RYMAN SHOAF CHALLENGES U.S. REP. ANDER CRENSHAW IN FLORIDA

U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., will face a major Republican primary opponent in August as, retired Navy Capt. Ryman Shoaf, who briefly served on the staff of U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., last year, made the ballot by petition to challenge the congressman on the First Coast.

Shoaf will challenge Crenshaw in the Republican primary. “The time, effort and support our volunteers poured into this effort is a testament that Northeast Florida is hungry for new leadership in Washington,” said Shoaf, “I am truly humbled that thousands of concerned citizens across Northeast Florida would sign on to our campaign and place my name on the ballot.

“I am a firm believer that our representatives in Washington should reflect the values of the district they represent, not the special interests in D.C.,” Shoaf added. “The people I met and the issues they shared while I was collecting petitions indicate a deep concern for the direction of our country, which is why I am stepping out to make a difference.”

As posted by Kevin Derby of Sunshine State News, Shoaf talked to Kevin on Thursday, pointing to his 27 years in the Navy, including teaching at the National War College, and four years at the Citadel. “I’m not a career politician,” Shoaf said. “I’m a career naval officer.”

Shoaf said very few nations ever rebound when their spending and reliance on debt spin out of control. “I don’t like what I see in the debt,” Shoaf said.

Shoaf gave Crenshaw high marks for his defense positions but said the congressman needs to do a better job of following a strict construction of the U.S. Constitution. The former captain pointed to ratings from Heritage Action which rated Crenshaw below the average Republican congressman on following the Constitution. “I don’t see a lot of people up there obeying the Constitution,” Shoaf insisted. “Our founders gave us a good blueprint. We just aren’t following it.”

Saying politicians stay in Washington too long, Shoaf insisted that career politicians can fail their districts. “When you’re entrenched in the Washington, D.C. arena … you lose touch with your constituents,” Shoaf said.

Shoaf’s team told Sunshine State News on Friday that they plan to run a grassroots campaign, featuring meetings with conservatives and likely Republican primary voters and using new technologies to target likely supporters.

As reported by Bill Korach in The Report Card, Ryman Shoaf, is a retired U.S. Navy Captain is running for Congress in the 4th Congressional District of Florida because he believes that the Federal government is reaching far beyond its Constitutional authority. The current occupant is Ander Crenshaw. Mr. Shoaf said running for Congress was a family decision. He decided to run because he feels that most Republicans do not understand that the Democratic Party has made a hard left turn, and don’t know how to fight them. He says for Democrats, the Constitution is an obstacle, not the foundation of U.S. liberty. Mr. Shoaf, who taught at the prestigious National War College, has two masters degrees, one in Aeronautical Science and the other in Strategic Studies and National Security Affairs. Mr. Shoaf taught Saul Alinsky’s notorious “Rule for Radicals” and the National War College, and he believes that the Obama Administration is informed by Alinsky’s ideas. He personally met VP Joe Biden, Justice Scalia, and Democratic political operative Paul Begala in his teaching role at the National War College.

Mr. Shoaf says:

“Congress has a low approval rating because they are not doing their job. It is the responsibility of Congress to pass laws and control the public purse. Now it is governmental agencies that are passing laws at the encouragement and often executive orders of the President.”

Bill Korach in The Report Card interview continues as follows:

How does Mr. Shoaf feel about the Federal Government’s involvement in public education?

“Americans created nuclear power, heavier than air flight, the light bulb and countless other inventions all before the founding of The U.S. Department of Education. What has the USDE accomplished? Their spending has grown 375% since they were founded, while reading, and math scores have declined. The United States high school seniors rank 25th in Science and math among 35 developed nations. And why does the USDE need a security force, Glock pistols and shotguns?

There is a huge difference between supporting education, which of course I do, and spending $70 Billion for high salaried educational bureaucrats. Our students are becoming dumbed down because standards are now coming from Washington and are not being developed at the state and local level.”

Mr. Shoaf references Yale Professor William Graham Sumner speech “The Forgotten Man” made over 100 years ago:

“Sumner warned against elites making decisions for the rest of us. But that is just what we have in the Common Core. It will not work, because no matter what they say, Common Core has become a Federal program. It is brought to you be the same people who can’t pass a budget, ignore the Constitution and made a botch of Benghazi.”
Mr. Shoaf offers practical steps to reign in Federal spending and overreaching regulation:

“First, Congress has the power to cut the budgets of overreaching agencies. Each time an agency makes rules I would move to cut their budget until they learn their lesson. Second, if an agency bureaucrat tries to enforce a regulation that was not passed by Congress, that bureaucrat would be personally fined and punished. Congress has allowed itself to become neutered, and we need to take back our authority.

I admire fighters in the Senate and the House like Ted Cruz and Louis Gomert, but they need reinforcements. I would like to join them in the fight.”

Mr. Shoaf is a native of Mocksville, N.C. and graduate from The Citadel with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. He entered Naval Service upon graduation in May 1985. Upon completion of Basic Flight Training in Pensacola, Florida, Captain Shoaf reported to Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 41 for advanced training in the S-3A Viking aircraft. In March 1989, he reported to the VS-28 “Gamblers” at Cecil Field, Florida. While attached to VS-28, Captain Shoaf completed two Mediterranean deployments in USS Forrestal (CV 59), the last in support of Operation Provide Comfort.

In 1992, Commander Shoaf joined the VS-27 “Sea Wolves” as a Fleet Replacement Squadron Instructor.

In between numerous Puerto Rico Weapons detachments and student carrier qualifications, he received a Masters Degree in Aeronautical Science. In December 1994, Captain Shoaf was stationed in USS Enterprise (CVN 65) as a Catapult and Arresting Gear Officer and within three months became the only fully qualified “Shooter” in the Air Department. He was designated both Helicopter and Fixed Wing Aircraft Launch and Recovery Control Officer (Mini Boss) and Command
Duty Officer (underway). The Air Department won the “Yellow E” for battle efficiency during his time as the V-2 Division Officer.

In June 1997, Captain Shoaf joined the VS-21 “Fighting Red Tails” in Atsugi Japan, supporting the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. He was both an Administrative and Maintenance Officer. As the Maintenance Officer, his department was awarded the “Golden Wrench” for maintenance excellence, while at the same time the squadron was awarded the Battle “E”.

In August 1999, he reported to the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and graduated in June 2000 with a Masters of Arts degree in Strategic Studies and National Security Affairs. Captain Shoaf was selected to be the Officer–in-Charge of the Sea Control Weapons School (SCWS) in October 2000. A year later, SCWS was established as a command and Captain Shoaf was designated its first commanding officer. As C.O. of the Weapons School, he was responsible for all Post Fleet Replacement Squadron Training in the Viking Community. In April 2004, he assumed command of the VS-30 “Diamondcutters”. Following his second command tour, he became the Air Boss on board USS Enterprise in January 2006.

Captain Shoaf was selected in 2008 to teach National Security Strategy and Policy at the National War College in Washington D.C. He was also the senior officer in charge of the Navy Department for the college. His tour ended in 2012 with retirement after 27 years of service. Captain Shoaf accumulated over 3,500 hours in the S-3 and other aircraft and is the only Naval Flight Officer to have 1,000 carrier landings specifically in the Viking. Captain Shoaf has received the Navy Marine Corps Leadership Award and the Admiral James L. Holloway III Leadership Award for senior officers.