Raymond Stebbins
Candidate for the Office of Vice-President of the United States
Party: Democrat
Website: www.ElectRayStebbinsVP.com
Phone: 617-319-5445
Hitting the Campaign Trail
Raymond Stebbins is a Massachusetts attorney specializing in corporate law running in the New Hampshire primary as a vice presidential candidate. Stebbins only started thinking about running for political office just a few months ago. He began thinking about running in primaries in New Hampshire, Maine or Vermont. He was “somewhat surprised” to learn that New Hampshire has a primary for Vice Presidential candidates, as he had never heard of any state doing that. He decided to run for Vice President instead of President for a couple reasons. First is that as a Vice Presidential candidate, he can work with any other candidates in the Democratic Party (working with them, not against them). Secondly, everyone else is running for President.
Stebbins decided on running in New Hampshire because the Secretary of State, William Gardner, is really “great.” As a New Hampshire property owner, he feels that he can best relate to the New Hampshire residents, since he pays the same taxes they do. He says that he has always had strong ties to New Hampshire.
He registered for the primary on November 2, 2007, the same day as Hillary Clinton. He had heard beforehand that Clinton would be registering that day and was advised to come later in the day to avoid the large crowd who would be there for Clinton .
Stebbins main campaign strategy will be a combination of newspaper advertisements (since TV is expensive), sign placement and his website, which he just got up a couple weeks ago. The cornerstone of his strategy will be ‘meet and greet sign placements.' He is hoping that on Saturdays he will have locals holding signs at important intersections and speaking with people as they walk by. His self described “grassroots” campaign will also be collecting campaign funds; so far his campaign has been primarily self-funded.
Stebbins unofficial campaign manager is Anthony Ruggiero, a fellow attorney and good friend of several years. Ruggiero says that Stebbins had been considering running for political office. "He called me before he signed up, and I said 'Yeah, go for it!'"
Ruggiero says that so far the campaign has been going very good, "It's a lot of fun."
Ruggiero says that Stebbins running for the New Hampshire primary for the vice-president is very unique in many ways. In the last several elections, New Hampshire has been swayed by only a few thousands votes. If Stebbins wins in New Hampshire, he will have a strong position to influence the Democratic Party Nominee. The winner of the Presidential Primary will likely seek Stebbins' votes. Ruggiero says that Stebbins' platforms are a little more conservative then that of the National Democratic Party. While the Democratic Party is more left, Stebbins is more center. Ruggiero feels that Stebbins more conservative ideas will help sway Republican votes to Democrat votes in the mid-west area, which will be very valuable to the Democratic Party's Nominee. Ruggiero feels that Stebbins raises some serious issues, and that the Democratic Party's Nominee will want to look at some of Stebbins' arguements.
"The response so far is good. People have been very positive," Ruggiero noted.
Stebbins is confident that he will do quite well in the primary. He is very willing to explain his view on all the issues and share those ideas with others, including other candidates. He's told reporters: “I don't mind a little plagiarism”
On the Issues
Download Ray Stebbins Platform Paper
Illegal Aliens
Stebbins says the first action needed to solve the immigration problem is to investigate the people who are already in the country illegally. This investigation will find out who has been in the country the longest. Those who have been here the longest (a minimum of five years), will be investigated to find out if they have been involved with criminal activity. If so, they should go through the traditional court system. If convicted of 1 felony or three misdemeanors, that person should be deported. Otherwise, the person will go through a 6-9 month probationary period. After it has been determined that the person has been in the country for five years and they have successfully gone through the probation period, the illegal alien can then apply to be a permanent resident.
Stebbins says this is similar to when you start work at a new firm; they usually put you on a short probationary period.
This system will gradually work backwards, accepting those who have been in the country for four or more years, three or more years, etc.
His main point is that “no wholesale accepting or wholesale exporting” will solve the immigration problems. It should be solved on more individual basis.
Stebbins also emphasizes that the U.S. government needs to determine how we allow people in, and that this will likely require tightening up the borders: by land, air and sea.
Global Warming
Stebbins believes that if the restrictions that are already in place were actually followed, it would greatly help battle global warming. Stebbins understands that there are people who believe and also disbelieve that global warming is an actual problem. This is due to a lack of thorough, strong research. The extreme deforestation of the Rain Forests is certainly causing the issue. Since the people cutting down the Rain Forests are represented by sovereign nations, Stebbins recommends going through the United Nations and diplomatically finding a solution. This would entail environmental engineers doing strong, thorough research, then make recommendations. After discussing all the recommendations, the countries should then vote on a resolution.
