- Carl Sheeler
Carl Sheeler (born
June 1 ,1960 ) is a U.S. Marine Corpsveteran , business owner, and former Democratic U.S. Senatecandidate inRhode Island .Education and career
After receiving Congressional nominations (Sen. Paul Sarbanes and Rep. Charles Mathias) to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Sheeler broke his wrist and was unable to attend. Instead, he paid his way through University of Maryland and the University of Illinois and later joined the Marine Corps having served as a combat officer (tanks and anti-armor), training officer and staff officer from 1982 to 1992 on active duty and reserves. Sheeler served as a staff officer during the
Gulf War . "About Carl," Carl Sheeler for U.S. Senate. [http://www.carlsheeler.com/about-carl-sheeler.asp] ]In 1992, Sheeler joined Allison Appraisals & Assessments, a nationwide business appraisal, advisory and litigation services firm. He filed for personal Chapter 7
bankruptcy in 2001 after accruing more than $190,000 in debt, mostly on credit cards. Sheeler has taken responsibility for his personal financial failing due to health problems and adivorce settlement, and said he considers this event an "asset" that gives him "additional sensitivity to folks who are one paycheck short of financial ruin and those who have overcome personal adversity." He has since repaid these balances excluding the sums owed by his past wife.Sheeler received a
Ph.D. with a concentration inFinance from theUnion Institute and University in 2004. [http://www.tui.edu/directories/default.asp?sortcol=focus&printme=1&dirCat=PDE] Sheeler has been an adjunct professor atBryant University in Smithfield,Rhode Island of Finance, Business & Entrepreneurship.Politics
According to Sheeler, the the September 11 terrorist attack inspired him to become involved in politics. While Sheeler was originally a Republican and supported some of
Ronald Reagan 's politics and actions while California's governor and as president, he said that he did not think the party was compassionate enough and switched to the Democratic Party.Ian Donnis, "Why in the world is Carl Sheeler running for the US Senate?," "The Providence Phoenix", Nov. 18-24, 2005. [http://www.providencephoenix.com/features/top/multi/documents/05103619.asp] ]Rhode Island senate race - 2004
In 2004, Sheeler made a late entry into the race to represent District 34 in the
Rhode Island Senate , which includes parts of Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Richmond, and West Greenwich. As an independent candidate, Sheeler challenged Sen.Kevin A. Breene , a Republican whose family had lived in the town for generations and four-termincumbent . Sheeler lost the race, getting 41 percent of the vote against the incumbent, who said that Sheeler outspent him 4-to-1. ]U.S. Senate race - 2006
Sheeler ran for the Rhode Island U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican
Lincoln Chafee . However, Sheeler was defeated in the Democratic primary bySheldon Whitehouse on September 12, 2006. Sheeler finished third in the race, as he also trailed perennial candidate Christopher Young.Sheeler ran on a platform opposing the
Iraq War , promoting campaign andvoting reform , and ending foreign oil dependence. He also called for replacing thedeath penalty withlife imprisonment . [http://ontheissues.org/Senate/Carl_Sheeler.htm] He has publicly expressed the need to reverse PresidentGeorge W. Bush 's tax cuts out of a belief that will reverse thenational deficit and reliance onAsia n loans. He has called for President Bush'simpeachment on a billboard along Route 95 in Providence.Sheeler did not fare well in the polls, although some opinion pieces in March and April in "
The Providence Journal " encouraged voters to consider Sheeler a legitimate candidate. [Bob Kerr, [http://www.carlsheeler.com/Bob_Kerr_article.asp "It is tough for an unknown to break out"] , "Providence Journal", March 31, 2006] [ [http://www.projo.com/opinion/editorials/content/projo_20060423_23sheel.2e06667.html "The third man"] , "Providence Journal", opinion piece, April 23, 2006] Sheeler garnered 8 percent of the vote, compared with 10 percent for Young and 82 percent for Whitehouse. [http://www.projo.com/cgi-bin/include.pl/extra/election/2006/primary/senator_in_congress_democrat.html]After the primary, Sheeler took the unusual step of endorsing Chafee instead of Whitehouse.
ee also
References
External links
* [http://www.carlsheeler.com/ Senate campaign site]
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