Who is Stephen Bacon? DeBaryite wants Mica's seat in Congress

By Pat Hatfield
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Mar 3, 2010 - 3:58:47pm

Few people have heard of Stephen J. Bacon of DeBary, who is running for Republican John Mica's seat in Congress.

That doesn't deter Bacon, who is running as a Whig.

The Florida Whig Party was started a few years ago, and is the "first Whig state political party to run candidates for federal office since the 1800s," according to the party Web site at www.floridawhig.com.

Its stated goal is to return "We, the people," back to the government.

The 71-year-old Bacon lives in DeBary, with his wife, Bobbi. This is his first bid for elected office.

Originally from New York City, he described a career in finances, as an auditor of major companies, and a stint as chief insurance examiner for the State of Vermont. After moving to South Florida, he became president of the South Florida Chapter of the Insurance Accounting and Statistical Association, and budget adviser to the City of Miami Beach. After retiring, he lived in Orlando for about four years, before moving to DeBary five years ago.

Bacon was formerly a Democrat. He said both parties have caved to big-business interests, so he joined the Whigs.

Everyone, from the farmer to the unemployed factory worker, is being "abused by Wall Street," he said.

That's why he wants to run against incumbent Mica, who, Bacon said, is firmly entrenched in his ninth term as a U.S. representative in Florida's 7th Congressional District.

"He's collecting millions for corporations," Bacon said, citing companies like Lockheed Martin and Grumman. And, because of big campaign contributions from companies like these, Mica is beholden to big interests — like most representatives and senators.

According to the Federal Election Commission, Bacon had received one individual $1,100 contribution and had lent his campaign $942, for a total of $2,042, for the quarter ending Dec. 31.

Mica, on the other hand, reported $147,254 in individual contributions, and $281,000 from a long list of political-action committees and other committees, for a total of $442,121 collected since last May.

Democratic contenders Heather Beaven reported $38,318, and Peter Silva reported $1,918 in contributions.

"People want things accomplished in their behalf," Bacon said.

Term limits for senators and representatives? More restrictions on imports? Health care for all?

Bacon wants senators limited to eight years in office, and representatives to four to keep them from getting more entrenched and dependent on big money. He also wants election reform, to reduce the amount of campaign contributions that can be accepted.

He wants to focus on the economy. Energy will bring an explosion to the economy in the next few years, Bacon believes.

There's the development of a high-speed hydrogen rail system, for example, using hydrogen batteries. The hydrogen technology can be applied to auto and home use, at a fraction of the cost of current energy.

New, inexpensive technologies like these are being squelched by oil-producers and other interests who make money on older technologies, Bacon said.

He doesn't want to keep buying oil from the Middle East.

"We keep feeding these countries, and they keep feeding terrorists, who use our money to buy weapons," he said.

Bacon would like to see more tariffs on imported goods, to protect American workers and American jobs. Big corporations care about neither, he said.

When he spoke with The Beacon Feb. 25, Bacon was organizing a "Made in America" protest rally for March 4 at the Orlando Hilton next to the Orlando Convention Center. Trains to be used for the high-speed rail Mica has been backing will likely be made in France, not the U.S., Bacon said.

"Health care is an entitlement," Bacon believes, which everyone should get, paying according to their ability to pay. Tariffs would help fund the balance.

Both health-care and property insurers should be able to cross state lines to sell policies. This would reduce the cost of insurance, and help spread the risk of hurricanes and other disasters, he said.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners could set up the framework for this.

Bacon is the same person who promoted a Florida-history theme park in DeBary with a convention center, a hotel with a disco, a riverboat cruise with gambling, and much more. He said he backed off that, after negative response from people in DeBary.

He thinks manufacturing might be a good fit for DeBary — windmill-generator manufacturing, for example. And, local communities could begin to augment their electric power with wind-generated power.

More manufacturing of medical products such as flu vaccines is needed, and could be done in DeBary.

President Barack Obama's election signified it is time for change, and Bacon believes he can win the election. Bacon said he has the organizational and motivational abilities to get his ideas implemented in Congress.

Read more at his Web site.

Read reporter Pat Hatfield's blog, Life in Interesting Times.

— pat@beacononlinenewscom

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