Iraq
Stebbins has never liked any war. “There's never been a bad peace, or a good war.” As for Iraq, the troops need to remain at their current level for at least six months. The new administration will need to delve deep into the issues. Stebbins recommends taking advantage of diplomacy, and that the new administration should spend more time talking without anyone being killed. Even if this takes a longer time, it would be better then the current situation, where no one is talking and many people are getting killed.
The Economy
Stebbins believes that the worldwide economy is faring well, especially in countries like China. Almost all of the second world countries are doing better. However, there are issues within our own borders that our government needs to address.
The most immediate is that the government will have to somehow bail out the mortgage companies. A judge needs to rule against Chapter 13, which allows consumer protection for the corporate bankers who are behind the mortgage companies. They need to come to some type of agreement.
Stebbins believes that this will be best found by focusing on the adjustable rate mortgages. These are causing trouble because of the unhealthy consumer spending. When someone takes out the mortgage, it starts at a low rate, close to 4-4.5%, which people can handle. Then when the first adjustments bring the rate closer to the prime rate, up to 5-6%, people can still handle it. The trouble comes when the rate adjusts to 8%. When it adjusts to 10%, that's when there are serious problems.
Stebbins says the best fix is to stop the interest payments before bankruptcy. This requires banks to eliminate the interest rate that is making them a profit. Stebbins says that interest rates need to be dropped back down to 1-2% under prime, with a bottom floor of 4%. This will allow people to keep current with the bills that they already have, like credit card bills and utilities. The government needs to create the ability for consumers to be able to spread certain debts out over a period of time so they can stay current with their bills and their mortgages. For example, if someone owes $100 on an oil bill, they can spread it out over say five years. This could make their payment $20 per year, which is very affordable.
Banks are not going to willingly sacrifice their profit by decreasing interest rates, so Stebbins says a judge needs to look at the mortgage contract as though it is a union contract (Similar in fashion to the decision for airline companies).
Social Security
Social Security is a foreseeable threat. It's been estimated that by 2038 or 2045, Social Security will be bankrupt. Stebbins says that there is something we can do to combat this. He suggests that for all income under a certain ceiling, a portion of that income will go to social security and not federal or state taxes. Then for all income over the ceiling, the person will pay federal and state taxes on it.
Crime
The reason crime is high is because the law is too lenient, Stebbins says. He feels that this has to change in order to lower crime. He is very outraged by the Daniel Tavares ruling. Tavares had completed a 16-year sentence for killing his mother, but prosecutors were keeping him in jail to face charges of alleged assaults on two prison guards. Massachusetts Judge Kathe Tuttman had also been giving documentation about Tavares bad temper. However, Judge Tuttman decided to free Tavares on personal recognizance. Tavares is now accused of murdering two people in Washington State.
Stebbins says that this never should have happened, and that Judges need to be less lenient on convicted criminals. One solution to this type of situation, according to Stebbins, would be to have judges be elected officials who can only serve a certain amount of time.
More information on Ray Stebbins' Platforms
Background
Stebbins grew up in Malden, Massachusetts. His father passed away when Stebbins was fifteen. Stebbins first job was at Malden news where he was an office boy. He also did some news and sports photography as well as photo engraving with a Fairchild Machine and became a member of the American Newspaper Guild.
Stebbins later was the Director of Security at a junior college. He said it was near the end of the Vietnam war, and due to this enrollment at the college was very high.
Stebbins went to New England School of Law, and has been a lawyer for 16-18 years. He is currently an independent attorney living in Weymouth Massachusetts. Stebbins said he has little previous political experience, having never run for any political office before, but he believes strongly in the good of the government, and that “sometimes people lose sight of that.”
Upcoming Campaign Events
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Sponsored by the New Hampshire Political Library
Location: 540 North Commercial Street, Manchester, New Hampshire
When: 4:00 pm
Who: Five democratic candidates, two vice-presidential candidates, and seven republican candidates from the New Hampshire Primary Ballot; Secretary of State will also attend.
Details: Open to the public, Stebbins & Ruggiero said there will likely be national media coverage at this event.