John den Dulk

Fighting Berkeley’s leading leftist

By Derek Yee
From the November 2006 Print Edition

John den Dulk is the Republican candidate running against Democratic incumbent Barbara Lee for the Ninth Congressional District seat. A Berkeley native and a Cal alumnus, den Dulk has been involved in local politics as the City of Berkeley Chairman for the Republican Party. Before running for Congress, den Dulk had his own travel business in Berkeley. The California Patriot recently had the opportunity to interview den Dulk about his campaign objectives and experiences.

California Patriot: What made you decide to run for Congress?
John den Dulk: About one week before the California Republican Party Convention, there was a need for a Republican candidate to challenge Barbara Lee for the Ninth Congressional District seat. I was hoping that one of the Berkeley College Republicans would run, but none of them were eligible. One member met the age requirement but had not been a registered Republican for the required duration. I decided that I wanted to stand up to Barbara Lee and the leftist machine.

CP: What is your background in politics?
JDD: I first worked on Richard Nixon’s gubernatorial campaign as a teenage Republican in 1962. When trouble broke out in the Middle East with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Iran Hostage Crisis, I decided that I wanted to work on the Reagan-Bush campaign of 1980. I called my friend Edwin Meese, who was closely involved in the campaign and later went on to become President Reagan’s attorney general. I worked in the Reagan administration for six years in various capacities. I did a brief stint as a government worker, but did not like that job. During Reagan’s second term, my father fell ill and I returned to California.

CP: Who has had the most influence on your political career? Why?
JDD: As I mentioned before, Edwin Meese and former President Ronald Reagan shaped my political career. President Reagan’s press secretary Pete Hanaford was also very influential. I felt strongly about the work I did on the Reagan campaign. I interviewed with Newt Gingrich for a job during the Reagan administration, but I never accepted the job. I think it would have been a good opportunity for me.

CP: What is the main issue you’re campaigning on?
JDD: I am a strong supporter of the current administration’s policy against jihadism. Barbara Lee was the only member of Congress to vote against action in Afghanistan following the events of September 11, 2001. I want to reach out to those who I would like to call “JFK Democrats.” Barbara Lee is clearly not a “JFK Democrat.” John F. Kennedy supported a fairly strong foreign policy as well as tax cuts. Barbara Lee, on the other hand, is a leftist, radical Democrat. I hope that moderate Democrats will stand up to the leftist machine in Berkeley.

CP: What other issues are of importance to you?
JDD: Education is very important to me. I support a voucher program for private education. I would also favor other alternative programs such as magnet schools or charter schools. I also feel that crime is an issue. Those of us who live in Oakland know how Jerry Brown has done nothing to combat crime, especially the many gangs, during his tenure as mayor. That is why I support Chuck Poochigian for Attorney General.

One of the larger constituencies in Oakland is the African-American community. I feel that the Republican Party, the party of Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Earl Warren, has done more for the African-American community than the Democrats have as the party of slavery and segregation. I hope the African-American community in the Bay Area will see how the Republicans have truly advocated for their rights throughout the years.

CP: How have you been trying to get out your message?
JDD: I have spoken on KSFO on a couple of occasions. Additionally, we had a fundraiser in September with Edwin Meese as our guest speaker. Recently, I took a trip to Washington, D.C., and spoke to the Americans for Tax Reform and the Free Congress Foundation. I am fortunate to have Kathy McMichael, whom I worked with in the Reagan administration, as my campaign manager. She has made a difference in organizing my campaign efforts. I wanted my campaign headquarters to serve as a venue for the Berkeley College Republicans to gain experience in working for a political campaign. I also want to show my support for other Republican campaigns in California. Among others, I am campaigning for Tom McClintock, Chuck Poochigian, Jill Buck, and Darcy Linn.

CP: If you do not win this election, do you think you’ll run again?
JDD: I plan, as of now, to run again in 2008. I think that, after this election, I will have more name recognition and hopefully a better chance at fundraising. Next campaign, I definitely hope to spend less and fundraise more. I want to keep being the “Mr. Berkeley Conservative Gadfly.” In 2008, I hope that some of the Berkeley College Republicans will run for Assembly as well.

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