Phil Avillo for U.S. House of Representatives, 19th Congressiona

Background:

I am a professor of history at York College, where I teach American history and Civil War courses. I am married to Linda, a former Navy nurse. We have three grown children, Andrew, Stephen, and Susan. And twin grandsons! I enlisted in the US Marines at age 17, and served as a Marine officer from 1964-66. During a tour in Vietnam, I was awarded the Purple Heart after sustaining a serious wound. Following the Marines, I obtained a doctorate in history from the Univ. of Arizona, and have been active in the York community since my arrival here in 1975. I was elected for three terms to the York Suburban School Board, serving seven of them as President. For over a dozen years, I coached youth baseball, basketball, and soccer, demonstrating ability and perseverance to young people despite the loss of a leg in Vietnam. I have served on the Boards of the York Symphony and the York Suburban Dollars for Scholars program. At York College, I was elected President of the Academic Senate, was twice selected by students to deliver the Winter Commencement address, been named Teacher of the Year, and received the Alumni Service and Achievement Award.

Goals:

After talking with many people over the past few years, I have become aware that many of us in the United States share common concerns over such important issues as the war in Iraq, terrorism, health care, energy, and fiscal responsibility. My goals are to:
• Strengthen and protect the United States and the American people on all fronts, both home and abroad
• Restore Fiscal Responsibility and Integrity to Washington
• Assure all Americans that they and their families will have the opportunity to live lives defined by Health and Well-Being.

Issues:

1. National security
2. Fiscal responsibility and integrity in Washington
3. Health and well-being of all Americans

Grassroots Support:

This is a grassroots campaign with lots of volunteers helping at all levels. Already, these volunteers gathered 4 times the number of signatures I needed to get on the ballot. No Democratic candidate in recent history in this district had as many signatures gathered.

In addition, we have developed a grassroots fundraising campaign, "Fifty for Phil," which has established as its goal having 10,000 registered voters in the 19th Pennsylvania contribute on average $50 each to the campaign. By refusing all corporate PAC money, we want only to be responsible to the people. The voters.

DFA Values:

All of my priorities endorse socially progressive and fiscally responsible goals. For example, I will support:

• the creation of a health-care system which is cost efficient, accessible to all Americans, and simple to participate in;
• a woman's right to choose;
• enforcement of current environmental regulations;
• the protection of retirement savings plans;
• fair funding packages for education at all levels;
• the implementation of policies that honor all work;
• balancing the budget;
• eliminating unfair tax loopholes and developing honest budgets;
• establishing strict, enforceable ethical codes for all members of Congress;
• reduce the American presence in Iraq and focus our resources on combating terrorism through diplomatic as well as military channels;
• creation of a massive energy program that develops renewable energy resources and reduces our reliance on oil, and moves us towards energy