PLATTSBURGH —
As an army colonel with several tours of duty under his belt, Chris Gibson has developed an intense approach to just about everything he does.
His campaign for the seat in the 20th Congressional District is no different.
"We're going to win," Gibson flatly told the Press-Republican Editorial Board recently.
"We're going to go after Republicans, Democrats and all voters."
'HELP OUR TEAM'
Gibson, 45, is the Republican candidate who hopes to unseat Democrat Scott Murphy this November in the 10-county district, which stretches from the Albany area north to much of Essex County, including Lake Placid.
Gibson retired from the Army in March after a 24-year career that started with an ROTC commission out of Siena College.
A native of Kinderhook in Columbia County, Gibson was the point guard on his high-school basketball team, running the offense.
He says being responsible for his team's success on the hardwood has translated into his Army career and will now carry over into his political life.
"I often still feel that responsibility in my mind of how I can help our team score, and I recognized I felt that in Iraq, and I want to help our team succeed," Gibson said.
MILITARY EXPERTISE
As an officer, Gibson was deployed seven times, including four combat tours of Iraq and separate tours of Kosovo and the southwestern United States for a counter-drug operation.
He was commander of the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team in Haiti during humanitarian-relief effort for the earthquake in February.
Gibson has plenty to say about the country's involvement in overseas affairs.
He believes the country is close to completing its mission in Iraq and that the Iraqi people will be able to fend for themselves once the United States leaves.
"I think we have accomplished our objective there," he said.
"The Iraqi people have chosen an alternative path to al-Qaida."
As for al-Qaida, Gibson believes we should be taking the fight to them.
"Al-Qaida is our sworn enemy, and they want to bring us down all over the globe. The problem is we are playing too much prevent defense," he said.
"We need to go after al-Qaida."
HOMELAND SECURITY
Gibson said he believes the creation of the Homeland Security Department after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, was not necessary.
"We don't need it. We already have enough government."
Gibson said extreme actions, such as preventing people from carrying water bottles on airplanes, are an unfortunate outcome of the creation of Homeland Security.
"We need to set up a joint task force and go on the offensive after al-Qaida. I believe we can win this war without violating our civil liberties."
BUSINESS COSTS
While Gibson, who wrote a book on his experiences in Iraq, can talk at length about national security, he says that is not the only issue of his campaign.
Helping small businesses is critical to the 20th District, he said, and taxes, regulations and health-care costs are all issues that need serious attention.
"Taxes are way too high, and this is not a friendly business environment."
Gibson proposes the federal government work closer with state and local governments to ensure that small businesses are being treated fairly.
"We need close cooperation of all levels of government, with the recognition that small businesses are our friends."
HEALTH CARE
As for the recently approved federal health-care law, Gibson said it was way off base.
He said the 2,700-page bill, which he has read, will wind up costing businesses and taxpayers greatly.
He said he has heard of cases where some small businesses might be willing to drop all health-care coverage for their employees and instead pay the proposed penalty for not providing coverage.
"They've done the math. It would be cheaper for them to do that."
Gibson said more competition among health-care providers would work better.
"Free-market forces will help drive down costs. And if we drive down costs for the 85 percent of people who have health insurance, we will be in a better position to do something for the 15 percent who don't have it."
Fixing health care will go a long way to solving the nation's huge deficit problem, and so would less government spending, Gibson said.
"We pay about $400 billion a year in just interest alone on the debt.
"When you are in a hole, the first thing you need to do is stop digging. Throw down that shovel."
CAMPAIGN FUNDS
With an advantage in registered Republican voters of about 60,000, Gibson said he thinks that he can defeat Murphy even if he lags behind in campaign funds.
"We will raise enough money to be competitive," Gibson said.
"We probably won't be able to match him, but we will compete."
Calls to Murphy's office for a comment on the race went unreturned.
E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com
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