Lynch says motivation, not money, is key

Joshua A. Lynch has heard plenty about how the candidate with the most money and name recognition will win the special election in the 23rd Congressional District.

And, frankly, he's a little depressed by such a suggestion.

"We get kind of caught up in this idea that commercials and radio and direct mail and getting your name out there can win," the Waddington native said. "It's key to really motivate people based on issues. If you're not motivating them on issues that affect them on a daily basis, why are they going to go out and vote?"

Mr. Lynch aims to be a discussion-changer, a person who is unafraid to raise issues and articulate ideas when telling Republicans why he wants to be their nominee.

The 25-year-old starts tonight in Hamilton County, where he'll be joined in Speculator by seven other GOP hopefuls in the first of four regional candidate meetings. The district's 11 county chairmen will convene July 22 to pick a nominee in anticipation of a special election. U.S. Rep. John M. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, the current seat holder, is expected to resign if he is confirmed as Army secretary this summer.

Mr. Lynch said "the competition of ideas" is what sparked his interest in politics. The government major at St. Lawrence University, Canton, was once president of the student senate. Since college, he's worked as a legislative aide for U.S. Sen. Samuel D. Brownback, R-Kan., and helped his boss during a short-lived presidential campaign in 2007.

"I want to bring a young perspective and a conservative Republican approach to a broad set of issues," he said. "I want to talk about taxes, depopulation of the area, rural health care, tourism, trade, jobs, Fort Drum — some of the serious issues that affect people."

Mr. Lynch is a proponent of shrinking government and reversing course on what he sees as meddlesome bureaucratic regulations that drive jobs away. He'd like to lower taxes to spur business growth and keep locally educated talent here.

Mr. Lynch would like lower-cost health care that is accessible to more people and is troubled by what he's heard about President Obama's health care plan.

"If we consolidate a lot of rural health care providers and community pharmacists, I am afraid there would be rationed care as we see in Canada and Great Britain," he said.

Mr. Lynch said a lot of people are skeptical about his candidacy because of his age, but he's arguing that it's actually an advantage. A young congressman can build seniority in the House of Representatives long before he approaches retirement age, which can lead to powerful positions that raise the profile of the district.

"I don't want to pretend that it's a small task for a 25-year-old," said Mr. Lynch. "But I do think I bring a unique experience and a unique perspective to the race."

Mr. Lynch acknowledged he was not known outside St. Lawrence County, but said he was willing to work on that. The Republican hopeful also declined to discuss how much money he could raise.

If Mr. Lynch were selected, running a Congressional race may coincide with another significant event: his August marriage to girlfriend Emily Meeks. Mr. Lynch said his fiancé is supportive of him seeking the nomination, and was unconcerned about the stresses of two major life events.