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Jen Richer
WMAL.com
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. -- Tito the Builder, made famous by then-vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, is considering a run for the Virginia General Assembly.
Tito Munoz has formed a political action committee and plans to spend the next few weeks talking to local voters.
The Prince William County resident says he's not sure whether he'd seek a House or Senate seat. He made headlines in 2008 when he appeared on stage with Sarah Palin during a campaign rally.
He later campaigned for Governor McDonnell and was appointed to the state Board of Housing and Community Development.
(Copyright 2011 by 630 WMAL News. All rights reserved.)
Friday, April 15, 2011
DALE CITY, Va. -- Tito “The Builder” Munoz is now considering a run for the Virginia General Assembly.
Munoz, who rose to some national prominence when he spoke at a McCain-Palin campaign rally in 2008, has announced that he is forming an exploratory political action committee called “TitoPAC” to figure out if he should run.
Munoz is against illegal immigration, supports the Economic Development and Job Creation Commission co-chaired by Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and senior economic advisor Bob Sledd, and opposes any kind of “welfare state.”
Munoz who describes himself as a “right wing conservative” held a telephone press conference to announce the formation of TitoPAC.
He said that he is considering a run because people are still upset with government, and he gets it.
“People across America have spoken loudly and clearly over the past couple of years that they are frustrated by their government – in Washington, and in many cases here at home,” said Munoz. “While Governor McDonnell has been an excellent leader for Virginia, there are clearly some in the General Assembly who have not gotten the message,” said Munoz, who owns a Woodbridge commercial construction company.
Munoz, who immigrated to the United States from Colombia in the late 1970s, moved to Dale City in 1996 and was naturalized in 2008, said he is against illegal immigration, supports the Economic Development and Job Creation Commission co-chaired by Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and senior economic advisor Bob Sledd, and opposes any kind of “welfare state.”
Munoz said the economy is not working because decisions are taken from people by the government.
“We have to let people make their own decisions about their lives, about their families, how to create jobs and move the economy,”said Munoz, 50, who holds two associate degrees, one in civil engineering and one in construction management, from Northern Virginia Community College.
Munoz said the biggest concern facing Virginia is jobs. Munoz would run to remove “obstacles” that stand in the way of small businesses which can create jobs.
One of the obstacles is high fuel prices and Munoz supports drilling for oil off the coast of Virginia.
“It makes no sense to complain about our dependency on foreign oil when we have oil here,” he said.
Munoz said that he recognizes that transportation is a problem in Northern Virginia. He wouldn’t raise taxes to improve it, but would instead rely on “innovation.”
Munoz created the Conservative Hispanic Coalition in Northern Virginia and supports the Tea Party movement and Americans for Prosperity along with FreedomWorks. He said his activism within those groups has shown him that people believe that the government needs to get out of the way.
“It is clear to me that many others agree that the government very often is an impediment to achieving our success,” said Muñoz, who hosts “America Eres TU” or “America Is You” on Radio WURA 920AM in Quantico.
Munoz said he couldn’t say whether he was considering a run for the House of Delegates or the Virginia Senate or which district he would run in.
“I’m just waiting to find out when they’re going to finish the redistricting and what is the situation and where I’m going to be located and then I will probably have a better answer,” Munoz said.
Senior reporter Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.
Munoz is against illegal immigration, supports the Economic Development and Job Creation Commission co-chaired by Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and senior economic advisor Bob Sledd, and opposes any kind of “welfare state.”
Munoz who describes himself as a “right wing conservative” held a telephone press conference to announce the formation of TitoPAC.
He said that he is considering a run because people are still upset with government, and he gets it.
“People across America have spoken loudly and clearly over the past couple of years that they are frustrated by their government – in Washington, and in many cases here at home,” said Munoz. “While Governor McDonnell has been an excellent leader for Virginia, there are clearly some in the General Assembly who have not gotten the message,” said Munoz, who owns a Woodbridge commercial construction company.
Munoz, who immigrated to the United States from Colombia in the late 1970s, moved to Dale City in 1996 and was naturalized in 2008, said he is against illegal immigration, supports the Economic Development and Job Creation Commission co-chaired by Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and senior economic advisor Bob Sledd, and opposes any kind of “welfare state.”
Munoz said the economy is not working because decisions are taken from people by the government.
“We have to let people make their own decisions about their lives, about their families, how to create jobs and move the economy,”said Munoz, 50, who holds two associate degrees, one in civil engineering and one in construction management, from Northern Virginia Community College.
Munoz said the biggest concern facing Virginia is jobs. Munoz would run to remove “obstacles” that stand in the way of small businesses which can create jobs.
One of the obstacles is high fuel prices and Munoz supports drilling for oil off the coast of Virginia.
“It makes no sense to complain about our dependency on foreign oil when we have oil here,” he said.
Munoz said that he recognizes that transportation is a problem in Northern Virginia. He wouldn’t raise taxes to improve it, but would instead rely on “innovation.”
Munoz created the Conservative Hispanic Coalition in Northern Virginia and supports the Tea Party movement and Americans for Prosperity along with FreedomWorks. He said his activism within those groups has shown him that people believe that the government needs to get out of the way.
“It is clear to me that many others agree that the government very often is an impediment to achieving our success,” said Muñoz, who hosts “America Eres TU” or “America Is You” on Radio WURA 920AM in Quantico.
Munoz said he couldn’t say whether he was considering a run for the House of Delegates or the Virginia Senate or which district he would run in.
“I’m just waiting to find out when they’re going to finish the redistricting and what is the situation and where I’m going to be located and then I will probably have a better answer,” Munoz said.
Senior reporter Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.
