nwitimes.com March 8, 2020
GUEST COMMENTARY: Daggett to fight for fair trade, veterans, public infrastructure
Submitted to marc.chase@nwi.com
Col. Antonio (Tony) Daggett Sr. is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, who has lived and reared his family in Northwest Indiana for over 20 years. His experience in Washington, D.C., where he worked from 2006-2009, consisted of assignments in and out of the Pentagon, providing intelligent briefings for members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
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Col. Tony briefed generals, admirals, and members of Congress on force protection strengths in various theaters of operation and was assigned for approximately two years to the presidential honor guard (known as "The Old Guard"), in Arlington.
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Col. Tony has maintained a top-secret security clearance which allowed him to be fully integrated into the workings of our nation's capital, and as a result, can hit the ground running as a congressman on day one to bring the resources needed for Indiana's 1st Congressional District.
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Col. Tony and his nine siblings were reared by a retired police officer on a union salary, and believe in the strength of unionizing and securing Northwest Indiana’s domestic steel industry, distinguishing its significance to each of our local communities and our overall national economy.
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Issue No. 1:
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Protect jobs for American steelworkers and the livelihood of American farms by fighting unfair trade practices by foreign companies and governments.
Issue No. 2:
Defend and protect the dignity of human life found in all human beings.
Issue No. 3:
Highlight the need for national unity over tribalism, which threatens our nation's national security.
Issue No. 4:
Pursue government protection of residents of East Chicago, and the region by stopping the exposure of people to arsenic, lead and airborne pollutant dust. These toxins cause clusters of cancer and involuntary sterilization in some cases.
Issue No. 5:
Engage state government to help "reset" the Gary Public Schools system with increased enrollment, rigorous academic excellence, and meticulous accounting and management excellence to oversee an enhanced Gary Public Schools system.
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Issue No. 6:
Protect the health and safety of Lake Michigan.
Issue No. 7:
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Renew the counties water delivery infrastructure to ensure the efficient and economical movement of water sources through the congressional district.
Issue No. 8:
Substantially increase the amount of childcare options available for Lake, Porter and LaPorte county families.
Issue No. 9:
Ensure that the government helps in the fight against the opioid crisis in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties and renews focus on the impact of human trafficking.
Issue No. 10:
Support the revamping of the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that veterans' needs and concerns are the top priority, with national attention on suicide awareness and prevention.
Issue No. 11:
Ensure universal background checks while establishing additional gun safety measures to protect the schools and communities of our nation.
To correct our lead and arsenic contamination in our East Chicago communities, Tony has called upon the EPA to seek a renewed commitment to the residents of Northwest Indiana as an unwavering advocate for fellow citizens who have been affected by decades of contamination. Col. Tony believes it is time for us to take on the opioid crisis with compassion and renewed resolved to end this epidemic of death.
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Col. Tony is a certified school district superintendent and has served as the broadcast host of the Veterans Truth Radio and Internet worldwide broadcast. He continues to serve veterans, active duty personnel and first responders and their family members in ensuring that emotional, medical and compensation support is provided for those who answered the call of our nation.
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Col. Tony and his wife, Veda, have given birth to 10 children, rearing them over the last 20 years in Lake County with Veda, who completed her master's degree continuing, her education part-time.
Tony graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in Merrillville with a State High School Principal License and has passed his State School District Superintendent’s Exam while completing his Ph.D. program in educational leadership. He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and has two master's degrees.
ENDORSEMENT FOR
Lt. Colonel Antonio ‘Tony’ Daggett (Retired)
Candidate for U.S. Congress, District 1 (Indiana)
It is my immense pleasure to endorse Tony Daggett for the position of United States Representative (Congressman) for Indiana’s District 1. This is a very important position in the U.S. Congress for a Hoosier native.
Lt. Colonel Daggett impressed me very quickly with his sincerity and compassion for his community. He continues to demonstrate the highest ethical standards, impeccable integrity, and outstanding moral conscience. Lt. Colonel Daggett has endeared himself to this community and makes great strides in the dissemination of information and guidance to the public in general, and to military veterans in particular.
As the son of a retired police officer, Lt. Colonel Tony Daggett has excellent resident knowledge about ‘first responders’ and the important contribution they make to a vibrant community. He reaches out to that segment of civil servants via his weekly radio broadcast, Veterans Truth, on a local station.
Lt. Colonel Daggett has also distinguished himself in his educational pursuits. He is currently working on his Ph.D. in education and recently passed the state’s Superintendent examination. Lt. Colonel Daggett is interested in making education available to all Hoosiers.
As a military veteran of over 40 years and a retired law enforcement executive, I am proud to see a military retiree continue to contribute to our country/community via the political system.
Lt. Colonel Daggett has shown that he is honest, hard-working, trustworthy and deserves to represent Indiana’s District 1 in the United States Congress. I hope you will join me and others in supporting Antonio ‘Tony’ Daggett for Congress in the upcoming election.
Douglas M. Wright, Chief of Police (Retired)
Former Chief of Police, Gary, Indiana
Former Chief of Police, Forest Hill, Texas
Former Chief of Police, Benton Harbor, Michigan