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Congressional Candidate Randy Niemeyer Condemns Iran-Backed Militia Attack on U.S. Troops

January 28, 2024

For Immediate Release
January 28, 2024
Contact: Kyle Walsh
[email protected]

Cedar Lake– Following the news that an Iran-backed militia killed three U.S. troops and injured twenty-five in a drone strike in Jordan, Randy Niemeyer, Republican Candidate in Indiana’s First District issued the following statement:

“The loss of American lives in this cowardly attack is a stark reminder of the ongoing threats posed by Iran-backed militias in the region. I want to express my deepest sympathies with the families of the fallen and injured soldiers and acknowledge the immense sacrifice made by those who serve in defense of our nation.

“Our brave men and women in uniform deserve unwavering support, and we must not tolerate attacks on their lives or compromise of their safety. When this administration lifted effective sanctions on Iran, it helped create the unrest that we see today, leading to the death of American soldiers, and putting American lives at risk. I call upon our leaders to take swift and decisive action to ensure the safety of our troops deployed in the region.”

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Randy Niemeyer, is a member of the Lake County Council, elected in 2022, after having served as President of the Cedar Lake Town Council. Under Randy’s watch, Cedar Lake was able to turn itself around financially, while expanding its police force, conducting major upgrades to roads, utilities, sewers, and parks, while establishing a municipal fire department. He is a lifelong resident of Northwest Indiana, and has lived in Cedar Lake most of his life, having raised two children there with his wife of twenty-one years. He is the fourth generation of his family in trucking, as the owner of Niemeyer Milk Transfer, where he started working at 18 years old, right after graduating from Hanover Central High School.

Copyright (C) 2024 Niemeyer for Congress. All rights reserved.

Congressional Candidate Randy Niemeyer Condemns Democrats’ Lavish Spending on China-Centric Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

January 26, 2024

For Immediate Release
January 26, 2024
Contact: Kyle Walsh
[email protected]

Cedar Lake– Earlier this month, Rep. Frank Mrvan (IN-01) voted against putting Americans first in electric vehicle charging station purchases, and today President Biden vetoed the bill. Randy Niemeyer, Republican Candidate in Indiana’s First District issued the following statement:

“Yet again politicians in Washington are placing China’s interest above our own. Joe Biden and Frank Mrvan want to spend $5 billion of taxpayer money to build electric vehicle charging stations and are willing to give your dollars to China to do it. If we are going to invest in EV charging stations, we need an approach that protects American jobs and safeguards taxpayer money from benefitting foreign competitors.”

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Randy Niemeyer, is a member of the Lake County Council, elected in 2022, after having served as President of the Cedar Lake Town Council. Under Randy’s watch, Cedar Lake was able to turn itself around financially, while expanding its police force, conducting major upgrades to roads, utilities, sewers, and parks, while establishing a municipal fire department. He is a lifelong resident of Northwest Indiana, and has lived in Cedar Lake most of his life, having raised two children there with his wife of twenty-one years. He is the fourth generation of his family in trucking, as the owner of Niemeyer Milk Transfer, where he started working at 18 years old, right after graduating from Hanover Central High School.

Copyright (C) 2024 Niemeyer for Congress. All rights reserved.

Congressional Candidate Randy Niemeyer Urges Action to Address Border Crisis

January 25, 2024

For Immediate Release
January 25, 2024
Contact: Kyle Walsh
[email protected]

Cedar Lake– Today, Lake County Councilman and candidate for Congress Randy Niemeyer issued a statement expressing concern over the Biden Administration’s failure to address the border crisis:

“We have a crisis on our southern border that demands a comprehensive and decisive response. We need immigration reform that addresses the complexity of the situation, but first and foremost, we need to secure our border. I applaud Governor Abbott’s efforts in Texas for trying to enforce our immigration laws and uphold our sovereignty. Yet, Democrats in Washington like Joe Biden and Frank Mrvan are promoting lawlessness and are putting lives at risk. 

“Biden has removed border barriers that would have acted as immigration funnels designed to deter illegal immigration and route asylum seekers to legal points of entry. Instead, Biden has created a situation that encourages migrants to cross into more dangerous areas, putting the lives of migrants and our citizens at risk.

