Former Klingon Running For Congress In NY's 23rd District

ULYSSES, NY — An actor turned town board member in western New York has launched a bid to unseat Republican Tom Reed in New York's 23rd Congressional District. And J.G. Hertzler is planning to do a lot of his campaigning while acting the part of Mark Twain.

On his new website, Hertzler explains his decision to run.

"Why not me?" We cannot wait for change to happen, certainly not in the hands of Tom Reed. New York cannot wait. This country cannot wait. So I decided to stand up and say, "Why Not Me!"
Elect me and I promise to fight on the floor of the HOUSE for the farmers of the 23rd, the union and non-union workers of the 23rd, the Veterans of the 23rd, the elderly, infirm and poor of the 23rd. I will not fight for tax reform that benefits the rich.

He said he also opposed the GOP's efforts to dismantle Medicaid and privatize Social Security and the public schools.

"Greed, corruption, stupidity and fear are the hobgoblins of bad government, and someone needs to beat them off of our country with a stick," is the final message on his campaign video.

Hertzler said the Twain connection is in honor of both the American humorist and Hal Holbrook, known for his brilliant one-man stage show depicting Twain.

Why is Mark Twain joining me? Because Mark Twain was a hundred years before his time, supporting women's rights, civil rights, literacy for all. He was an inventor and supported invention wherever he found it. He was a futurist and a humanitarian. Its time for Mark Twain!

A Ulysses town board member since 2013, Hertzler was an Air Force brat. According to his IMDb page, "My father was career Air Force, my mother was career Latin and French high school teacher."

He played a Klingon leader in several episodes of "Star Trek Deep Space 9." Among his films and TV credits are "General Hospital," "Pirates of Silicon Valley" and "Zorro."

VIDEO/ Bryan Root. "At the Savage Club of London, June 8th, 2017, Mark Twain (J.G. Hertzler) announces his 2018 run for the 23 congressional district of New York—a seat currently held by Tom Reed, who he compares to a snake. J.G. Hertzler has called the famous cynic from his grave to do battle with the Republican Incumbent, despite Twain's assertions that “All Congresses and Parliaments have a kindly feeling for idiots, and a compassion for them, on account of personal experience and heredity.” and “Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.” It should be interesting."