Fred Gruber is mounting a challenge to Linwood Cobb, the current Chairman of Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. Virginia Right! recently had a chance to ask Fred some questions so voters will know his plans and thoughts before this Saturday’s Convention (May 10, 2014).
Let’s start with Mr. Gruber’s bio:
Fred Gruber is an accomplished and successful entrepreneur and retired professional in the Financial Services and Investment Advisory fields. He has been in numerous senior positions, most notably head of Trust Investments for the 3rd largest bank in NJ (United Jersey Banks); Managing Director of Fiduciary Counsel, Inc. on Wall Street; head of Trust Investments for half of VA at what is now Bank of America; and as a Partner in Chase Investment Counsel Corp. in Charlottesville. In 1997, he founded his own businesses.
Fred presently owns and operates SOUND ENTERPRISES and AppreCap Services, firms specializing in sales, marketing, financial services, and investment consulting to institutions and businesses.
He has a Bachelors degree in Economics, a Masters Degree in Business Administration/Finance & Investments (MBA), and is a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst). His 1974 Masters Thesis entitled “Security Options – Puts and Calls” was cited for distinction with top marks.
Fred is the leader of the Louisa VA Tea Party and active in the state Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation. He is a volunteer Jazz DJ at WTJU radio, hosts events in the 7th District with nationally-known conservative speakers, and is a life-long Republican.
Fred believes our Republican Party is our “last, best hope” for taking our Country back, and restoring our Founders’ visions. But Fred believes our Party is on the wrong track, and has been an outspoken advocate for the need to reform. He is running for 7th District Chairman on a mission to bring in new activists from the Tea Party, the Liberty movement, and pro-Family movement, and unite them with traditional Republicans to build a stronger GOP toward winning elections in our state and nationally.
Now on to the questions:
1. Why do you want to be Chairman of Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, and what do you bring to the District Leadership?
I want to grow our party, not shrink it with ill conceived plans like slating. that only serves to make the party smaller and is horrible on overall party morale. I am running for Chairman to welcome in thousands of new conservative activists into our ranks. The current 7th District Chairman is too closely associated with the Ray Allen/Eric Cantor/Young Guns PAC “cabal” in Virginia that just recently slated-off over 1,000 essential conservative grassroots activists as Delegates to our District and State Conventions. I have not only taken a public stand against slating (as has my opponent), but I’ve also been leading on this issue.
I was part of a leadership team that successfully mobilized to de-rail the slating in Henrico. And unlike my opponent, as District Chairman I will stand up to consultants like Ray Allen and our Republican elected officials like Eric Cantor to demand they end their slating activities everywhere in the Commonwealth – now, and in 2016 and beyond.
And I will lead to end Linwood Cobb’s exclusionary “incumbent-protection” practice of mandatory $5,000 pre-file fees designed to discourage worthy activists from running for District Chairman – that’s almost double the fee to run for Congress!
2. There is a divide in the 7th District right now between the Conservatives in the Tea Party and the moderates in the establishment. Do you have a plan to unite the District?
We can and must unite all elements of our base, old and new, into a winning coalition. But we can only unite this party around conservative principles based on the Republican Creed. I pledge to do that as your District Chairman.
We must begin by addressing our 3rd Party and Morale Problems. The 7th District is bleeding many of our conservative base-Republican votes to third parties, and to sitting-out elections in disillusionment. Most of the units in the 7th District had over 9% of the vote for the Libertarian for Governor in the last election ! In Henrico, the largest unit in the 7th - and the home of Linwood Cobb, Eric Cantor and Ray Allen – our GOP vote for Governor collapsed from 56% to 38%. Now that same Libertarian is on the ballot again for Senate in November. I am a leader from the Tea Party/Liberty wing of the GOP. I have the credibility and a plan to win back votes to the GOP. We must do this in order to win in November !
3. We have two candidates running for the Republican nomination for House of Representatives.
a. Are you planning to endorse (or have you endorsed) a candidate?
I have endorsed Dave Brat for Congress, and Shak Hill for US Senate.
b. Will you be able to work with the primary winner to ensure a Republican wins the District?
Absolutely. I will work for and support for election whoever wins the nomination
4. The 7th District roundup is usually held at the Snag-a-Job Pavilion. The owners do not allow handguns on the property either concealed or open carry. The VCDL and other pro 2nd amendment proponents have actively advocated for another venue. Would you support moving the event to a more 2nd Amendment friendly venue?
Absolutely
5. Eric Cantor holds town hall meetings that are scripted and open to questions from a selected few. Would you support having these town hall meeting more often and actually allow people who are not pre-screened to ask questions?
Absolutely, I think that is crucial for whomever the incumbent is.
6. If you win as 7th District chairman, what are the first couple of things you will seek to change?
— I will work for a Party Plan amendment to end slating.
— I will eliminate the $5,000 filing fee for chairman.
— I will have regular meetings with all segments of our GOP base to bring them together.
— I will immediately start meeting with segments that supported Sarvis to start bringing them back to the GOP.
The 7th District is turning away grassroots activists we desperately need to build our Party and our volunteer base for our candidates. Not only has the 7th District not been welcoming to the Tea Party and Liberty activists, but many pro-family and 2nd amendment rights activists are feeling disenfranchised too. I am a grassroots activist leader who knows how to get more conservative activists involved for our candidates to knock doors, make phone calls, and do the literature drops so our candidate can win.
Article written by: Tom White
About Tom White
Tom is a US Navy Veteran, owns an Insurance Agency and is currently an IT Manager for a Virginia Distributor. He has been published in American Thinker, currently writes for the Richmond Examiner as well as Virginia Right! Blog. Tom lives in Hanover County, Va and is involved in politics at every level and is a Recovering Republican who has finally had enough of the War on Conservatives in progress with the Leadership of the GOP on a National Level.
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