“If elected, I am committed to working across party lines to develop effective, humane, and sensible solutions to the border crisis. We must secure our borders, enforce immigration laws, and simultaneously explore avenues to address the underlying issues causing the record influx of migration. By doing so, we can uphold the integrity of our immigration system, reward those who choose to enter our country legally, and protect our security and sovereignty, all while honoring the values that define our great nation.”

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Randy Niemeyer, is a member of the Lake County Council, elected in 2022, after having served as President of the Cedar Lake Town Council. Under Randy’s watch, Cedar Lake was able to turn itself around financially, while expanding its police force, conducting major upgrades to roads, utilities, sewers, and parks, while establishing a municipal fire department. He is a lifelong resident of Northwest Indiana, and has lived in Cedar Lake most of his life, having raised two children there with his wife of twenty-one years. He is the fourth generation of his family in trucking, as the owner of Niemeyer Milk Transfer, where he started working at 18 years old, right after graduating from Hanover Central High School.

Copyright (C) 2024 Niemeyer for Congress. All rights reserved.

Randy Niemeyer Stands in Solidarity with United Steelworkers Union on U.S. Steel and Nippon Deal

December 19, 2023

Nippon’s acquisition of U.S. Steel raises concerns, results in suggestion to reclaim part of lakefront | NWI Times

“I am deeply concerned by the news that U.S. Steel would be acquired by Nippon Steel, a foreign steel competitor. It is troubling to learn that this historic company will no longer be American-owned and operated. U.S. steelmakers have struggled to compete against subsidized metals made by foreign competitors as it is, and this acquisition further consolidates the industry and puts the livelihoods of hardworking families in question,” said Lake County Councilman Randy Niemeyer, who is running as a Republican candidate for the 1st Congressional District. “Gary Works is U.S. Steel’s largest manufacturing plant and is the largest employer in Gary. Gary Works is a driving force in our community’s economy and America’s domestic steel production. We have all seen, first hand, the impact that major employers leaving the Region has caused in our communities. We need economic growth, that protects good-paying jobs for hardworking people. I fear that this acquisition by Nippon Steel will put the livelihoods of Gary Works’ hardworking employees at risk.” Niemeyer said the union should have been looped in on the decision to sell.

“I stand in solidarity with the United Steelworkers union whose members were unjustifiably excluded from this process. The voices of every hardworking man and woman deserve to be heard and considered in any decisions that impact their livelihoods,” Niemeyer said.

Republican Challenger Randy Niemeyer Expresses Heartbreak Over Washington D.C. Weekend Homicides, Urges Accountability for Rep. Frank Mrvan’s Soft Stance on Crime

November 28, 2023

For Immediate Release
November 28, 2023
Contact: Jimmy Spinella
[email protected]

Cedar Lake, IN – In the wake of a heart-wrenching weekend in Washington D.C., where 250 lives were lost to senseless violence, Republican challenger Randy Niemeyer issued the following statement:

“My heart breaks for the victims and their families in our nation’s capitol currently facing unimaginable pain. We cannot turn a blind eye to the rising tide of violence, and we must hold those responsible for these heinous acts accountable.”

Drawing attention to Frank Mrvan’s voting record on crime legislation, Niemeyer declared, “It is with great concern that I highlight Mr. Mrvan’s role in voting to reduce penalties for violent crimes in Washington D.C. We owe it to the victims and their families to demand accountability and stand up for justice.”

Niemeyer continued, “At a time when our communities need strong leadership to address the root causes of crime and ensure the safety of its people, we cannot afford politicians who treat violent criminals with kid gloves. Frank Mrvan’s voting record on crime legislation raises serious questions about his commitment to our safety and security.”

Randy Niemeyer stands with law enforcement and calls for a robust discussion on effective crime prevention strategies, and pledges to prioritize the safety of every Hoosier. Niemeyer pledges to champion the cause of justice and work tirelessly to ensure that families never again have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to senseless violence.

