Curt Hayden
When Rick Riley, an intelligent, fun-loving and charismatic factory worker in Indiana, loses his job and decides to run for Congress, he encounters some unexpected opposition from the local Democratic party, his father, and his former boss, a multi-millionaire bent on revenge. After his campaign falters, he decides instead to run for President in the Democratic primaries on a lark, using the Internet as his medium.
In January, just weeks before the Iowa primary, an extraordinary event occurs that thrusts Riley into the limelight and lands him at the top of the polls. He considers such a prospect a hilarious turn of events, and he places everything in perspective, poking fun at the establishment and riding the wave despite an unorthodox platform.
He successfully thwarts the drastic tactics of his enemies, in particular his former boss, Fenton Stecher, and his primary opponent Mac Malone, the Senate Majority Leader from Texas. Along the way, he also falls in love with Joanne Schaffer, a Congresswoman from Arizona and another presidential candidate. Together, they change the whole idea of how politics works and challenge the stranglehold of special interests in Washington. If you ever wished for a presidential candidate who could tell it like it is and win the hearts of everyone, this book is for you.
Curt Hayden is the owner and editor of two monthly newspapers in southern Oregon. Throughout his career, he has volunteered on numerous national campaigns and personally helped organize two local campaigns in his hometown of Ashland, Oregon.
He served as a lobbyist for a public employee union in the Indiana Legislature for six years with his father, Walter Hayden, a long-time union organizer and politician in Indiana. As a reporter, he has written hundreds of articles in the last fourteen years, many of them covering local political issues.
Hayden has a bachelor's degree in Social Work and Sociology (Indiana University), a bachelor's degree in Education (Indiana University), a master's degree in Public Administration (Indiana University), and a master's degree in Biology (University of Colorado at Denver). He has never taken a course in journalism.
His first job after high school was as a proofreader for the Congressional Record in Washington, D.C. That job lasted two weeks until they discovered he could type 100 words a minute. He spent the rest of the summer of 1965 as a secretary to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Hayden has been married to Penny Colvin, a published author of five novels, for eleven years. They have three children: Alex, Catherine and Juliet.
Fenton Stecher twisted the Venetian blinds and scanned the parking lot of Hansen Automotive. Short-sighted pathetic fools. Every car in the lot was American made, despite the fact that the Japanese had cornered forty percent of the U.S. market. There wasn't a Nissan, Toyota or Honda to be seen.
Not one of these allegedly patriotic citizens wanted to buck the system and invest in the global marketplace. Especially not that hotshot little union president of theirs. Stecher could feel his blood pressure rise. A year ago, Hansen Automotive was prepared to strike a deal with all three major automakers in Japan, but the union...and that little bastard president of theirs...killed it. Ten million dollars down the drain. Stecher slowly closed the blinds and turned to face his management team.
'Gentlemen,' he said coldly, 'I've waited long enough. Let's get him up here.'
Randy Dodd coughed to clear his throat. 'Uh, I've already left two messages for him, Mr. Stecher. He should be here soon.'
Stecher fumed. Riley was taking his time just to goad him. 'Well, get up and call him again, goddamnit!'
Dodd got out of his chair quickly. 'But Mr. Stecher, I . . . '
'Just do it!' Stecher wanted to strike something. He turned and smashed the Venetian blinds, which buckled and quivered as one. Two of the slats bent and protruded out at ninety degree angles. Dodd hustled over to Fischer's desk and reached for the phone.
'Now see here, Fenton, just calm down a little.' Chuck Hansen sat in an over-sized armchair in the corner. He looked extremely uncomfortable. 'Mr. Dodd, just sit back and relax.'
'Who's the goddamn boss here?' Stecher thundered. 'Make the call, Dodd!'
Dodd looked over at Fischer, who nodded for him to continue. Hansen's face turned bright red. His right hand held a cigarette and rested on the chair. He flicked his fingers for Dodd to make the call, and some ashes fell to the floor.
What a trio. They reminded Stecher of dogs, each with his own personality. Ed Fischer was a bulldog, loyal to his master, right or wrong. Just point him in the right direction, and he wouldn't let go. Fischer had been with Stecher for over twenty years.
Chuck Hansen was 'Ol' Shep,' the reliable old sheepdog, wise beyond his years and disgustingly upright.
Stecher eyed Randy Dodd, who was nervously talking on the telephone. A yippy little toy poodle, nipping at your ankles and peeing all over the room. He grinned and turned to the window, raising the Venetian blinds and letting the sun drain in the room. When Riley was here, he wanted to blind the bastard. Rick Riley, an Irish Setter...independent, hyper, practically untrainable. He hated Irish Setters.
