In a stunning victory, Dr.
"We expected about 18,000 votes, so it was a terrific turnout," commented Dr. Ferguson. "For example, in Wayne county, which neighbors the main district seat of Stark county, I secured the second highest number of Democratic votes, missing the top spot by only 150 and beating out by over 1,000 votes well-known campaigners for governor and supreme court justice. Very little campaign effort has yet gone into that area, which means name recognition and genuine grassroots support carried the day."
Dr. Ferguson is well-known for his work in chiropractic licensing. He is a former chairman of the executive board of the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards, and helped expand the FCLB's service to the profession as the CIN-BAD database was developed. He is also one of five appointees to the U.S. Congress Oversight Committee to advise the Department of Defense on the Chiropractic Military Demonstration Project, a project that will determine if chiropractic care will be a permanent part of the heath care available to military personnel.
Taking on the Opposition
The main challenge in Dr. Ferguson's campaign now is incumbent Ralph Regula, a 13-term Republican who turned 73 this past December. "He is a really nice guy, but at age 73 the fire seems to have gone out of him," said Dr. Ferguson. Recent statistics show that Regula's support may be slipping: for instance, in the most recent primary, Regula drew a record 7,000 opposition votes. He has also drawn fire from the local press, which has termed him "ineffective" in dealing with a contaminated landfill in the Akron area. (For more information an Rep. Regula's political record, visit the Vote Smart website at http://www.vote-smart.org.)
"Every day, we see more positive indicators," commented Dr. Ferguson. "Our meetings with union leaders, firefighters, senior citizens and teachers are overwhelmingly affirming. People are hungry for a representative who listens and who is in touch with their real needs, especially those centering on health care.
"Health care issues cut across every party line, every age group and every community. We must provide both quality health care and choice in providers for our aging parents and our developing children."
Campaign Financing and the November Election
With the primary victory in hand, all attention focuses on campaigning for the November elections. Facing stiff competition isn't the only challenge, of course. As the election campaign gains momentum, funding becomes critical. To help generate funding, a coalition of key chiropractic leaders, Friends for Ferguson, has been formed. The team behind this effort includes co-chairs Dick Vincent, DC (Massachusetts) and Gerard Clum, DC (California); Jim Edwards, DC (Kansas); Kent Greenawalt (Nevada); Arlan Fuhr, DC (Arizona); and treasurer Rick McMichael, DC (Ohio).
Contributions may be made payable to:
Friends for Ferguson
PO Box 224
Middlebranch, OH 44652-0224
The campaign can accept either Visa or MasterCard contributions. Federal law limits contributions to a maximum of $1,000 per person for each of the two campaigns (primary and general election). Donations must be made from individuals, not businesses or clinics. Political action committees (PACs) may contribute up to $5,000 per campaign.
Every contribution, small or great, advances Dr. Ferguson's campaign. This is a critical opportunity for the chiropractic profession to seat the first chiropractor in Congress. If you have any ideas relating to the campaign, or if you would like to help, please contact Dr. Ferguson's campaign headquarters at:
Tel: (330) 493-8030
Fax: (330) 493-7410
E-mail: Pete4U-neo.Lrun.com
Dynamic Chiropractic editorial staff members research, investigate and write articles for the publication on an ongoing basis. To contact the Editorial Department or submit an article of your own for consideration, email
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