To Develop a servant of the People of Ohio, I suggest we spend this year defining the essentials and credentials of a "public servant" to meet your expectations.  I have outlined some of my thoughts below in a preliminary draft of an Employment Contract with Ohio and I seek your input as well.  We will revise the document throughout the year with the plan to formalize it prior to the November election.  It will be the centerpiece of my campaign and the manner in which I manage the office for the six years that follow.

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Proposed Employment Contract with Ohio ……

 Goals
• Redefine the expectations of a “public servant”

• Engage the involvement of the electorate into governmental affairs so we may return to a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

Commitments
• I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office ….   So help me God.

• Remain true to the ideals of a citizen legislator – two term limit

• Provide an avenue of oversight – the primary responsibility of Congress which has been terribly neglected

• Interaction with the People of Ohio to discuss national issues
- Two personal “town hall” meetings with residents in each county each year
- Personal meeting with mainstream media outlets in Ohio at least twice a year
- Personal meeting with Ohio blogosphere twice a year
- Travel the State of Ohio every week/month not just the few before elections
- Senate not in sessions – Pierce in Ohio
- Keep Ohioans informed as to deliberations in Washington
 
• Financial
- Budget Hawk
- NO tax increases for new spending or entitlement programs
- NO earmarks

• Campaign Finance
- PAC donations –only from organizations promoting freedom and liberty, no acceptance from organizations representing corporations
- No acceptance of contributions from lobbyist and/or special interest groups
- No personal meetings with lobbyists – aides will meet and gather data and information from lobbyists in order to maintain an arm’s length separation with Pierce for complete transparency 

• Support of small business
- Challenge federal bureaucrats and their promulgation of federal regulations
- Walk with small business as they wrestle with irresponsible regulatory controls

• Education
- States Rights for Education – fight against educational mandates funded or unfunded from federal bureaucrats
- Facilitate state education reform with particular emphasis with inner cities
- Lead a forum of large inner city school districts to define advancements

• Personal
- Accept COLA if and only if commitments listed above are met in the previous year
- Three weeks of vacation and national holidays per year – otherwise, Pierce in Washington during Senate Sessions or in meetings with constituents across the State of Ohio.  No exceptions.