Politics & Government

Independent Hopes to Unseat Runyan, 'Legalize Freedom'

Robert Witterschein plans to run for the 3rd Congressional District on the platform of a constitutionally based limited federal government

Politics were never on Robert Witterschein’s radar as a career path.

“I never intended to ever get into politics or get into office,” said Witterschein, a former Lacey resident who plans to run for Congress. “It wasn’t ever something I intended to do at all.”

Witterschein, 37, aims to be on the ticket this fall as an Independent for the 3rd Congressional district and is running on the platform of a constitutionally based limited federal government, he said. He would face incumbent Republican Congressman Jon Runyan and Democratic newcomer Shelley Adler.

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Brick will be part of the newly drawn 3rd District in the 2012 elections, having been moved out of the 4th District, represented by Congressman Chris Smith.

Witterschein is running to “legalize freedom.

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“The only thing I promise going into office is to protect your freedom and rights as the constitution says you have,” he said.

After seeing the economy crash in 2008 and the political mudslinging since, Witterschein was motivated to run.

“It got me really upset,” he said. “Everyone talks about doing something about it but no one ever really does anything. If I’m going to do something, I’m going to take it a step further and run for office."

Many of the concerns candidates focus on are taxes, the economy and job creation but the “real issues” aren’t being discussed, he said.

“While many independent and third party candidates run to expand the discussion or to bring up certain issues I am in this race to win,” he says on his campaign website.

From immigration reform and abolishing the IRS to putting an end to all wars overseas and discontinuing foreign aid, Witterschein is aiming to bring it all back to the Constitution, he said.

“People have to understand where our freedoms come from,” he said. “It’s been debated since our country was created 200 years ago. Big government people will tell you the government granted you freedom and because they granted those freedoms, they have the responsibility of protecting them. That’s a scary thing because if government grants freedom, then it also has the right to take it away.

“I want the government out of things that they have no place being,” he said. Many issues should be handled on the state and local level, he said. When the federal government is involved, “you start losing your sense of identity and rights.”

Witterschein will need 50 signatures from registered voters within District 3 to get on the ballot.

A graduate from Shawnee State University in Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Witterschein has been working in the field for seven years.

“Is that really good enough to run for federal office?” he said. “It really doesn’t matter what I do for work or where I went to school. The biggest thing is how I understand the Constitution.”

The 1993 graduate currently lives in Neptune but will be moving to Toms River next month and has been married for four years with their first child on the way.

For more information on Witterschein, visit his website or click here to view his Facebook page.


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