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Randy Niemeyer, is a member of the Lake County Council, elected in 2022, after having served as President of the Cedar Lake Town Council. Under Randy’s watch, Cedar Lake was able to turn itself around financially, while expanding its police force, conducting major upgrades to roads, utilities, sewers, and parks, while establishing a municipal fire department. He is a lifelong resident of Northwest Indiana, and has lived in Cedar Lake most of his life, having raised two children there with his wife of twenty-one years. He is the fourth generation of his family in trucking, as the owner of Niemeyer Milk Transfer, where he started working at 18 years old, right after graduating from Hanover Central High School.

Copyright (C) 2023 Niemeyer for Congress. All rights reserved.

Randy Niemeyer Calls On Congressman Mrvan To Return Funding From Anti-Israel Groups

November 3, 2023

For Immediate Release
11/03/23
Contact: Jimmy Spinella
[email protected]

Cedar Lake, IN – Today, Lake County Councilman and candidate for Congress, Randy Niemeyer, expressed disappointment with Congressman Frank Mrvan’s failure to reject the support he has received from PACs aligned with Anti-Israel members of Congress.

Niemeyer said, “Congressman Mrvan needs to use better judgement when accepting donations from PACs who are clearly aligned with anti-Israel members of Congress.  He should immediately return the campaign cash he received from the Build our Movement PAC closely connected to members of Congress who refuse to stand with Israel, or worse, defend the actions of the Hamas terrorists.”

According to FEC Reports, Congressman Mrvan accepted $5,000 from the Build our Movement PAC in the run up to the 2022 election. Build our Movement PAC is aligned with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) who refused to support a recent Congressional resolution which sought to express support for Israel and to condemn Hamas terrorists for the October 7th attack. She also came under fire earlier this year for calling Israel a “racist state.”



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Randy Niemeyer, is a member of the Lake County Council, elected in 2022, after having served as President of the Cedar Lake Town Council. Under Randy’s watch, Cedar Lake was able to turn itself around financially, while expanding its police force, conducting major upgrades to roads, utilities, sewers, and parks, while establishing a municipal fire department. He is a lifelong resident of Northwest Indiana, and has lived in Cedar Lake most of his life, having raised two children there with his wife of twenty-one years. He is the fourth generation of his family in trucking, as the owner of Niemeyer Milk Transfer, where he started working at 18 years old, right after graduating from Hanover Central High School.

Copyright (C) 2023 Niemeyer for Congress. All rights reserved.

Niemeyer launches Congressional bid

October 4, 2023

October 04, 2023By Chuck Abraham
[email protected]

Lake County Councilman Randy Niemeyer launched his Congressional bid on Sunday in Lowell. Photo by Chuck Abraham

Randy Niemeyer, Lake County District 7 councilman and former Cedar Lake Town Council president, announced his bid for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Congress in Indiana’s First Congressional District on Sunday at Niemeyer Auction Service and Realty in Lowell.

Niemeyer is the owner of Niemeyer Milk Transfer of Cedar Lake.

One noteworthy endorsement Niemeyer received was from former candidate Jennifer Ruth Green, who ran for the same seat in 2022. Green, an African-American conservative Republican, made a splash nationally when running against Rep. Frank J. Mrvan (D-Highland) last year. In a recorded message, Green described Niemeyer as “so motivated to learn what we need” and is “a man of principle and makes decisions that are best for Hoosiers.”

Niemeyer said his bid for the Congressional seat was “completely unexpected” for him. In July, he and his wife, Madeline, took a trip to Washington D.C. to start exploring what it takes to run for a federal office, and spoke about why he ever decided to seek public office.

The launch party for Randy Niemeyer’s Congressional campaign was Sunday at Niemeyer Auction Service and Realty of Lowell, complete with a potluck style meal.

Niemeyer explained it goes back to when he was a child when he would ride in cars with his grandfather and great-uncle, Ernie Niemeyer, while he campaigned for state senate and county commissioner. And he even acknowledged his family’s long legacy of political service in a humorous fashion.

“Our family reunions are actually run with Roberts Rules of Order,” Niemeyer said. “No kidding. If you come to a Niemeyer family reunion, you’ll think you stepped into a county government meeting.”

