(The following story by David Clouston appeared on the Salina Journal website on March 26. L.D. Jones is a former BLE International Vice President & U.S. National Legislative Representative. He is a Union Pacific locomotive engineer and a member of BLET Division 335 in Osawatomie, Kan.)
SALINA, Kan. — When he speaks about Democrats’ chances in the November election, U.S. Senate candidate Lee Jones’ words echo another Democrat — Barack Obama — pledging to shake up the entrenched establishment.
“There really is a movement for change in this country,” said Jones, during a stop Tuesday in Salina. “They’re tired of the same old stuff, with corporate America — no matter if they’re Democrats or Republicans, they seem to be voting the same way once they get there.
“People are angry there are not more things being done, for example, with the energy situation, the war in Iraq,” he said. “One of our former senior politicians in Kansas City says he’s never seen a wave like this in the state of Kansas.”
Jones, 56, Overland Park, is touring the state in support of his campaign for the Democratic nomination for the Senate, hoping to unseat incumbent Republican Pat Roberts, who is running for his third term.
And one of his top issues is the Pentagon’s decision to award a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract to a consortium featuring Europe’s Airbus company and U.S. manufacturer Northrop Grumman, a decision, he says, that will cost Americans jobs.
“How could our government, No. 1, send our jobs overseas, and No. 2, send $30 (billion) or $40 billion of our tax dollars to France, who traditionally has not been our friend?” he said.
What he would do as senator would be to introduce legislation to cut off funding for the project. Roberts has said he will not attempt to interfere with the Department of Defense, Jones said.
“I guarantee you, if I was a United States senator and they did this, boom, I’d introduce (legislation).”
Lost to Brownback
Jones said he has more experience and a better grass-roots organization than he did in 2004 when he lost a bid against incumbent Sen. Sam Brownback, receiving 27 percent of the vote. He said he’s also garnered the support of leading party representatives, including former House Speaker Marvin Barkis.
Jones didn’t win the primary that year, but he picked up the nomination from party leaders when the candidate who had defeated him dropped out.
Jones is a former official with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers who lobbied in Topeka and Washington. In 2002 he returned to work as a locomotive engineer for Union Pacific, as well as operating a family farming business.
He faces possible primary opposition from former U.S. House Rep. Jim Slattery. Slattery has worked as a Washington lobbyist since he was defeated in a run for governor by former Salinan Bill Graves.
“Jim was a pretty decent congressman. … Then, when he lost his governor’s race, he went right to Washington and we haven’t seen him since,” Jones said.
He said Slattery made millions representing corporations, not working Kansans.
Jones said he’s eager to tackle issues of concern to veterans, if he’s elected.
The budget passed by Congress lacked about $1.3 billion that veterans’ organizations wanted for health care.
“Pat Roberts voted against veterans; it’s just another place he’s failed,” Jones said. “He failed us on that, he failed us on Boeing, he’s failed us on education — No Child Left Behind — they have to teach to the test, not teach for learning, and then they don’t fund it. It’s a federal mandate.”