COMMUNITY SERVICE
"At a meeting in early September the staff decided to appoint Bob Carr, a recent graduate of Loma Linda University with a Social Science major and a long-time veteran of ACT and similar community action programs, as coordinator of the "live-in" program. He used his last money to pay off some project bills and began to put in exhausting eighteen hour days counseling, finding jobs for the youth, cooking meals at times, and doing whatever needed to be done to help eighteen assorted runaways, drug users, and hippies find a way out of their problems." -Pacific Union Recorder, September 3, 1970,
Having managed programs from nothing more than just an idea into programs which are still operating today, Bob Carr has first hand knowledge that opportunity plus action equals success. A good example is Bob Carr's co-founding the Benton Harbor Soup Kitchen.
By starting programs from scratch, Bob Carr knows how to manage the energies of business, volunteers, community leaders and community residents into a fiscally responsible program.
Bob Carr is a Community and Business match maker. As Congressman, Bob Carr will invite business from other areas who, wanting to expand, will put their expansions in the towns of the 6th. Congressional District. It is a common sense and win-win endeavor. Our District has beautiful scenery, moderate yet four season climate and workers who are skilled and already have homes. Bob Carr will also invite local business to hire "just one" or "two. And by more and more doing so we will spread the opportunity and have full employment. Bob Carr know it will work because he has done this in other communities. If Bob Carr becomes known as the "Cupid Congressman" he won't mind because that will mean we were successful. And as a 6th. District family; we will be successful!
Cupid Congressman, District Salesman; and reachable Congressman, Bob Carr will be full "Hands ON"! To this end, in addition to having offices in buildings, Bob Carr will out-fit a motor home as a complete office on wheels with all the modern tools available. That mobile office will be in many parts of the District each week so people can come without long travel. AND if it is that someone cannot travel the staff will come right to them! A "Doctor's House Call" of a sort. Our District cannot wait any longer for token action and "Cherry Picked" projects. Doing that, those not chosen lose. But not on Bob Carr's time. Everyone is important to some one and everyone must have their right to what this Congressman and his office will do.
COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT
In 1974 the Mackinac Island Chamber of Commerce called Bob Carr; who was working in Washington D. C. and asked him to come back to Mackinac Island as the Director of the Chamber of Commerce and help spearhead the restoration of the ice damaged Round Island Lighthouse. Bob Carr had visited the Island a year earlier and saw the lighthouse in grave danger of falling into the Great Lakes. Bob Carr came up with fourteen ways to save the lighthouse, gave it to the newspaper, and went back to Washington, D. C. The effort was successful and if you were to rent the movie "Somewhere In Time" with Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour you will see the Lighthouse as it was spectacularly restored. Bob Carr is in the movie as the "peanut vendor", see if you can find him with his straw hat and money apron. Bob Carr has received not one but two National awards for this effort. The efforts of Bob Carr AND others of the community to restore the lighthouse off Mackinac Island's shore provide an example of the c
reative use of a local resource to enhance a community. In every town in our 6th. Congressional District there are many unique resources that one identified and acted upon can make that community more diverse, attraction, and economically improved. Bob Carr has done this all over the country and now wants to do it throughout all 12 counties. Successful, our lives will be fuller but also important, other Districts will be shown how to do the same. By our leading we will lead others, too. This is a good thing!
"Bob Carr strayed from a Pledge of Allegiance by offering the audience a reason to say it. 'A few years back some people said it was impossible to save the lighthouse and others just said 'Who Cares?' he said. But this shows what people can do here working with their government." -Town Crier, July 8, 1978. (at the time Bob Carr was receiving his National award).
ENVIRONMENT
For the last two years co-ed boarding high school, Bob Carr learned about the landfills by operating the business end of a garbage truck. His interest in recycling, conservation, reuse, and treatment got an early start.
During the oil embargo of the early seventies; a time of even and odd license plate days for filling up at a gas station; Bob Carr took on a challenge of being on ombudsman in charge of allocating heating fuel to seniors so they would not run out.
It seems that we have history on the edge of a "repeat". Bob Carr's experience and thus ability to see and know what is going on will prompt "Action before hand".
CREATING JOBS
Bob Carr says that his job as Congressman is to be the 6th. District's salesman. Every since Bob Carr was young, he had to work to pay his way. On farms, driving trucks, picking fruit, working in factories, building structures, pumping gas and more.
As Congressman he WILL open Capitol Hills "doors of knowledge" and bring other District' good ideas back home sharing them with people and plugging them in to community opportunities which are dreamed about and created from scratch or from that other Districts' example. In high school Bob Carr's nickname was 007. Bob Carr as the District's "super snoop:" can save our communities years of time and "boatloads" of money.
