Senate candidate Tim Aalders touts himself as ‘true Republican’ alternative to Mitt Romney

Senate candidate Tim Aalders meets with voters during a town hall in St. George, touting himself as a true conservative and an alternative to Mitt Romney, St. George, Utah, Sept. 30, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – Billing himself as the “true Republican” alternative to Mitt Romney this election season, Constitution Party candidate for U.S. Senate Tim Aalders met with prospective voters in St. George Saturday evening as part of his campaign’s visit to Southern Utah.

Prior to meeting with a small crowd during a candidate town hall meeting held at the Clarion Suites in St. George, Aalders visited Cedar City and Beaver. In Beaver his audience was two women at a cafe, he said.

Senate candidate Tim Aalders meets with voters during a town hall in St. George, touting himself as a true conservative and an alternative to Mitt Romney, St. George, Utah, Sept. 30, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

“It’s my priority to meet with the people when they ask,” Aalders said, adding that if he is elected, the people of Utah will be his boss because he will be committed and accountable. In contrast, he said Romney will be more supportive of big money interests that donate to his campaign and upholding the political establishment in Washington, D.C.

“I’ve been in the corporate world. We didn’t spend money without expecting a return on investment,” he said, once more pointing at the corporate connections he says Romney will honor more than Utah voters.

Aalders, who hails from Highland, is a business owner. He is also known in the world of talk radio, having been a conservative talk radio show host for the program “Buy Back America Radio.” He left talk radio last year following the death of his 25-year-old daughter who died of a rare heart disease.

Aalders said his daughter’s passing played a part in his decision to enter the race. He said his daughter’s short life added to the reasons he has for his pro-life stance when it comes to abortion. This is another issue that Aalders and Romney have a difference of opinion on, he said.

On his campaign website, Romney also touts himself as “pro-life and pro-family.”

Campaign literature and stickers for Senate candidate Tim Aalders are displayed during a town hall in St. George, Utah, Sept. 30, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

As the town hall continued, Aalders said he believes God sends children to earth for a reason, adding that many extraordinary people – the likes of Martin Luther King, George Washington and others – may have been lost to abortion.

Aalders also spoke to his stance on the $21 trillion national debt, which he said congressional Republicans have added to while also doing nothing to lessen it.

“I will never vote to put our country in debt,” he said.

Aalders pledged to voters that if he ever voted for a bill that added to the debt, he would resign from office.

This extended to his stance against omnibus bills. He said if there’s a piece of legislation that’s worth discussing and running through Congress, then it should be made into its own bill.

On immigration, Aalders said he is the son of Dutch immigrants. He supports the creation of a border wall and using technology to aid in securing the border.

While there are people who enter the country illegally who may be seeking a better life, Aalders said there are also darker elements like the drug trade and human sex trafficking that cross the border and need to be stopped.

“We want to make sure the people who come to here care about our country as much as we do,” he said.

Senate candidate Tim Aalders meets with voters during a town hall in St. George, touting himself as a true conservative and an alternative to Mitt Romney, St. George, Utah, Sept. 30, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

When asked about the Second Amendment and gun control, Aalders said he is a concealed carry permit holder and that the government shouldn’t make laws limiting firearms ownership.

As for his view of President Donald Trump, Aalders said he sometimes wishes Trump didn’t have access to Twitter, but overall he supports the president’s policies.

“Look at the economy and job market right now,” Aalders said, pointing to them as a result of Trump’s policies. “Right now, I’m happy with it.”

However, should the president propose something Aalders deems as unconstitutional, he said he will call Trump out on the issue and discuss it with him.

If elected, Aalders said he would make it a priority to come to every county in the state once a year in order to better stay in touch with the people he would represent and be working for. If he failed in this endeavor, he pledged to resign.

Aalders also said he would take advantage of a Senate rule that allows senators to speak twice on every bill set before them. He would do this with the intent of making sure Utah’s voice is heard, as well as to speak against any bills he believed to be unconstitutional or that added to the national debt.

Senate candidate Tim Aalders meets with voters during a town hall in St. George, touting himself as a true conservative and an alternative to Mitt Romney, St. George, Utah, Sept. 30, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

While he is a registered Republican, Aalders is running as a candidate of the Constitution Party.

“It’s actually a strategic decision,” he said, explaining that it provides Republican voters who don’t want to support Romney a way to vote for a “true Republican.”

When people have said voting for him would be a wasted vote, Aalders said he thinks the same thing about voting for Romney.

“I believe in the Republican Party’s platform,” he said. “It’s the same as the Constitution Party’s platform.”

Gary Welch, a Constitution Party member, said the difference between the Republican and Constitution parties can be seen in their commitment to the principles of the Constitution and its application in government.

Aalders, who has poured $100,000 of his own money into his campaign thus far, asked for the voters’ support beyond just showing up to a town hall and taking signs and bumper stickers.

“I need your help. I’ve done everything I can,” Aalders said, asking those present to spread the word about his platform and become more involved in the campaign. “You’re the difference. It’s all in your hands.”

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Twitter: @MoriKessler

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.

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10 Comments

  • jpff September 30, 2018 at 5:07 pm

    I intend to do some research into this guy and his stances. I have believed for a while that if we can take the majority away from both parties by placing a small group from other parties in, we could solve some of the problems we have going on. That small thrid party would be a very powerful voice in that it would decide the direction of important votes.

  • NickDanger September 30, 2018 at 9:00 pm

    I like Aalders. But I’ve heard this routine before. However altruistic his intentions may be now, after a short time in Washington he will/would be just as beholden to Corporate America as the rest of them. I think I’m going to vote for him anyway, I agree with his platform all the way. I am a bit concerned, however, about his statement, “I will never vote to put our country in debt.” It’s not that simple, and it bothers me that Mr. Aalders doesn’t seem to realize that.

  • KR567 October 1, 2018 at 6:06 am

    Hes just like the rest of them. he’s in it for himself folks. maybe he should look into going on a diet

    • Mike October 1, 2018 at 9:38 am

      lol from someone who doesn’t post a fb pic

  • iceplant October 1, 2018 at 7:05 am

    Just hoping I live long enough to see the death of the Republican party and conservatism in general.

    • Mike October 1, 2018 at 9:37 am

      you could move to Venezuela and experience life without the GOP and conservatives…..send us a post card.

      • iceplant October 1, 2018 at 10:55 am

        The Venezuela argument is weak and ill-informed.
        I prefer to stay right here in MY country and help rid it of foul vermin the old-fashioned way. VOTE ‘EM OUT!!!

  • Not_So_Much October 1, 2018 at 8:33 am

    Time will tell, but if Tim Aalders is elected, the people of Utah and the country will stand a much better chance of getting back on the Constitutional path. By everything I’ve found about Aalders, he has been consistent with his views on the issues. His opponent’s record has literally been everywhere. Tim Aalders has NOT taken contributions from the large banks unlike what his opponent has done.
    To all the naysayers, at a minimum we will be in a much better position to make the needed changes with Aalders. We would send a load and clear message to both major parties that they have both lost their way and they need to listen to the citizens. To all the registered Republicans reading this, you can remain in the party (hoping they will return to actually follow the platform) but, when sending in your ballot choose Tim Aalders for the US Senate.

  • tazzman October 1, 2018 at 2:54 pm

    He has my vote over carpetbagger Mitt.

  • Kristine October 3, 2018 at 9:18 pm

    I attended this meeting and was impressed with him. I will be voting for him even though I am a registered Republican. Until Republicans start voting with their feet, the party will continue producing the same product, and I have had enough. I want a senator who knows and will follow the Constitution.

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