Why I'm Running
Dear Friends,
I have four very important reasons for caring what happens in Congress. Their names are Madison, Jonas, Ariel, and Benjamin. They're my children.
Elayne and I have taught them to work before they play, to save before they spend. And they do. They're resourceful, thrifty, and self-reliant. But it almost doesn't matter. Because every time Congress bails out another bank, automaker, insurer, or mortgage lender, they pile debt on my children.
If you take the national debt as it now stands, and divide it equally among every man, woman, and child in the country, we each owe $38,000. That number will more than double over the next ten years. That has real-life consequences. When my ten-year-old daughter graduates from college, her share of the national debt will be $80,000.
There's no such thing as unpaid debt. If we won't pay the principal, our kids will pay the interest. Over her working life, my little daughter will have to pay, just in interest on her share of the national debt that we ran up before she was old enough to do anything about it, a whopping $200,000. That's not just expensive; it's wrong.
John Adams said, "There are two ways to enslave a nation. One is by arms. The other is by debt."
I want to keep my children free. I'm running for Congress to restore fiscal discipline. I'd welcome your help.
Yours truly,
David Harmer
About David
David Harmer is an attorney and businessman with a long record of public service. The son of former California State Senator and Lt. Governor John Harmer, David began his lifelong involvement in politics at age four, when he walked precincts for his father, who won an upset victory in the Glendale-based 21st district and went on to become one of Governor Reagan's key allies in the state legislature.
After graduating with honors from law school at Brigham Young University, David went to Washington as counsel to a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, appointed by Senator Orrin Hatch.
Upon his return to California, David served as a Fellow of the College of Public Interest Law at Pacific Legal Foundation, defending First and Fifth Amendment rights in state and federal appellate courts.
David was subsequently recruited to the prominent California law firm O'Melveny & Myers, where he established a successful practice. Since then, David has served as in-house counsel for several major financial companies. He also served as President of Excellence through Choice in Education League (ExCEL), a statewide education advocacy group focused on reforming California schools.
David and his wife Elayne are also busy raising four young children in their East Bay home. In his spare time, David has served as a coach for the San Ramon Soccer Club, merit badge counselor for six scout troops, and treasurer and vice president of the Windemere Ranch Middle School Education Fund.
Elayne Harmer was born and raised in Argentina. She is a Stanford graduate and former legislative counsel to Sen. Slade Gorton (R-WA). She was an associate at the law firm of Fabian & Clendenin, specializing in employment litigation. Elayne is currently a substitute teacher for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and also serves as editor of the Hidden Hills Herald, the school newsletter.