Bob Carr really knows how to attract diverse and healthy businesses to our District. It is just a natural as the 6th. District has architectural, physical, and human resources that are so very sufficient and diverse that we can absorb both our next generation of workers and those who have lost their jobs through "no fault of their own" Bob Carr sees his job to be one of asking and inviting; "Bring your business expansion, or add "just one". It is THE approach that works. Bob Carr knows for he has done it again and again!
HEALTH CARE AND THE FAMILY
Whether a child is with foster parents, birth parents or adopted parents, children's needs must come first.
At the age of 9 months, Bob was given to Child and Family Services, and over the next 14 years Bob Carr lived in over 20 foster homes, while the debate between different sets of foster parents, and real parents, and grand parents as to who should have Custody of Bob. Bob Carr has a deep conviction regarding the rights of children, that whatever life is chosen for them by adults, the decision be made on the basis of what is best for the child, not what is best for the Adults ego. Bob Carr as Congressman will use his "life example" and the "Congressional Bully Pulpit" to encourage, educate, and improve the understandings of the "Big People" who are not always skilled as a caregiver. Bob Carr will keep talking about caring and the how tools. It can touch those who need. Bob Carr feels his experience and learned insight must be shared. Especially when young people and childrens happiness and good future are at stake.
SENIORS
There is a very real reason to be involved in Seniors issues, and that is that all of us have people we love who as we become older, have become Seniors. When Bob was a child, foster Mom and Dad Carr took care of better than 50 foster children including Bob. He wanted to make them his parents but the Stated considered them to old. Thus, Bob Carr's young life was one of upheaval. The state was wrong for Mom Carr lived to be almost 100. Bob Carr did take the Carr name and the Carr family is his; though he has a brother and a sister who he hardly knows. "Adopted or not, Mom Carr was my Mom! "Above all, our Seniors need to know their later years are important years, and that they deserve fulfillment not out of charity, but out of gratitude for the life and nurture they have given all of us." My wife Karen's mom lives just across the Ohio River, up on the hill. Mom Rosa Virden Mott is 94 and is loved by many. One more thing: on Main Street in Wellsville kitty-corner to our home is a Senior
Housing Center. Along the river in front of our home are four benches that on any given summer evening , are filled with these Seniors. And they also sit in the swing on our porch. Karen and I have gotten to know these folk, and feel like we are so lucky to be accepted by these wonderful people.
HOUSE CALLS
One of the reasons I am running for Congress is that I learned that a State Representative of the Republican Party and a State Senator were going to run. Neither of these elected officials had bothered to put offices in their Districts were they serve! How in the world are they able to give senior citizens personal service? The can not. Not having a office in the District is unacceptable. It is paramount to being the "Lord in the Castle, looking down on the peasants". Not acceptable! Not only is Bob Carr going to have offices in several locations; Bob Carr is going to outfit a modern Motor Home as a electronic office and Congressional the Staff be all over the District during the week so people can come to "their office". And, if a Senior Citizen or anyone else cannot get out and about we will come to their home. If we are called "House Doctor's" as it were; that is a good thing for members of the House of Representatives must find every way they can to serve our folk."
PRESERVING HISTORY
"We encourage people to preserve History" -Bob Carr, Traverse City Record Eagle, October 10, 1993
Preservation of historic architecture and items of history has been a real challenge for Bob Carr Over the years, he has learned that there are many times; many forces at work. Some forces are not always helpful You will probably learn of the successful efforts Bob Carr has been involved in. You will also learn that sometimes Bob Carr has had to square off with a group, a partner, a elected council or a business driven person. Sometimes it has been just putting the ole foot down. Sometimes it has been long time coming persuasion. Sometimes the opposing force wants to involved a legal angel, all of which Bob Carr has had to be creative. In the end; Bob Carr preserves his history. So, when you read that Bob Carr was in a tussle with a City or a person; know that in the end a good resolution would always be achieved. Bob Carr has taken his hits and those are not always explained well in the media. Not the medias fought. It is Bob Carr's creativity that is something that is great but hard for others to follow. But that is why Bob Carr is successful. O. K. of course almost all projects go smoothly and for that communities gain. Bob Carr says "my feet have been in the fire and out of the fire has come a better and better understanding of how to win the "Campaign". Community Development and Historic Preservation are campaigns. It is Bob Carr's belief that the hundreds of different projects and the challenges therein will make him so much better as your Congressman. For that Bob Carr is grateful.
