Hello Coloradans,
I’m Pete Carr, or more formally, Peter J. Carr, candidate for Governor of Colorado. I’ve received a number of emails and calls, asking the same question: Who are you? Until now, I have not put up an “About” page. My candidacy is about Colorado, where we are and where we’re going. You’re going to learn real quick that I’m not a “me” person. Yes, a rare thing in politics, but I’ll tell you straight up, I am not a politician.
I will be addressing individual topics regarding my positions in other postings.
I was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. in 1951, raised in an Army family and an Army veteran. Most of my childhood was spent living overseas. I am what is described as a global nomad or third-culture kid. A global nomad is:
“…anyone of any nationality who has lived outside their parents’ country of origin (or their “passport country”) before adulthood because of a parent’s occupation.”(1)
A third-culture kid is:
“an individual who, having spent a significant part of the developmental years in a culture other than the parents’ culture, develops a sense of relationship to all of the cultures while not having full ownership in any. Elements from each culture are incorporated into the life experience”(1)
From “Global Nomads, The Pros and Cons”:
“Flexibility, tolerance and strong observation skills are cross cultural skills par excellence. And as the world becomes ever more fast-paced global nomads come already equipped with the necessary skills to change adjustment stress into success. As cultures and communities come increasingly into contact, global nomads know how to respect, observe and learn from cultural differences. We don’t assume that our way is the best or only way. We are life-long learners, and the world is our classroom. These are critical skills in a world looking for economic prosperity and peace, when in the past there has been a tendency to destroy what we don’t understand and annihilate those who are different.
…Global nomads tend to think quickly on our feet and can take the initiative to troubleshoot — but we often do so in a context of understanding the currents and observing the situation first.” (2)
It’s not that big a world, and people are not very different. This is one of those “been there, done that” moments!
The few times we could not follow dad when he was posted to Korea or Viet Nam, we lived in Detroit. I still have a strong connection to Michigan.
That constant moving led me to my present “day job”, driving over the road. I’ve been in the trucking business in one form or another since 1974. I have seen first hand exactly how our economy works from a practical perspective, and I’ve adopted the motto, as the Marines say, of “improvise, adapt and overcome”. Trucking is not just holding a steering wheel all day, its knowing and understanding law, regulations, public relations, seeing opportunities and improving the economy, one truckload at a time.
I was also an early adopter of the Internet and computer technology. For a time, I did web design, when HTML was the only thing available. In 1998, I created Chatmag.com, a directory and help site devoted to Internet communications. I was a strong believer in Social Networking long before the term came into existence. Chatmag was one of the first sites on the Internet that addressed online safety, and first to speak out against a group of vigilantes employed by Dateline NBC. I have testified as an expert witness in several cases stemming from a canceled series produced by NBC, and by taking a stand for the rule of law, have endured several death threats.
I lived in Colorado from 1975 until 1992, living in Westminster, Lamar and Limon. While living in Limon, I joined the Mennonite church, and although I have not transferred to a local church, I still adhere to the simple principles of faith in God, stewardship and service to mankind and our planet.
In 1992 I moved to Virginia when a Colorado based company I was working for opened an office in Manassas. In 2001, I moved south to Florida for a few years, and then back here to Colorado in 2008. Although I did live in two other states, the majority of that time was working for two different Colorado companies, ATSI and Fleet Car, both car hauling companies.
I’ve worked a farm and ranch south of Lamar, drove equipment, did whatever I needed to do to support my family.
I met Antoinette, my fiance, in Florida and when she enrolled in school here I moved back, right along with our three dogs, two cats, and a Ball Python. She is attending veterinary technician school (no surprise, given our menagerie). I saw what was happening in Colorado, the changes both good and bad, and, being a Carr, couldn’t stand on the sidelines.
A bit about the Carr family not sitting on the sidelines. Some of you may know the story of Ralph Carr, Governor of Colorado from 1939 to 1943. A recent book has been published on the life of Governor Carr, and I strongly encourage everyone to read it. Briefly, in the early days of World War II, the Federal Government wanted to create detention camps in the western States, interring both Japanese citizens and American citizens formerly from Japan. Governor Carr refused, citing that we do not put Americans in camps, that every citizen has equal protection and equal rights under the law. More information can be found on Wikipedia.
My dad hardly talked about Ralph Carr, although my mother used to say that “one of your fathers relatives told FDR to go to hell”. We all know the good natured banter between people, and I am sure mom was as proud of Ralph Carr as dad and the rest of us were. We were taught early on, stand for your principles, speak out against evil and injustice, have respect for others. Be self reliant, ready to help those around you, that government is not to run your life but to be there in time of need, and that government serves the people, not the other way around.
The Carr family has a long tradition of public and military service, tracing back to the Battle of Hastings in 1066, through the American Revolution, Thomas Jefferson family, on to modern times with Governor Ralph Carr of our great state of Colorado. I am one in a long line of people that believe in simple concepts, that each person has a duty to their mate, their family, their God, and their country.
I’d mentioned I grew up in an Army family. That was at a time when the Army had first become integrated several years prior to my birth, and that is the environment in which I was raised. We believed yes, that all people are created equal, to have respect for everyone. I had no contact with racism until we moved back to the States in the late 1950’s. From the first time I saw racism, I was determined not to tolerate racism and to speak out against racism, bigotry or discrimination in any form.
I hope that this gives you more insight into who I am. In summary, I’m a person who’s had a lifetime of experiences, worked for a living, and raised in what I believe was the best way possible.
While the other candidates will tell you of the great things they are going to do, I will lead a state government that stays off your back, out of your wallet, and gives you the freedom to do those great things.
Lets make it happen!
Pete Carr
To keep in touch with me, check my Contact Information, or follow me on Twitter. I look forward to hearing from you!
(1) Descriptions of both global nomads and third-culture kids from Global Nomads Washington Area.
(2) Worldweave.com Being a Global Nomad, The Pros and Cons.