Jim Gilchrist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James "Jim" Gilchrist (born 1949) is the founder of the Minuteman Project, a group whose aim is to prevent illegal immigration across the USA's southern border.[1] Gilchrist was removed as head of the Minuteman project amid allegations of financial mishandling.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Gilchrist holds a B.A. in newspaper journalism, a B.S. in business administration, and an MBA in taxation. He is a former newspaper reporter and a retired California CPA (Certified Public Accountant).
Gilchrist is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and recipient of the Purple Heart award for wounds sustained while serving with an infantry unit in Vietnam, 1967 - 1969.
He currently resides in Aliso Viejo, California, with his wife, Sandy.[3]
[edit] Minuteman Project
As head of the Minuteman Project, Gilchrist advocates increased border enforcement and apprehension of illegal immigrants. Gilchrist split with fellow founder Chris Simcox, who founded the similarly named Minuteman Civil Defense Corps in December 2005. Gilchrist was removed by people claiming to be the Minuteman Project's board of directors in February 2007, after they alleged that Gilchrist failed to secure nonprofit status, could not account for funds spent, and other mismanagement.[4] An injunction has been issued preventing the board members from using the name of the "Minuteman Project", but a final ruling has not been issued.[5]
[edit] 2005 Election Bid
Gilchrist ran as an American Independent Party candidate for the United States House of Representatives representing California's 48th Congressional District to replace Republican Chris Cox, who resigned to become Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
In the low-turnout open primary for Cox's seat held on October 4, 2005, Gilchrist finished behind two Republicans but ahead of all other candidates, including Democrats. He received 14.8% of the vote (a total of 13,423 votes). He was the only one running under his party, and therefore automatically advanced into the run-off.
Gilchrist lost to Republican John Campbell in the December 6 general election, receiving 25.5% (26,507) of the vote. Campbell received 44.4% (46,184), Steve Young (Democrat) 27.8% (28,853), Bea Tiritilli (Green) 1.4% (1,430), Bruce Cohen (Libertarian) 0.9% (974).
Gilchrist has provided conservative opinions on various issues but emphasized that immigration and the border is the primary issue from which the others flow.
He has stated that he would consider a presidential run in 2008 with the Constitution Party should the two major parties offer candidates with no proactive history in immigration law mination.[6]
[edit] Religious Views
Gilchrist is a conservative Roman Catholic who has said he voted for Michael Peroutka in 2004 for president. He is strongly anti-abortion, libertarian on issues of education and health care, supports tax cuts and repeals and a more secure Medicare and Social Security system. Gilchrist is registered with the American Independent Party, the California affiliate of the Constitution Party, and is an adamant immigration law enforcement advocate.
[edit] Criticism
According to a report from the Southern Poverty Law Center, Gilchrist willingly allowed members of the National Alliance, one of the United States' largest neo-Nazi organizations, to help with his 2005 House run. Gilchrist has claimed that he refuses to work with white supremacists, but the SPLC report questioned his sincerity. The report interviewed a former volunteer in Gilchrist's campaign who said that "they were basically allowing skinheads and white nationalists to work the phone banks and do IT and distribute National Alliance fliers targeting non-whites," and that "[when I told them] that didn't want to work for a campaign that was tainted by white supremacy in any way, they told me not to cause a stir."[7]
In a March, 2006 interview with the Orange County Register, Gilchrist stopped just short of calling for his followers to pick up their guns.
"I'm not going to promote insurrection, but if it happens, it will be on the conscience of the members of Congress who are doing this," he said. "I will not promote violence in resolving this, but I will not stop others who might pursue that."[1]
[edit] Books
- "Minutemen: The Battle to Secure America's Borders", by Jim Gilchrist, Jerome R. Corsi, and Congressman Tom Tancredo (25 July, 2006) - World Ahead Publishing ISBN 0-9778984-1-5
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official Gilchrist for Congress web site
- Orange County Organizer: Interview with Jim Gilchrist
- Orange County Organizer: Audio of Gilchrist interviews and speeches
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://www.splcenter.org/intel/news/item.jsp?aid=13
- ^ Jennifer Delson. "A Minuteman meets his hour of crisis: Minuteman Project co-founder Jim Gilchrist is battling three of his board members in court for control of the organization", Los Angeles Times, March 11, 2007.
- ^ http://www.minutemanproject.com/index.php?navaction=DoTemplate&TemplateName=Content_List.html&keyname=idContentMainCat&keyvalue=1
- ^ http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-minuteman-project-dispute,1,4499416.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines
- ^ http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-gilchrist24mar24,1,7366862.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california
- ^ http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49985
- ^ http://www.splcenter.org/center/splcreport/article.jsp?aid=150
Categories: Living people | 1949 births | United States presidential candidates | People from California | People from Aliso Viejo, California | Roman Catholic politicians | Recipients of the Purple Heart medal | Military personnel of the Vietnam War | United States Marines | California constitutionalists