And while there have been and are many Niemeyers who have held public office, the Cedar Lake native said it was actually his grandmother, Delphine, who had the biggest impact on him.

Niemeyer said she was the cafeteria director at Jane Ball Elementary School, and if there was a student who didn’t have lunch money, she would open up her purse to make sure the child ate. He said when she passed away, there were hundreds of people who showed up at her visitation.

“She was the greatest public servant I’ve ever known,” Niemeyer said. “That to me was my inspiration as a 16-year-old to say sometime in my life, I have to do something that’s bigger than me. That this isn’t about what I can accomplish, what I can take with me. This is about what I can leave behind, and she gave me that inspiration at 16-years-old.”

Niemeyer said the nation is currently seeing the results of “bad policy.” He was asked if he thought President Joe Biden won the election.

“The answer to that, unfortunately as we look around us, yeah, he is our president,” Niemeyer said. “So with that, I’m inspired to try to make a difference in Washington.”

Niemeyer also said that Washington D.C. is “not dysfunctional because there’s too many of you serving there.” He said too many “career politicians and Washington lawyers that run that city.”

“Right now, there are 28 million government employees in this country,” Niemeyer said, “and 15 million union employees. This thing is upside down, folks. This government has gotten too big and too out of control. When you elect me as your next Congressman, I will bring that common sense to Washington with me.”

Niemeyer called inflation the “largest tax increase” on the middle class in our lifetimes, and he also said that he would like to take a “common sense approach” to energy independence, which would call for a more gradual transition to renewable energy that wouldn’t “put the nation into poverty to do so.”

Niemeyer ended with a quote from former president Theodore Roosevelt.

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better,” Niemeyer said. “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena. Whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood. Who strives valiantly. Who errs. Who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming, but who actually does strive to do the deeds. Who knows great enthusiasm, the great devotions. Who spends himself in a worthy cause. Who at the best, knows at the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place will never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory or defeat.”

Niemeyer aspires to bring ‘common sense’ to Washington D.C.

October 2, 2023

Dan Carden | October 1, 2023

LOWELL — A county official whose family name is synonymous with honorable representation in south Lake County is hoping to expand his constituency to all of Northwest Indiana.

Randy Niemeyer, a member of the Lake County Council for the past 10 months and the former president of the Cedar Lake Town Council, announced Sunday he is seeking the 2024 Republican nomination for Indiana’s 1st District U.S. House seat.

Niemeyer launched his campaign on a brilliantly sunny autumn day standing alongside his wife, Madeline, in front of a silvery milk transfer truck belonging to his family business as more than 100 sign-holding supporters cheered him on.

“The approach I’m going to take to government is the one I’ve taken my whole time in government, and in business — it’s common sense, folks,” Niemeyer said.

“This government has gotten way too big and way too out of control. If you elect me as your next congressman, and when you elect me as your next congressman, I will bring that common sense to Washington with me.”

Unlike some of the hard-liners in the current House Republican caucus, including several Hoosier congressmen, Niemeyer insisted he wants to work across party lines, with Democrats, particularly to rein in inflation and get the nation’s finances in shape.

“The most educated people in the world are serving in the United States government. And yet they’ve driven it nearly to bankruptcy. It’s time for people like me and people like you to have a voice in Washington,” Niemeyer said.

Niemeyer also believes the United States needs a common sense approach to its energy needs by returning to reliable coal, natural gas and oil, instead of prioritizing solar, wind and other renewable energy resources.

“I think all of us want to breathe clean air and drink clean water. But you don’t put a nation into poverty to do so,” Niemeyer said. “The quickest way to becoming energy independent and having a clean economy is through prosperity, and prosperity comes from cheap, efficient fossil fuels.”

Niemeyer additionally pledged to protect the sovereignty of the United States by advancing unspecified reforms to the nation’s immigration system.

“We are a nation of immigrants and I respect immigrants. In the industry I work in, in the dairy industry, many of the people working on these farms are immigrants, and I respect the heck out of them. They’re good, hard-working people,” Niemeyer said.

