Arthur Coday, Jr., (born December 13, 1962; also goes by Art Coday) was born in Charleston, South Carolina.[1] Art Coday is a conservative republican candidate for Washington State Representative in the 32nd District. Art Coday is passionate about politics and believes in fiscally responsible government and in the authority of the United States Constitution and the Washington State Constitution. Coday is a graduate of the University of Washington, where he studied cellular and molecular biology, and he went on to graduate studies at Harvard Medical School.
Art Coday is a physician and entrepreneur and owns his own medical practice and has had substantial experience running a business and managing personnel. He considers Washington State to be his home and he has lived there most of his life, although he has also lived in different parts of the country. Coday is Christian and a family man with a wife, children, and dogs. He and his wife have been very involved in the education of their children, including two years of homeschooling.
Education
Art Coday earned his bachelor of science degree in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Washington, where he graduated magna cum laude with a college honors. He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. In addition to residency training, Coday also has several years of experience working in medical research. He now practices general medicine. Coday sees mainly Medicare and Medicaid patients, and instead of having an office he sees them in their own home. He also sees nursing home patients.
Volunteer experience
Coday has had experience working in the financial industry as well as lots of volunteer experience. For a total of six years he spent one week each summer as a volunteer for the Seattle Children's Hospital and Medical Center Summer Camp. He has served on the board of two nonprofit organizations, including the Christian Medical and Dental Associations where he was on the Finance Subcommittee, and the North sound Christian School, where he served two years as the Treasurer and one year as the President. Coday also has experience running his own business and providing jobs in the form of his medical practice.
2010 State Representative Campaign
Endorsements
- The Association of Washington Business, Washington State’s oldest and largest statewide business association, has endorsed Dr. Art Coday for State Representative in the 32nd Legislative District, Position 1.[2]
- Dino Rossi has endorsed Art Coday for State Representative in the 32nd Legislative District.[3]
Political background
Art Coday has been active in politics since 2004 when he challenged the constitutionality of certain Washington State election laws in court.[4] He and one other individual challenged the legitimacy of Gov.-elect Christine Gregoire, a Democrat who lost the gubernatorial election, and then lost after a recount of the votes but paid for a second "recount," where she managed to beat Republican Dino Rossi by 133 votes in a hand-recount of 2.9 million ballots cast. Questions were raised after the county's second recount showed more votes counted than people had voted on November 2, 2004. Art Coday was particularly bothered that state law allowed the Democrats to order a hand recount if they came up with $730,000 needed as a deposit to cover the costs if the recount didn't reverse the results. Reading the state Constitution, Coday said it reads elections should be "free and equal."[5]
Art Coday wants to be Washington's next State Representative in the 32nd Legislative District, Position 1 in order to secure a bright and promising future for all Americans. During an interview with Steve Beren, Coday said that he believes "this is the most exciting political period in America since the Reagan years."[6] Coday says that, "America has been on the defensive," and that the future of our nation is endangered by the direction of the Obama administration and the Democratic Party.
Coday has offered his input on the most urgent needs for the Washington state government. He said, “The average American is hurting, and in the midst of that suffering, we have a government that is saddling us with unprecedented debt – we’re getting to a point where it is no longer merely objectionable, but a threat to our nation’s economic survival.” Coday described three actions as urgent: (1) reducing federal government spending, (2) cutting tax rates for individuals and businesses, and (3) paying down the national debt.
Patty Murray’s greatest vulnerability in the upcoming election is that she is, according to Coday, “[O]n board the Democratic train” and that “she’s identified with the unprecedented level of spending, the expansion of government, and intervention into the private sector.” Art Coday also said the Democrats “are leaving behind the center of the party” and that “Murray has been a team player” with Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid.
Health care
Art Coday is a medical doctor. Coday shares the conservative philosophy of limited government, combined with a strong national defense and fiscal responsibility.[7] He has said that government will not, and can not, improve our system and will only succeed in destroying it. Coday has pointed out that, "[T]he shortage of doctors and nurses is the biggest healthcare crisis in America," and that, even under the current system, many providers can’t participate and are leaving. "If we’re not able to attract the best and brightest, we’re all the worse off."
