Kieran Lalor

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Kieran Michael Lalor

Kieran Michael Lalor speaking at the National Press Club
Place of birth Wappingers Falls, New York
Allegiance United States of America
Years of service 2001–2007
Rank Corporal (USMC)
Battles/wars *Operation Iraqi Freedom
*Katrina disaster relief
Awards Marine Corps Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal

Kieran Michael Lalor is an American politician who is the founder of the Eternal Vigilance Society and Iraq Vets for Congress organizations. He works in a overnight security position at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York, and is a law school graduate, a former social studies teacher, and a Marine Corps veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Although Lalor is the party-endorsed Republican candidate candidate vying for Congress in New York's 19th congressional district, is seeking to unseat freshman incumbent Democrat John Hall, he faces a possible primary challenge in September of 2008.[1][2] Lalor is a resident of Peekskill, New York.

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[edit] Early career and background

Lalor was born in Wappingers Falls, New York, graduated from Providence College. He then worked as a Social Studies teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Lalor enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in July 2000 and thereafter was in the Marine Corp reserves.[3] At basic training, he was the second oldest recruit in his platoon.[4] Lalor then enrolled at Pace University School of Law, but left school when his reserve infantry unit was called to active service after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, with Lalor training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina as part of a "ready reaction force."[3] Lalor's unit was demobilized in December 2002 but was activated again in March 2003 and deployed to Iraq.[3][4] While in Iraq, Lalor's unit participated in security and humanitarian operations in the city of Nasiriyah, located along the Euphrates River in southern Iraq.[4].

During his Marine Corps service, Kieran also trained on Mount Fuji, Japan, led a Fire Team of Marines in NATO training exercise Operation Battle Griffon in Trondheim, Norway and worked with Ukrainian Naval Infantry and Turkish Marines in Non-combatant Evacuation Operations and amphibious assault tactics during Operation Sea Breeze in Odessa, Ukraine.[original research?] In 2005, Lalor was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his volunteer efforts as part of search and rescue operations following Hurricane Katrina, which recognized meritorious service sustained noncombat performance of a superlative nature but which does not warrant a Commendation Medal or higher.[5]

Upon his return from Iraq, Lalor returned to the Pace University School of Law and graduated in 2007. His six year military obligation ended in 2007, and Lalor achieved the rank of Corporal.[original research?]

[edit] Political career

Kieran Lalor
Political party Republican
Spouse Mary Jo Lalor
Children 2
Residence Peekskill, New York
Alma mater Providence College (B.A.)
Pace Law School (J.D.)
Occupation Security Guard[citation needed]

[edit] Eternal Vigilance Society (EVS)

Upon returning from Iraq, Lalor founded a Political Action Committee, which focused promoting policies and candidates committed to victory in America's Global War on Terror, known as the Eternal Vigilance Society. The organization states that it draws its name and spirit from President Thomas Jefferson’s belief that "The Price of Freedom Is Eternal Vigilance." The organization has organized "support the troops" rallies and sent packages to overseas military personnel. In 2007, Lalor also raised more than $8,000 for the Boston Children's Hospital.[6] Conservative pundit Michelle Malkin stated that "If you haven’t checked out Eternal Vigilance Society, you should."[7]

In part through EVS, has published various opinion pieces in the New York Post, Washington Times, Poughkeepsie Journal, New York Journal News and Times-Herald Record. Lalor also appeared on the John Gambling show on Fox News Channel and 770 WABC radio to articulate support for the Iraq War.

[edit] Iraq Vets for Congress (IVC)

Lalor is the founder of Iraq Vets for Congress, a group of Republicans Congressional candidates who served in Iraq.[8] Lalor and IVC have generated national interest and has been discussed by Newsweek, the Weekly Standard, and by media in the 19th Congressional District.[9][10][11] On behalf of the group, Lalor addressed the National Press Club in April of 2008.[12]

[edit] 2008 Congressional Campaign

 This article contains information about one or more candidates in an upcoming or ongoing election.
Content may change as the election approaches.
Main article: New York's 19th congressional district election, 2008

Lalor declared his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in November 2007. Lalor was the first candidate to file paperwork as a candidacy for the 2008 race.[13] The 19th district is considered vulnerable, and Hall has been targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee.[14] Lalor was joined in the Republican race by ex-Congressman Joseph DioGuardi, County legislator George Oros, and businessman Andrew Saul, a Bush appointee as Chairman of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board and a board member of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

Saul withdrew from the race for the Republican nomination on November 20, 2007, citing personal reasons.[15] As of his Oct. 15th report, Saul had raised more than $781,000 for the race, out raising even the incumbent, while Lalor had raised less than $30,000, leading pundits to question his viability as a candidate in an election year where the Republican party is looking for candidates who self-finance.[16][17][18] On May 22, 2008, Republican delegates from each of the five counties represented in the 19th district met in Mahopac, New York to endorse a candidate, and chose Lalor, with 347 votes going to the Iraq veteran, 311 going to Oros, and 102 going to DioGuardi.[1] Oros vowed to wage a primary challenge.[2]