“There’s a right way to do this. The president of the United States, his administration and his party have decided to ignore the Constitution of the United States — and I say no more to that.”

Niemeyer, who also serves as Lake County Republican Party chairman, almost certainly is the favorite to win the GOP nomination as his track record and his family’s history of electoral success stretches back decades, including numerous victories by his cousin, state Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, and his late uncle, former Lake County Councilman and state Sen. Ernie Niemeyer.

At the same time, Niemeyer readily acknowledged he faces an uphill climb in a likely general election match-up next year against two-term U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland — in part because Democrats have continuously represented the 1st District for more than nine decades.

“We’ve got a big task ahead of us and it’s going to take a massive effort,” Niemeyer said. “(But) I am inspired to try to make a difference in Washington.”

“Washington is not dysfunctional because there’s too many of you serving there. It’s dysfunctional because there’s too many career politicians and Washington lawyers that run that city.”

Niemeyer’s campaign was immediately endorsed by, among others, his predecessor as Lake GOP chairman, state Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland; and Jennifer-Ruth Green, the unsuccessful 2022 Republican nominee for Northwest Indiana’s U.S. House seat.

“Randy is a leader. A leader who loves God, a leader who loves his family, a leader who cares about us. He is so motivated to learn what we need. He also is such a man of principle and makes decisions that are best for Hoosiers,” Green said. “I’m incredibly excited to support his run.”

On the other hand, the Mrvan campaign promptly linked Niemeyer to Republican former President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again,” or MAGA, movement, whose House members nearly caused the federal government to shut down Sunday due to their failure to pass any spending measures during the 10 months prior to the Oct. 1 start of the new federal fiscal year.

“Congressman Mrvan is working every day in a collaborative and bipartisan fashion to continue delivering for the constituents of Indiana’s 1st Congressional District, including restoring women’s freedom to access reproductive health care, supporting organized labor and historic investments in infrastructure that benefit our great local steel industry, reducing seniors’ cost of prescription drugs, and providing veterans with expanded health care access,” Mrvan’s campaign said.

Sam Barloga, Indiana Democratic Party spokesman, said the contrast between Niemeyer and Mrvan could not be more clear.

“Frank has worked tirelessly delivering for Northwest Indiana, and supporting our strong union workforce. While Randy wants to see the government do nothing, Frank is building a record of investing in Hoosier jobs, taking on Big Pharma to lower prescription drug prices, and restoring women’s health care rights in Indiana and across the country. Unlike Randy, Frank has a track record of working across the aisle as vice chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Steel Caucus,” Barloga said.

Councilman Niemeyer announces Congress bid

October 1, 2023

CT_IC_1038677181_1038745876_001-1001_emeyer-announces-st-1001_6.jpg

Niemeyer

BY CARRIE NAPOLEON POST-TRIBUNE

With the House passing a last-minute stop gap measure to avoid a government shutdown, one high-profile local Republican says he wants a chance to be part of the process.

Randy Niemeyer, 37, chairman of Lake County’s Republican Party, announced Sunday he will be running for his party’s nomination in May for the 1st Congressional District, mounting a challenge against two-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland.

Niemeyer, who also serves as the District 7 Lake County councilman, said he was not necessarily seeking a higher office but the opportunity presented itself while he was in talks with state and federal Republican leaders about fielding a candidate for the 1st Congressional District after it became clear Jennifer-Ruth Green was not going to run again.

Green, a political newcomer, mounted a challenge against Mrvan in 2022. She was backed by an influx of millions of dollars in federal party and PAC spending in what was the most expensive race for the seat in its history. About $15 million was spent on the race, according to Federal Election Commission records. The extra spending drew Green closer than past Republican candidates as she came within a 5.6% margin of victory for the seat, which Democrats have held since 1932.

Niemeyer said he supported Green and enjoyed her campaign.

“I am thankful for what she did in last year’s campaign. It’s really showing voters of the 1st District you really can vote for a Republican. We have more in common a lot of times than our representatives let us know,” Niemeyer said.

As a candidate, Niemeyer comes with his own political resume and a family name in politics. Prior to serving on the county council, Niemeyer was elected to three terms on the Cedar Lake Town Council, serving 10 years as its president.

