John Plumb (D-Lakewood)
JAMESTOWN – The Democratic candidate for Congress says he’s disappointed with his opponent coming out in support of GOP presidential front runner Donald Trump.
On Tuesday, Jamestown native and congressional candidate John Plumb (D-Lakewood, NY) told WRFA that Congressman Tom Reed’s endorsement of Trump makes it clear to him that the Corning Republican fully supports Trump’s reckless rhetoric that makes our country less safe.
“Donald Trump is a danger to America’s national security,” said. “Everyday that he’s running for president he’s putting our military men and women at risk. The man has no concept of what U.S. national security requires. He’s espousing torture as an interrogation method, even though military and analysts alike say it does not work and it creates more enemies. He is threatening to use military force to target civilians, which is clearly in violation of any law of armed conflict. He would force our military men and women to choose between defending the constitution and following his orders. He is completely unfit to serve as commander in chief.”
While Plumb said Reed’s endorsement of Trump is unsettling, he also said that it’s not surprising. He said that Reed himself has threatened national security by voting to shut down the Department of Homeland Security, rather than extend funding for it, in March 2015.
“Western New York and the Southern Tier deserves a leader who will put region before politics, especially when it comes to protecting our national security – unlike Tom Reed,” Plumb said. “As someone who has defended this country under the water, in the Middle East and at the highest levels of national security, my highest priority is keeping Americans safe. That’s what I’ve done my entire career and what I will continue to do in Congress.”
In response to Plumb’s criticism of his endorsement, Reed told regional reporters on Monday that what Trump brings to the table is a vision to keep America safe and getting people back to work.
Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)
“As I watched the results come in [during the state presidential primaries], there’s millions of Americans joining that effort and I think it’s time to unite, on the Republican side in particular, to ensure we don’t have four more years of continued failed policy that Hillary Clinton would bring to the table.”
Plumb will be the likely challenger to Reed’s bid for a fourth term in office during this November’s general election. Over the past two decades he’s served as a submarine officer in the Navy and later as an official at the Department of Defense. Most recently he’s served as director of defense policy and strategy at the National Security Council and is also a Navy Reserve Commander. He graduated from Randolph High School in 1988.
Reed is a former mayor of Corning who was elected to Congress in 2010 and has represented Chautauqua County since January 2013 when redistricting created the new 23rd congressional district. He does have one person challenging him for the Republican nomination. Gary Perry, of Waverly, NY, announced his intentions to challenge Reed during a Twin Tiers Tea Party meeting earlier this month. The date for the state primary for non-presidential candidates is June 28, 2016.
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