can experience the benefits of team resilience and the team optimism that emerges from strong teams.

When my strength of teamwork extends to being a good and loyal citizen, several other benefits emerge, such as having a high level of social trust and a more positive view of human nature.

Benefits of Teamwork

• I elicit a strong level of social trust and have a positive view of those with whom I collaborate. Teamwork is one of the strengths most associated with sustainable behavior, which is behavior that aims to protect the social and physical environment.

• Through my strength of teamwork, I am likely to feel engaged in work, developing high-quality connections with others, and being creatively involved in the group process.

• Teamwork helps create feelings of connectedness and enhances meaning through shared purpose with others.

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

No

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Maximum of 5 terms

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich

What committees interest you?

Armed Services, Committee on Ethics, Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, Ways and Means