Immigration
On February 12, 2010, Democrat Representative Jim McDermott and Art Coday debated immigration politics and the Dream Act bill. On immigration, Coday has said, “We have to control our borders – it all starts there. There’s nothing to even talk about until we do that.” During the debate with McDermott, Dr. Arthur Coday said the following about current immigration policies and how politicians owe it to Americans to address the problem.
| “ | My concern about the Dream Act is that it's trying to treat the terrible symptoms we're having in America, [when the] underlining disease is that we have utterly failed to control the sovereignty of our territory. We're not controlling our borders, our coasts and our air space the way we need to. [We owe it to Americans] to address the problem. We need to control our borders so that immigration is done legally. If we don't control our borders we cannot make and enforce good policies that are humane and compassionate. [...] It's very difficult to make public policy over an individual case story, and unfortunately individual stories have driven public policy. In the medical profession we learned a long time ago that an individual, single episode or experience should not drive public medical policy or guidelines. You need large numbers of people and rigorous research to show the real trends on the issues, so you can make better decisions for more people over time. This discussion should be driven by the policy issues. Unfortunately, the more we make programs to facilitate people being here illegally, without controlling the borders, the greener the light gets to tell people all over the world 'just come here illegally, don't get in line and do it legally because once you're here we'll take care of you' and it puts people in a bind. The fact that [people are here illegally, in a bind] is because we haven't done our job.[8] | ” |
Cap and Trade
Art Coday is opposed to cap and trade legislation. He is on the other hand a strong supporter of the right to bear arms, and has said, "I’m all for the Second Amendment – it means what it says. It’s not just recreation and entertainment. The right to defend ourselves is one of the most fundamental rights. It is foundational to preserving the balance of power in society."[6]
Tea Party Movement
Coday said that the Tea Party movement and the townhall healthcare protests "are both symptomatic of the fact that ordinary Americans feel left out of the discussion. And the changes being proposed are so dramatic that it’s really unfair. So I’m glad that they’re protesting, and that they are being heard."[6] Coday believes that these grassroots movements have been a deciding factor in pushing some Democratic Senators and Congressmen to oppose the radical healthcare policies of Obama and the Democratic leadership.
Future of GOP
Regarding the future of the GOP, Coday said of Republicans that, "we need to be proud of our roots and our heritage, and the story they tell is a noble one." He emphasized that the founders of the Republican Party put their "lives on the line in a bloody civil war" to stand up for the principles of freedom and equality before the law.
Coday outlined what he sees as the basic principles of the Republican Party, then and now:
- (1) devotion to protecting our constitution and our republic,
- (2) limited and accountable government to prevent encroachments on liberty,
- (3) individual rights and individual responsibilities, and
- (4) the “foundational virtues” of family, faith, marriage, and the right to life.
Art Coday reiterated the 4th principle, and he said, "We acknowledge God in the public discourse. Our unalienable rights come from God."
References
- ↑ http://artcoday.com/
- ↑ AWB President Don Brunell noted, “This fall, voters will have the opportunity to make some crucial decisions about the future of our state, how we position ourselves to emerge from this recession. The leaders we send or return to the Legislature will face many pressing issues, including how to deal with a growing $4.5 billion budget deficit. During our Policy Summit...our members continued to express their concerns about the economy, taxation, job creation and competitiveness. AWB’s endorsements reflect those concerns, and those of the 7,000+ small, medium and large employers we represent.”
- ↑ http://artcoday.com/endorsements.html
- ↑ Rebecca Cook. Two court challenges filed in governor's race, AP reports, The Seattle Times, January 06, 2005.
- ↑ David Postman. GOP expected to file suit over Gregoire's win, The Seattle Times, January 07, 2005.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Steve Beren. Senatorial hopeful Art Coday: Patty Murray tied to "very extreme" policies of Obama, Reid, Pelosi, RedCounty.com, December 17, 2009.
- ↑ DS.White. Senate race in Washington State, RedState, February 13, 2010.
- ↑ Immigration Debate Between Jim McDermott and Arthur Coday, KCTS9, February 12, 2010.