Montgomery Herald
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
www.montgomeryherald.com

Kissell holds kickoff

By Tammy Dunn

East Montgomery High School teacher and Biscoe native Larry Kissell officially kicked off his run for Congress on Monday night with a hometown gathering at his campaign headquarters in Biscoe. The crowd of well-wishers came from all walks of life and all backgrounds, emphasizing Kissell's wide appeal.

Serving up barbecue, slaw and chips, Kissell made his way around the room, speaking and exchanging hugs with just about everyone in the room. Well-wishers at the event included people from all across the Eighth District.

Earlier Kissell spent the day doing what he knows best — talking to people about everyday issues that affect them. Beginning in communities near the Charlotte area, Kissell eventually moved on to Charlotte Douglas Airport where he met with Congressman Steny Hoyer. There the two toured the USO facility set up at the airport for servicemen and their families. Kissell had asked Hoyer to join him on the tour. Hoyer said, "Larry's priorities were shown to me by telling me to come to the USO. That shows his concern for our troops and his priority on putting people first. I told Larry I was coming to North Carolina and would be happy to do anything I could for his campaign. I was pleased and surprised when he said he wanted me to tour and visit with the troops."

During the evening events Army wife Rhonda Quador talked to the crowd gathered at headquarters about how she felt the Republican Party had abandoned the servicemen and their families and the urgency of breaking the stalemate in Congress with the election of Kissell. Quador's emotionally filled thoughts continued after the official talk was over, as she explained the predicament that many military servicemen and their families find themselves in.

Also speaking that evening was Dannie Montgomery, an educator from Anson County who spoke with conviction about Kissell and the message that he brings to the campaign. Montgomery warned Republicans that they should be afraid saying, "The American people have found the heart, the soul and the stamina to take back their country. We have found men like Larry Kissell and it is a new day, a day filled with hope, where men and women in government are people that you can be proud of."

Ending the evening's remarks was Kissell, who talked about how he first decided to run for Congress. "I felt I had no choice. I believed this nation could do so much more. Better or worse, I stood up and what has humbled me so much is that people stood up with me. Tonight is the affirmation of what I said one year ago. We would not leave the people." Kissell went on to talk about the need for common sense in Washington and how his campaign is about the people, not him.

"The changing of America starts here tonight in Biscoe, N.C.," concluded Kissell.