JAMES MARLOW James Marlow kicked off his campaign for Georgia's 10th Congressional District seat at the Lincoln County Courthouse in his hometown of Lincolnton on Tuesday, April 3.

Marlow, a Democrat, is running for Congress because he wants to use his business experience to help bring new opportunities to Northeast Georgia and to make sure the values of hard work and family that he learned in Lincolnton are represented in Washington.

A graduate of LCHS and Georgia Southern University, the candidate has spent almost 25 years as an innovator in the field of technology, working for companies such as Lotus Development, IBM, and Yahoo.

In his remarks to the well-wishers at the courthouse, Marlow said he is following a calling to serve.

"I am not a career politician," he noted. "I've been fortunate to have a family that helped me earn the opportunity to attend college and to work as an executive in corporate America with great companies that have been on the cutting edge of technology. I have a great life. But now, my journey has brought me back here, to Lincolnton, to where my life began, to offer my service to the people of the Tenth District.

"I pledge today, that if elected, I will serve the interests of the people of this district and no other," Marlow continued. "The people of the Tenth District are the type of folks who make America the greatest nation on Earth - they work hard; have good, solid values; they pay their taxes; and they volunteer to serve. They deserve an independent congressman who always puts them first, and I will be that congressman."

Marlow said he looks forward to presenting common sense solutions to problems facing America including:

.. Supporting our troops by giving them the tools they need and by "working toward the quickest posthe sible honorable end to our involvement in Iraq."

.. Fixing the shameful condition of the care the nation provides for returning veterans.

.. Providing access to quality health care for working families.

.. Creating high-paying, quality jobs in the Tenth District.

.. Making the United States "energy independent."

.. Returning fiscal responsibility to Washington.

.. Securing our borders and enforcing our laws against illegal immigration.

.. Protecting North Georgia from over-development and preserving the quality of our air and water.

Moreover, the candidate said he wants to ensure that the American Dream is bigger and brighter for each new generation. "The children of the Tenth District deserve the chance to get a quality education that will allow them to pursue their dreams," he stated.

Concerning community activities, Marlow is an active member of his church, having served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and head usher.

He is also the founder of the Lotus Atlanta Philanthropy Committee, which works on community improvement projects like Habitat for Humanity, and has served on the board of directors for Savannah Riverkeeper and Earthshare of Georgia.

Marlow is the son of Buddy and LaVina Marlow of Lincolnton.