Doug Bennett's Victory for Vets plan

GOP State Senate candidate to unveil his 4-point plan for returning vets
Event to be held at the VFW Post on Route 28 in Hyannis Friday 6-9 pm

Republican candidate for State Senate and current Selectman and County Commissioner for Nantucket, Doug Bennett, will unveil his "Victory for Vets" program at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post (VFW) on Route 28 in Hyannis opposite the Barnstable Airport Rotary tomorrow evening June 2, 2006 from 6pm to 9pm.

Doug Bennett was at another rotary today on The Vineyard promising to hand out a thousand cards to islanders in 16 hours.

Bennett's plan will give vets returning from active duty two years of free health care, cancel the Military Families tax, give families of deceased vets the same compensation given 9/11 families and set up private housing for homeless vets, who Bennett says make up 20% of the homeless in his district. The event is open to the public and free snacks will be served.

Bennett states, "For too long our veterans have been under appreciated for their efforts to protect all of us overseas, defending our freedom and promoting democracy while at the same time when then return home, many of our veterans have lacked the necessary care needed in order to best assimilate back into society."

He continued saying, "We need to do a better job helping our Cape & Island heroes deal with issues such as Post Stress Traumatic Syndrome."  Bennett said that one of his first acts of legislation filed will be a four point plan based on the following:

1. Free Health-Care for two years for all active-duty soldiers upon returning from active duty.
2. Families of Deceased Servicemen & women should receive compensation equal to that given families of September 11th victims.
3. Elimination of the Military Families Tax.
4. Individualized Communities for homeless veterans.

Bennett will elaborate further details of his 4-point plan at the event tomorrow evening. 

A Populist and Progressive Republican

Bennett has brought a youthful and fresh presence to Cape Cod politics this election season by mounting a practically one-man campaign depending almost entirely on shoe leather and perspiration. He has been seen waving his banners at every rotary on the Cape and Islands, and has personally attempted to telephone every Republican in his district over the age of 62 who voted in the last election. He only has two precincts in Yarmouth left to call.

Two GOP US Senate candidates will drop in on Bennett's event on Friday, from left, Ken Chase and Kevin Scott.

If printer's ink spells votes in the fall, Bennett is a long shot but possible winner. As a freshman candidate for a state office whose campaign chest is almost empty, he has received an enormous amount of press coverage statewide.

Bennett is being opposed for the GOP nomination by Ric Barros of Centerville.

Both Republican candidates for United States Senate nomination in the September 19 primary, Ken Chase and Kevin Scott, will be making appearances at Bennett's event.

Currently, Bennett is serving a 3-year term as both Nantucket Selectman and County Commissioner for Nantucket County.  He was elected on April 5th, 2004.  Bennett has pledged to "return government back to the people" by fighting for issues such as affordable health care and creating solutions for skyrocketing energy costs, home insurance rates and high taxes.  Bennett, has been waging an aggressive "guerrilla-style" grassroots campaign since he launched his campaign on November 10th, 2005.  He can be seen campaigning at the Barnstable Airport Rotary with a smile, wave and his 10 x 10 foot "Bennett for Senate" campaign sign.

Bennett, 30, is a carpenter on the island of Nantucket.  He describes himself as both a fiscal conservative and a social moderate.  Bennett has a strong record since being elected by the people of Nantucket County and is credited with having brought balance and decisive leadership to Nantucket's Town and County Governments. To find out more information, you can contact his campaign manager, Joshua Dunn at (508) 221-3621.

Bennett's web site is here.
His Blog is here.
Our news coverage on Bennett's campaign is here.