In connection with his campaign, Lalor has appeared on Fox News Channel, Pundit Review Radio, and other media and was described by blogger Brian Faughnan of the Weekly Standard as "a bright, hard-working, and energetic candidate, who is proud to call himself a Reagan Republican."[10] Lalor believed a conservative candidate would have the best chance of unseating Hall.[13] He garnered attention, leveling criticism Hall's Republican predecessor, Sue Kelly, as being too liberal, and criticized the Republican frontrunner Andrew Saul, by saying "He's Sue Kelly all over again"[19], as well as criticizing former Governor George Pataki for his endorsement of Oros, stating that "In 1995, George Pataki became governor of what would become the largest, most inefficient state government in the nation".[20]

Lalor has been an outspoken critic of Congressman Hall since he took office, and has been quoted as saying that "John Hall went to the floor of the House and said we can't win. When an elected official — my only voice in the House — gives up in one of his first speeches, it's unconscionable."[21]

In September 2007, Lalor criticized Hall for refusing to condemn MoveOn.org after the group ran an ad attacking Gen. David Petraeus, who is a native of the Cornwall, New York and a graduate of United States Military Academy, both of which are located in the 19th Congressional District.[22] In the article, Lalor wrote that, "Hall and his ilk are busily feigning support for the military and for veterans while at the same time carrying out the left's marching orders in Washington with one destructive anti-military vote after another." Lalor criticized Hall for refusing to cancel a fundraising concert by David Crosby that took place days after Crosby appeared on MSNBCs Hardball with Chris Matthews and criticized the U.S. military's mission in Iraq, stating, "On the one hand, you have got a young kid who is patriotic, who loves his country, believes in it. And he‘s being told, yes, this is the truth. And we have got to go in there to protect your mother and your sister...And he goes over and he finds out the job is killing somebody else‘s mother and sister."[23][24]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "It’s Lalor against Hall in the 19th Congressional District". Mid-Hudson News. May 23, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Blain, Glenn. "Lalor gets convention vote but primary looms". The Journal News. May 23, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c "Kieran Michael Lalor – Founder & Executive Director". Eternal Vigilance Society. Retrieved May 23, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c Kouri, Jim. "Kieran Michael Lalor for US Congress". The Conservative Voice. September 2, 2007.
  5. ^ "Navy/Marine Corp Achievement Medal". Naval Education and Training Command. Retrieved April 14, 2008.
  6. ^ Marathoning dad raises $8,000 for children's hospital. Colaizzo, Pete. Poughkeepsie Journal, April 17, 2007.
  7. ^ Eternal Vigilance Society Homepage, retrieved on July 20, 2007.
  8. ^ Lalor, Kieran. "Iraq Vets for Congress". American Thinker. March 17, 2008.
  9. ^ Botti, David. "Interview: An Iraq Vet Runs for Congress". Newsweek. March 5, 2008.
  10. ^ a b Goldfarb, Michael. "Iraq Veterans for Congress". Weekly Standard. February 2008.
  11. ^ James, Alexa. "Times Herald-Record". Times Herald Record.
  12. ^ Millman, Joel, and Farnam, T.W. "Republican Iraq Vets Seek 17 House Seats". Wall Street Journal. April 8, 2008.
  13. ^ a b First potential Hall opponent steps forward. Wilbur, Martin. North County News, 2007.
  14. ^ National GOP targets Hall for 2008. Elan, Susan. The Journal News. May 27, 2007.
  15. ^ Kraushaar, Josh. "GOP Recruit Against Hall To Drop Out", CBS News, November 20, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. 
  16. ^ Hernandez, Ramyond. "Short of Funds, G.O.P. Recruits the Rich to Run". New York Times. November 26, 2007.
  17. ^ Blain, Glenn"Saul abandons race against Hall". Journal News.
  18. ^ "Individuals Who Gave To This Committee KIERAN MICHAEL LALOR 2008". Federal Elections Commission. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
  19. ^ "Republicans Line Up to Challenge Freshman Congressman". NRCC. May 22, 2007.
  20. ^ Blain, Glen. "Lalor responds to Pataki’s endorsement of Oros". Journal News. April 9, 2008.
  21. ^ Blain, Glenn. "An early shot at Hall". Journal News. September 12, 2007.
  22. ^ Lalor, Kieran. "General Petraeus' Congressman". American Thinker. September 15, 2007.
  23. ^ "Transcript. 'Hardball with Chris Matthews' for Oct 15.". MSNBC. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
  24. ^ Tumulty, Brian. "Hall stands by singer David Crosby, despite Iraq comments". Journal News. October 23, 2007.

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Lalor, Kieran
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Lalor, Kieran Michael
SHORT DESCRIPTION Politician
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH Wappingers Falls, New York
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH