What am I? As you can imagine, one of the questions I am asked most often is, “What are you--Republican, Democrat, or what”? Given the compromises of both parties, I wrestled with this question for a long time before announcing my candidacy. I’m not interested in trying to fit myself into one camp or another. That may make me an outsider, but I think it will make me a better representative, because I believe regular Americans are wrestling with the question of party affiliation.

I'm running as a Republican because I believe that gives me the best chance to represent the fundamental ideals of the people in the 10th Congressional District of Virginia. I don't expect support from the GOP leadership. I have little interest in gaining or regaining power in Congress for the Party--unless the Party is interested as I am in advancing the basic values and principles that have made America a great nation.

Although I’m conservative in my principles and values, I don't fit strictly into that camp, either. I believe in limited government and free markets, but I believe in them because I believe in human dignity and freedom. Prosperity is not a right. It takes time and effort. It is not something the State possesses and hands out to the people. Prosperity comes from the political and economic freedom to put human creativity, resourcefulness, and commitment to work. It's simple but difficult.

Because I care about human dignity and freedom before prosperity, that means I also care a great deal about the downtrodden and those who lack the training and opportunity that others have been graciously given. That may mean I align with certain causes that some may deem “liberal," but if you take a step back from party affiliation and look at where people are struggling and need help, you will see that many popular liberal causes--even our entitlement programs on the fast track to bankruptcy--began with core conservative principles in mind.

We need to get back to first principles. We need leadership to cut through the noise and recognize the major problems today are less about left vs. right than they are about up vs. down. Those up in the echelons of power are going too far. Our federal government needs restraint, prudence, and focus on only the problems it was created to solve--and no more!

More than anything else, though, our elected representatives need to be honest with us. I don't mean they are always lying to us, I just mean they don't come out tell us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about the issues. Don't try to spin the facts, control the message, or always blame the other party. We know the facts are troubling, the message of each party is canned, and for most leaders in Washington, loyalty to party, special interests, and campaign donors comes before commitment to the people.

We all know the culture of Washington is thoroughly compromised. So let's be honest about it. Then we can talk about the hard decisions that need to be made.

Honesty is what I strive to be about at all times in this campaign. So, what am I? If I am simply an open and honest man, I think I will be the kind of leader we desperately need right now. Indeed, I think today's grassroots movement--on the left and the right--is a massive outcry against the lack of honesty in the leadership of both parties today.

What do you think? Please send us an email at opinions [at] jimtrautz [dot] com. We will get back to you, and we will look for ways to include your insights into our campaign. Honestly, we need the best thinking from every corner of society to navigate the challenges ahead.