A 35-year North Fulton
neighbor, Kevin is fighting for lower costs and better health care. When I was fourteen years old, I left my birthplace of South Africa and moved with my family to the United States. Young as I was, I knew then that the trajectory of my life was forever changed. While one’s future in South Africa was dictated by race and wealth, I already knew that in America, anyone, regardless of race, gender, religion or financial status, had a chance at success. This country wasn’t perfect by any stretch, but there was a real sense that if you worked hard, you could go far. This was the American Dream, and I was eager to realize it for myself. After graduating college, I followed my future wife -Cindy- to Georgia where we both worked at a large consulting firm. Together, we took one of the biggest risks of our young lives: we quit our jobs and co-founded our own company. As young people in a competitive market, my wife and I struggled day and night to make our small business a success. We took big risks, made difficult sacrifices, and worked hard to make our dream a reality. Over twenty years later, that small business became a successful enterprise recognized across the Southeast. Abel Solutions, proudly based in Alpharetta, has provided IT consulting for some of the largest companies in the United States. Most importantly, our business hired and nurtured the careers of hundreds of employees over the course of 23 years; good-paying jobs with healthcare benefits, right here in Georgia. For the past two decades, as our business experienced success and our family grew, I have worked to give back to this community which has given my wife and me so much. We proudly served on the boards of several non-profit organizations, including The Carter Center, The Arthritis Foundation-GA Chapter, The Davis Academy, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Technology Association of Georgia, New American Pathways, and Hands On Atlanta (where my wife Cindy recently served as interim CEO). I was living the American Dream, but what of the next generation? While my family and I have benefited from the American Dream, this beacon of hope and opportunity has been eroded. Our national political arena has devolved into a perpetual shouting match; anger and acrimony dominate our national dialogue. Republicans and Democrats alike have an abysmal view of our United States Congress. When you consider it, this is quite frightening. After all, our democracy, our freedom, the perpetuation of our great American experiment depends on a government that represents the interests of the electorate and works to address the key issues that impact us all. When the voters have no faith or trust in this government, it cannot be long before this experiment will fail. I have long wanted to rekindle the spirit of public faith in government. We the people – the voters; Americans - deserve better in our elected officials. But it begins and ends with us. We need to vote for the candidate we want in government, not for the least distasteful person our Party puts on the ballot. I want elections to be about putting America back on course; about ensuring that our children and grandchildren and future new Americans can aspire, as I have, to realize the American Dream. I am inspired to represent people who truly want change. I am inspired to bring together people across the aisle to address our country's biggest domestic challenges including healthcare policy, immigration, social security, climate change, campaign finance, and the ever-expanding debt. That’s why I'm running for Congress. I’m running as a Democrat, but let’s be clear: I’m first and foremost an American. If elected, I will work tirelessly to deliver results for our entire District; I am committed to engaging earnestly with members of both parties to find the common ground for which our fellow Americans across the country so deeply yearn. If we take a step back and look at our democracy, if we consider our freedom, if we recognize our strength, we should be awed. Let's look beyond the needs of the individual and see that we are part of something bigger than ourselves and the parties with which we are affiliated. At the end of the day we are all Americans. I am looking forward to engaging with you in this important conversation and earning your confidence.
