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The Villages
Friday, March 29, 2024

Candidate who plans to oppose Rep. Nugent visits The Villages

David Koller, left, and Bob Janson Saturday at Colony Cottage Recreation Center.
David Koller, left, and Bob Janson Saturday at Colony Cottage Recreation Center.

David Koller, who will run against incumbent U.S. Rep. Rich Nugent in the upcoming November election, was received with warm applause Saturday morning by the Villages Democratic Club at Colony Cottage Recreation Center.

He was introduced by club president, Bob Janson.

Originally from New York’s Long Island, Koller has always been involved in hands-on counseling and assistance for the developmentally disabled and disadvantaged — teaching skills and coaching young people to qualify for gainful employment and community participation.

“We don’t take care of our vets as we should,” Koller said with conviction. “In 2013, there were 1,900 veteran suicides — more than were killed overseas. Veterans have a higher rate of unemployment in our nation compared with any other group. That is unacceptable! If you are not rich,” he continued, “you will be left behind. We CAN afford to take care of our citizens. We CAN afford to preserve and expand Medicare and Medicaid. We want to take care of America’s many vulnerable citizens who are struggling to get by. I won’t back any laws which leave people behind.”

“If we want to take our government back from legislative gridlock for ‘we the people,’ Koller proposed, “we are going to need Democrats to get out and get out the vote. We need you to volunteer. We need your time and your money.” Koller believes there are a lot of Republicans who, in moments of clarity, share his views — who think as the social progressives do. “This is not about Democrats or Republicans — this is about America,” he said. “America must come before party. There is a very noisy, very rich, bunch of people out there who want to keep things for themselves.”

“The GOP is leaving the people out of their decisions,” Koller said. “We need to fix our roads and bridges. We can put many people to work repairing our infrastructure. We need a jobs bill. How are we supposed to build our country if we won’t even invest in it? I believe in the American worker,” he said, “in American industry and the American dream. We need to enable people to work, and we need to unburden our students. They graduate with high student loan debt and only minimum wage jobs available to them. This is unacceptable.”

Koller moved to Ocala in 1996 with his wife, Victoria, stepdaughter Hannah Wilson, and three daughters: Abigail, Cassidy and Lillith. He used to wear a pony tail, and periodically donated it to Locks of Love, who make wigs for children with cancer. “I don’t have my pony tail any more,” Koller said, “because it distracted people from what we are really about — helping middle class Americans.”

“Let’s stop creating an environment where only the wealthy citizens make our tax laws,” Koller admonished. “Let us not blame Republicans or Democrats. We need an answer for all Americans. …And we need to get back into NASA — it’s about creating jobs and American pride.”

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