Former New Bern police chief Frank Palombo filed against GOP Congressman Walter Jones Wednesday, saying he would bring authentic conservative values to the race.
“I am running because we need real leadership,” Palombo said. “We have had enough career politicians.”
Palombo, a Republican, said Jones had strayed from conservative principles on too many issues, most notably on his opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which Palombo said were the chief battlegrounds in the fight against Islamic extremism.
“Jones has not looked at the big picture here,” Palombo said in an interview. “The big picture is Islamic extremism.”
Palombo also said Jones had strayed from conservatism on other issues such as defense cuts, the Paul Ryan proposed budget, and the Dodd-Frank banking regulations.
Palombo, 64, who retired last year after 34 years in law enforcement, said he has been running a low cost, grassroots campaign against Jones in the May 8th primary since last summer.
If elected, Palombo said he would work to cut entitlement programs and reduce the debt. He said he would serve no more than three terms in Congress.
