To My Campaign Supporters —

First, I wish to thank the hundreds of people who supported my campaign via encouragement,
donations, and time. I am reluctantly withdrawing from the race to give my support to Ann Marie
Buerkle. I will not primary her. To win the 25th Congressional District, a Republican needs the
Conservative line, and not being a registered Conservative I cannot primary my opponent for that line.
Government leaders talk about transparency and give the appearance of being democratic, but
continuously skirt these practices. Like Thomas Jefferson, I believe in the good sense of the American
people and that “the ambitions of government leaders should be chained by our Constitution.” To this I
would add, "and curtailed by twelve year term limits."
I, like most first time candidates, believed the designating process was objective and democratic.
However, having spent $90,000 of my own money creating a first class organization and working 60
hours a week for 4 months, I was disappointed to learn that this is often not case.
In the 25th Congressional District candidates make 10 to 30 minute presentations to 46 committees
over a period of 8 weeks. We are led to believe, whoever presents him or herself in the best manner,
has the best ideas, and is the most electable wins. Despite being more favorably received by most of
the committees, having far greater name recognition in the district, four times the favorable ratings to
unfavorable ratings as my opponent, and having raised far more money than my opponent, the
committee members, at the urging of two Republican and Conservative County Chairs, selected my
opponent.
The current designating process does provide candidates forums to practice and receive feedback from
1,200 Conservative and Republican committee members in the district. However, the interference in
the process by some of the county chairs does not surface the most able nor preferred candidates. The
record in Onondaga County the last 6 years is clear as the Republican Party designated candidates in
all five of the major races lost their primaries or general election. The current process protects
incumbents, favor committee insiders, gives the appearance of being democratic, but is not.
The designating process could be improved by implementing the following:

1. By-laws should require chairs to be impartial shepherds of the democratic process. They should
require grievance boards, where members and candidates can file complaints.
2. Elected officials should not be allowed to participate on the party committees.
3. Each committee member should receive only one vote.
4. Absentee ballots should be handled by the Board of Elections, retained for three days, and
available for review by candidate representatives.

I encourage each of you to become knowledgeable about and involved in the political process, to insist
committee chairs and elected representatives follow a democratic process, and to see candidates’
beyond their looks, emotional appeals, and familiarity, and base your decisions on merit and
electability.
We will only have good local, state and federal government, as we have integrity in the local party
process, the training ground for all candidates. Only as we hold our party and elected officials to higher
standards, we will experience government of, by, and for the people rather than the special interests.
And only then will we reap higher employment, better living standards, and greater opportunity for our
children.
Sincerely,

Mark Bitz