When in fifth grade, Bob Carr's teacher started him saving pennies for the preservation of the Ship Frigate U. S. S. Constitution also known as "Old Ironsides". Miss Ross, TEACHER, set Bob Carr's career compass at an early age. Bob Carr has been doing Historic Preservation combined within Community Development ever since. The 6th. Congressional District is made up of 12 beautiful Counties that are full of historic events and historic buildings. What an opportunity to develop new economic engines around these useful works of art. When Bob Carr left Washington, D. C. to restore that Lighthouse Bob Carr began to see how preserving history and tourism go hand in hand. People travel to see history preserved. They do; and as they travel they leave dollars all along the way.
For many years Bob Carr has photographed history to help people see the worth of preservation. Out of that grew his company "Camera Signature" which has provided photographs through laminated bookmarks, framed pictures, magazine covers and Museum Shows. His one-person show at the Experimental Aircraft Museum (EAA home of the largest airplane gathering in the world" is said to have been seen by over one million people. Promoting history, promoting our District; Bob Carr will still have the old Pentax 6'by7' in hand.
Bob Carr also has worked in all facits of "Historic Railroading" for the past twenty five years with his "Vintage Train Carr's" company. Preservation of Steam Locomotives and old coaches; operation of Scenic Trains, and moving rail equipment by rail and over roads. Bob Carr is not a rail fan but he does preserve all kinds of historic items and Bob Carr knows the "kids love trains'. This very year Bob Carr made possible the donation and then the transporting by providing his stretch lowboy trailer of a "OHIO Built" Barney& Smith of Dayton, Ohio 1898 Sleeping Coach the "Sault Ste Marie". Complete with gold inlaid Mahogany walls, stain glass windows and claw feet seating, this OHIO Built railcar was and is the "Castle of all Castles" on Wheels. Ohio built! Our District and our State does have so much to 'trumpet" As Congressman, Bob Carr will lead out in such efforts. Oh, he played trumpet in the high school band so let's "TRUMPET" the greatest of our 6th. Congressional District. Great days are a coming, there is light at the end of the tunnel and something new around every bend.
CAMPAIGN STYLE:
Bob Carr and his campaigning started off with a bang when a Newspaper covering the Ohio's 6th District Congressional race regarding Bob Carr ran a story without talking to this Bob Carr who is the candidate. In addition, one of the other candidates wrote a letter about Bob Carr without every talking to or meeting with Bob Carr. All this has generated a lot of front page press. Bob Carr and his campaign believe that "knowledge is power" and so it encourages people to talk to Bob Carr. It is Bob Carr's style to talk to people. Thinking about all of this, Bob Carr remembers the night before his high school graduation in which he told the assembled schoolmates and their parents "I, Bob Carr, being of sound mind and sound body do here by bequeath my garbage truck-" During this campaign, Bob Carr would be glad to tell these folks and everyone who meets "I, Bob Carr, being of sound mind and sound body-" and "I intend to faithfully represent the people in the 12 counties of our 6th. Congressional District."
VETERANS AND TORONTO, OHIO
Veterans are very dear to us. One of our towns, Toronto lost over 20 of our service personal this past year. Toronto should be a modern day War Memorial.
Bob Carr will not participate in the discussion as to should we have gone into Iraq. The FACT IS that we are there. The QUESTION IS what are we going to do about?
"This is one thing I know, the spouses of the fallen heroes understand that their counterparts in Iraq, Iraqi citizens, have new freedoms to dress how they wish, and say the thing they want to say." Thanks to the dedicated service of our military family.
EDUCATION:
My wife Karen Virden Carr is a school teacher. Karen loves her kids and they love her. Education is close to our household for sure. While Bob Carr was circulating his petitions, he called several of the District's Southern Counties to make sure he understood everything. One call was the day after the special elections for school milleges. The conversation revealed that many of the milleges had failed; some for a second time. School millege efforts are political campaigns. Campaigns are their own Science. Not everyone knows that Science. Even the wording on the millege request is important. The way it is worded can make the difference between success and failure. Bob Carr, as Congressman, will be available to consult and to take a look see at an effort. Becoming a Education "Campaign Advisor" is another way that the Congressional Office can be a helpmate to teachers, parents,! and school officials. Our kids depend on all of us using "our brain power" to the best of our COLLECTIVE abilities.
BOB CARR AS A PILOT
In addition to the mobile office operrated by the staff, Bob Carr is an instrument rated and multi-engine pilot. This is another way that Bob Carr can reach people in the district when they are in immediate need.
History of Bob Carr with 'personal views, plans, and dreams' for our 6th Congressional District