You can view John on "Face the State" talking about why he's running for U.S. Senate here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qEqF318YB4
And you can hear John talk about his background here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_wbOqg0_5U
You can view many other videos of John talking about his positions on different issues by searching for his name on http://www.youtube.com/
In John's own words:
I am a tenured Professor of Engineering at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. I also teach environmental science and public policy. My research is in the field of combustion and air pollution.
I grew up on a farm in northern California, and I learned what hard physical labor is first hand. My life on the farm was interrupted for two years from the ages of 9 to 11 when my parents joined the Peace Corps from 1972-1974. We lived in Zaire, Africa while my father volunteered as an agricultural consultant. Those two years had a profound impact on my personal development, and instilled in me a deep love for the United States, and for all the people of the world.
I was a member of the first generation of my family to graduate from college. I earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from California State University, Chico, graduating summa cum laude, and earned a Master's and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. I began teaching at Trinity College in 1990. I have done volunteer work with Hartford public schools for over eighteen years, and I am well informed about public school and urban issues. I have a passion for teaching, helping people, and improving society and the world. I have lived in the Hartford area since 1990, where I have raised four children.
I am a problem-solver. A good policy maker will define the problems, state clear goals, present honest information about the options that are available and an accurate analysis of the benefits and costs of each option, and articulate clearly why a particular solution should be implemented. This is how a public servant looks out for the interests of all of the people. I will do this.
I believe that government can, and in fact has the responsibility to help people help themselves. I believe that government should stay out of people’s personal lives. I believe that intelligent, efficient, and effective public policy is necessary to preserve our quality of life for our children and our children’s children. I believe that we need to work together to implement solutions to problems, instead of playing partisan games.
One of my heroes is Daniel Patrick Moynihan, former Democratic senator from New York. He stood up and spoke the truth, and embarrassed his fellow senators into acknowledging issues that both sides of the aisle knew existed, but had silent agreements not to talk about them publicly. He was one person who made a difference. We need more Senators like him. I will be one of them.
We are facing huge long-term problems: a real unemployment rate of 18%, dysfunctional banks that are "too big to fail", a regressive tax structure that's stifling economic growth, prisons that are bursting at the seams, urban schools that are struggling, a health care system that still needs major reform, the lack of a coherent national energy policy that will protect our economy and the environment, and a government that has been encroaching on our civil liberties. For decades we have lived with irresponsible public policies from career politicians in Congress who care more about increasing their party’s power and getting re-elected than they care about solving long-term problems. They haven’t been honest with us, and they have been lousy public servants.
I’m different. I do not want to be a career politician. I am not a Democrat or a Republican. I’m a Problem Solver. I want to force members of Congress to be responsible, and implement sustainable solutions to real problems. Please read the positions I present on this website, and spread the word to friends and family.
Please email me at John@Mertens2010.com, and become a supporter on Twitter at @mertens4senate or Facebook: John's FB