The Niemeyer name has long ties to Indiana and Lake County politics. Former Lake County Councilman and current State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, is a second cousin and the late Lake County Commissioner and State Sen. Ernie Niemeyer was his great uncle. Randy Niemeyer plans to announce his candidacy Sunday at the Niemeyer Auction House in Lowell, which his owned by Rick Niemeyer. The site has served as multiple campaign stops including by former Vice President Mike Pence.

He acknowledged the amount of money spent on Green’s race was large because she was a relative unknown in the region.

“Name recognition is something that is you don’t have it, it takes a lot of money to get it our there and gain it,” Niemeyer said.

He expects the first district to be a race to which both the Democratic and Republican parties pay a lot of attention and spend a lot of money. Republicans want to flip the seat that has been trending in their direction after 90 years of Democratic control. Republicans have discounted the seat for so long, they not ever felt competitive,

Jim Wieser, chairman of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee, declined to comment.

The Mrvan campaign, when reached prior to the midnight deadline to avert a shutdown, provided a statement about Niemeyer’s planned announcement

“It is par for course that a MAGA Republican candidate for Congress would intentionally select a day that highlights the dysfunction of the Republican-controlled House to announce, once again, the MAGA Republican priority is to favor politics over governing. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of Republican primary voters to determine their nominees for the general election in 2024.

“Congressman Mrvan is working every day in a collaborative and bipartisan fashion to continue delivering for the constituents of Indiana’s First Congressional District, including restoring women’s freedom to access reproductive health care, supporting organized labor and historic investments in infrastructure that benefit our great local steel industry, reducing seniors’ cost of prescription drugs, and providing veterans with expanded health care access,” the statement read.

Around 2 p.m. Saturday, the House passed a stopgap funding measure, which includes disaster relief, that is expected to keep the government funded for 45 days, pending approval by the Senate.

Niemeyer said the influx of new people into the 1st District, particularly from Illinois, seem to be voting a little more conservative and putting the seat in play for the GOP.

“Republicans never really had a viable shot,” Niemeyer said. “There is a legitimate opportunity to win this.”

The 1st District is a traditionally blue-collar district where people may have for generations lived their lives in a conservative manner but voted Democratic, he said.

“The younger generation is breaking that tradition and voting for people who may not be from the party of their parents and more closely represent who they are,” he continued.

Niemeyer said he can bring a working-class perspective to the office due to his unique experience.

“I don’t think a lot of folks in Washington have 3 million miles experience behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler like I do,” Niemeyer said.

But first, he has to make it through the May primary. Niemeyer said he is not yet aware of any other Republican who wants to run for the office but would welcome all challengers in May.

“I hope that anyone interested and inspired to serve follows through on that. I would never discourage a person from signing up because I am a better-known name. The process needs a heck of a lot more good people to participate,” Niemeyer said. “It’s about giving the voters a choice.”

Niemeyer says he would fit in with the hard-working conservative folks in his district who “Just want to see their people work, and that includes their federal government.”

He will be looking for opportunities to make some of the changes his party has requested when it comes to spending and budgeting.

He says he is not a fan of the all-or-nothing approach, which has contributed to government shutdowns in recent years. While he can understand some of his Republican colleagues taking a stance on things, Niemeyer says it is also “really darn important to take steps toward reaching our goal instead of taking a huge swing and instead ultimately missing all of them. Take those victories and go for that.”

“I don’t think shutting down the people’s government is the answer. We should be doing the work of the people which includes the ability to communicate and work toward common goals,” Niemeyer said, adding he feels like Speaker Kevin McCarthy is looking to work in that direction and “probably a handful don’t want to work in that direction.”

“At the end of the day this is the people’s government. It can’t be held hostage by either party,” Niemeyer said.

Many government workers, like many Americans in general, live paycheck to paycheck. Furloughs and working without pay is a tough thing to ask, he said.

Niemeyer said when he looks at this own district, the people want him to fight for commonsense government and solutions to problems and to keep their government working, just like they do.

[email protected]