Holbert wins Democratic Primary
(London, KY) -- Jim Holbert was the winner of the three-way Democratic Primary race for 5th District U.S. Representative, polling 41% of votes cast with 99% of precincts reporting as of 11 p.m. Tuesday evening. Holbert's opponents in the Primary were Clay County attorney Kenneth Stepp and Lawrence County teacher David Prince. Holbert will face incumbent Republican Congressman Hal Rogers in the November general election for 5th District U.S. Representative.In a statement Tuesday evening, Holbert said, "I'm grateful to the voters of the 5th District who have placed their confidence in me, and I thank everyone who supported my campaign through contributions and volunteer work. The people of Kentucky's 5th District and all Americans want to see an end to the politically mismanaged wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and proper care provided for our returning veterans. We need jobs brought back to America, and an energy plan which makes sense for our future as a Nation. These are the things I will work for in Congress. My campaign for Congress is about the things we need to do to rebuild and strengthen America and bring responsible development and more and better jobs to southeast Kentucky. In this coming November's general election, I ask the people of the 5th District to move beyond party and partisanship and support my campaign to bring better representation to Congress for southeast Kentucky and for America."
Jim Holbert, who ran for Congress previously in 2008 as an Independent, is a retired Coast Guard officer who now works as an Emergency Medical Service helicopter pilot throughout southeast Kentucky. Holbert and his wife Cindy live in Laurel County. The Jim Holbert for Congress Campaign may be contacted on the internet at www.holbertforcongress.com, or by telephone at 606-682-9337.
Holbert files for Democratic Primary
(London, KY) -- Jim Holbert, a Laurel County resident who ran for Congress in 2008 against Republican incumbent Hal Rogers, filed January 8th with the Kentucky Secretary of State to be on the 2010 5th District Democratic Congressional Primary Election ballot. The Primary is May 18th.Holbert received 16% of the vote as an Independent against Rogers in the 2008 General Election and announced his repeat 2010 candidacy for the Congressional seat soon afterward, re-registering as a Democrat.
Holbert has called for an immediate end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, action to reverse government policies which have cost American jobs, and a comprehensive national energy plan to end American dependence on foreign oil. "My campaign is about common sense solutions for our regional and national problems, facing the truth about our situation at home and abroad, and providing an alternative to the 'business as usual' politics that have caused the current crisis in America," Holbert said.
Holbert, a former Army and Coast Guard officer, settled in southeast Kentucky in 2005 to work as an Emergency Medical Service helicopter pilot flying sick and injured patients to critical care medical facilities. Holbert was educated and certified as a science teacher before entering military service. He and his wife Cindy have been married 34 years, with three grown children and one grandchild. The Jim Holbert for Congress Campaign website is www.holbertforcongress.com, and the Campaign may be reached by phone at 606-682-9337.
Holbert hosted by Knox County Democrats
(London, KY 1/30/2009)-- The Knox County Democratic Party Executive Committee, chaired by Bill Oxendine, hosted 5th District U.S. House candidate Jim Holbert at the Committee's January meeting in the Knox County Courthouse in Barbourville. Holbert, who ran against Hal Rogers in 2008 as an Independent, is now a registered Democrat and is already busy campaigning and raising funds for the 2010 Democratic Primary.In remarks to the Committee last Thursday evening, Holbert thanked the Knox Country Democrats for their hospitality, and emphasized that Democrats must continue to take a strong stand on the issues that are critical to working Americans and the middle class. "I stand for bringing American troops home from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other overseas areas, and spending that money for the things our Country and our people need instead. The best way to defend America now is not to continue endless wars overseas, but to adopt better energy, industrial and trade policies that serve the interests of our Nation. We must reverse the harmful trade, immigration, and economic policies that have put millions of Americans out of work. We need a national government single-payer health care system, and we need to strengthen Social Security for the long term. These are the things I will work for if the people of southeast Kentucky trust me to represent them in Congress," Holbert said.
Speaking about incumbent Hal Rogers' record, Holbert said, "The people of southeast Kentucky know firsthand that the far-right philosophy Hal Rogers has championed for the last three decades has made a mess of things both for our region and for our Country. After untold millions in entitlements and pork-barrel spending flowing into southeast Kentucky, the 5th District is still one of the poorest areas in the Nation, with a low level of education, low incomes, low public health conditions, low life expectancy, and even lower expectations. Hal Rogers voted for the Wall Street Bailout in 2008 and he was a rubber stamp for all eight years of the Bush administration's disastrous policies. Hal Rogers represents the ideas that have failed, but I stand for common sense solutions for our Country, our people, and our future."
Holbert lives in Laurel County and is a former U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard officer who works as an Emergency Medical Service helicopter pilot throughout southeast Kentucky and serves as a member of the Kentucky Airport Zoning Commission. His campaign may be contacted by telephone at 606-682-9337, or through its website, www.holbertforcongress.com.
Holbert announces run for Congress in 2010
(London, KY 11/18/2008)-- Jim Holbert, who this year challenged Hal Rogers in the Kentucky 5th District U.S. House of Representatives race, has announced he will seek the Democratic Party nomination for the same office in 2010. Holbert ran as an Independent this year and garnered 18% of the vote in a true grassroots campaign without any formal political organization support, which was outspent by Rogers by an almost 200-to-1 margin.
Holbert released the following statement on Tuesday:
"The people of southeast Kentucky know we need better ideas in Congress if we expect to have a better future. After 28 years of Hal Rogers in Congress, the 5th District is still confronted by a failing education system and a lack of job opportunities, and many of our people don't have adequate access to health care. In Congress I will support ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in order to free up funds for the things we need to do here at home. I will work for an energy plan for the future of our region and our Country, one that benefits America instead of OPEC. And I will work to end the disastrous free trade, immigration, and economic policies that have caused our economic crisis and the loss of millions of American jobs. Hal Rogers voted for the Bailout and he was a rubber stamp for the Bush administration's policies. Hal Rogers represents the ideas that have failed. I stand for common sense solutions for our Country, our people, and our future, and that's why I'm seeking the 2010 Democratic nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent the people of Kentucky's 5th District in Congress."
Holbert encouraged everyone to visit his campaign website, www.holbertforcongress.com, to see where he stands on issues and to let him know their concerns about the region's future.
Holbert, who lives in Laurel County, is a former U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard pilot who works as an Emergency Medical Service helicopter pilot throughout southeast Kentucky and currently serves as a member of the Kentucky Airport Zoning Commission.