Ellmore Wants More Out of Congress

By Broadside Assistant News Editor Sonya Hudson

Congressional hopeful Mark Ellmore spoke to a small group of the College Republicans about campaigning techniques, campaign strategies and college students’ involvement in campaigns.

Running against Democratic incumbent Jim Moran, Ellmore, a self-pronounced conservative right- wing candidate seeks election to Virginia’s 8th Congressional District.

Ellmore discussed his grass roots campaigning techniques.

“We’re at Metro stops at 6:30 in the morning and at grocery stores in the evening,” said Ellmore. He talked about the importance of speaking one on one with potential constituents about his values and views.

Ellmore explained his campaign strategy is not to promote negative ads but to let voters know where he stands on the issues.

The pro-life candidate, who opposes gay marriage and is a member of the NRA explained, “We need to stand on principle, stick by Republican views and values.”

Ellmore encouraged Republicans college students to help any Republican candidate in Virginia campaign.

“We’re in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl,” said Ellmore. “You can either pitch the tent and sit in it or get off the bench and get in the game.”

Ellmore encouraged young people to get involved in campaigns and politics. The congressional hopeful discarded bloggers as people afraid of getting in the game. “Talk is cheap, work is harder,” Ellmore said. “You have got to get up and get the ball.” He also urged the College Republicans to get involved in local politics.

“Show me, don’t tell me. Go hard or go home. Do you want to be part of the solution or part of the opposition?”
“You guys are the difference makers,” said Ellmore, speaking of the young Republicans.

“Jim Moran is the reason we have so much corruption in my district,” said Ellmore of his opponent.

He exuded confidence in his half hour with the College Republicans, “We are going to crank the dial on Election Day. I will get more votes than any candidate in history running against Jim Moran,” Ellmore said.

In regards to Ellmore, Joshua St. Louis, the second vice chairman of the College Republicans said, “he proved to us that he has a challenging race ahead.”

Jennifer Zakarian, the College Republicans’ treasurer and a junior double majoring in government and international politics and English, noted that Ellmore emphasized activism, campaigning rather than just talking and a positive campaign strategy and the lack of negative ads.

“He’s doing his best to reach out to everyone,” said senior Matt DeLeon, government and international politics major and the first vice chairman of the College Republicans.
The College Republicans meet every Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Johnson Center, room A. During the campaign, several Republican candidates have come to speak with them.

According to the secretary, Kelsey Huber, the goal is to “bring as many Republican candidates as we can to our meetings to let people make up their own minds on the candidates and not take what they get from the media.”