Born and raised in Minnesota, I've been a resident of New Jersey since 1986. I'm married with a daughter in college and a son in middle school, and I work fulltime in information systems.

I grew up in a union household, an ethnic Catholic family -- my parents were traditional Democrats. When I came of voting age I, too, voted Democratic. In my first presidential election I voted for Jimmy Carter. What can I say about the wimp from Plains, GA? So four years later I voted for Ronald Reagan. At the presidential level I've voted Republican ever since. (I don't believe in third parties; it was those well-intentioned, yet naive Ross Perot voters who gave us Bill Clinton.)

When I moved to New Jersey I registered as a Democrat and subsequently voted for Jim Florio for governor. Needless to say, Joltin' Jim was a big disappointment. I vowed never again to vote Democratic. I have kept that promise, at least in general elections. However, I did maintain my registration in the Democratic party -- until 2000 when I wanted to vote for Alan Keyes. So now I'm a registered Republican, and that suits me just fine.

Between my family and my job I don't have as much time as I would like for Free Republic. But I do try every day to at least scan the major headlines.