‘Tito the Builder’ considers run for Va. General Assembly By Jennifer Buske
Prince William County resident Tito Muñoz –also known as Tito the Builder- has formed a political action committee and is considering running for the Virginia General Assembly.
“Many friends have told me and asked me to consider running,” Muñoz said in an interview Thursday. “While Gov. [Bob] McDonnell ( R) has been an excellent leader for Virginia, there are clearly some in the General Assembly who have not gotten the message.”
Muñoz, 50, briefly took the spotlight during the 2008 presidential campaign when he made an appearance on stage with former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and gained the nickname Tito the Builder. He later campaigned for McDonnell and was appointed to the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development.
Muñoz is still contemplating whether he would seek a house or senate seat and said he would spend the next few weeks talking to voters to gauge their interest in his candidacy. If he chooses to run for senate, it would either be to challenge Sen. Toddy Puller (D), who is running for re-election, or Sen. Chuck Colgan (D), who hasn’t said whether he is running yet. The seat depends on which redistricting proposal is adopted. It also is unclear what house seat he would run for.
The owner of a commercial construction company in Woodbridge and a conservative Latino voice on the radio, Muñoz said job creation and economic expansion are both important issues to him. Education, energy independence and transportation are also issues he plans to address if he runs for the General Assembly.
“I want people to achieve the American dream like I did,” said Muñoz, who was born in Colombia but became a U.S. citizen in 2008. “My biggest concern is jobs. There needs to be less regulations and less obstacles for people to obtain and open a business.”
This is not the first time Muñoz has contemplated running for office. Last year, he told The Washington Post he was considering challenging Prince William Board Chairman Corey. A. Stewart in the Republican primary.
Staff writer Anita Kumar contributed to this report.
“Many friends have told me and asked me to consider running,” Muñoz said in an interview Thursday. “While Gov. [Bob] McDonnell ( R) has been an excellent leader for Virginia, there are clearly some in the General Assembly who have not gotten the message.”
Muñoz, 50, briefly took the spotlight during the 2008 presidential campaign when he made an appearance on stage with former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and gained the nickname Tito the Builder. He later campaigned for McDonnell and was appointed to the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development.
Muñoz is still contemplating whether he would seek a house or senate seat and said he would spend the next few weeks talking to voters to gauge their interest in his candidacy. If he chooses to run for senate, it would either be to challenge Sen. Toddy Puller (D), who is running for re-election, or Sen. Chuck Colgan (D), who hasn’t said whether he is running yet. The seat depends on which redistricting proposal is adopted. It also is unclear what house seat he would run for.
The owner of a commercial construction company in Woodbridge and a conservative Latino voice on the radio, Muñoz said job creation and economic expansion are both important issues to him. Education, energy independence and transportation are also issues he plans to address if he runs for the General Assembly.
“I want people to achieve the American dream like I did,” said Muñoz, who was born in Colombia but became a U.S. citizen in 2008. “My biggest concern is jobs. There needs to be less regulations and less obstacles for people to obtain and open a business.”
This is not the first time Muñoz has contemplated running for office. Last year, he told The Washington Post he was considering challenging Prince William Board Chairman Corey. A. Stewart in the Republican primary.
Staff writer Anita Kumar contributed to this report.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Tito “The Builder” Muñoz Forms Political Action Committee - Will Explore Run for Virginia General Assembly
“I was born in Colombia, but I was made in the U.S.A.”
- Tito “The Builder” Muñoz
PRINCE WILLIAM – Tito Muñoz, owner of a small commercial construction company in Woodbridge, Virginia, today announced that he has formed a Political Action Committee – TitoPAC – and that he is exploring a run for the Virginia General Assembly. Muñoz, given the nickname “Tito the Builder” soon after an appearance by Sarah Palin in 2008, is a well-known conservative activist in Northern Virginia and frequently on the national stage.
“People across America have spoken loudly and clearly over the past couple of years that they are frustrated by their government – in Washington, and in many cases here at home,” said Muñoz. “While Governor McDonnell has been an excellent leader for Virginia, there are clearly some in the General Assembly who have not gotten the message.”
Muñoz, a native of Colombia who became a naturalized American citizen in 2008, will speak to voters and gauge interest in his candidacy over the coming weeks. He will focus primarily on issues that directly affect the quality of life for Virginians: job creation, economic expansion, reduced taxes on businesses, energy independence, transportation and educational choice.
“I was born in Colombia, but I was made in the U.S.A.,” Muñoz said. “And today in America, the surest way to create jobs and expand the economy is to get the government out of the way. Let people make more choices for themselves with their hard-earned money and the schools their children attend. Find innovative solutions for transportation that don’t involve raising taxes. And let Virginia access its own energy resources to create jobs, increase investment and help reduce our dependence on foreign sources.”
Tito “The Builder” Muñoz is the founder of the Conservative Hispanic Coalition. He hosts “America Eres TU” (America Is You) on Radio WURA 920AM in Quantico, Virginia, and nationally and internationally via Ustream. Tito is also an Americans for Prosperity supporter and frequent speaker at their events, including the “Card Check” and “Hands Off My Health Care” bus tours across Virginia. He is also supportive of FreedomWorks and is a Tea Party activist and speaker. Active members of the Prince William County Republican Committee, Tito and his wife Deborah support and campaign for conservative candidates and causes locally and nationally.
For more information please visit www.TitoPAC.org
Follow Tito “The Builder” Muñoz on Facebook and Twitter
Paid for by TitoPAC. Not authorized by any candidate.
Tito the Builder jumps into politics
By Byron York, Chief Political Correspondent,
Washington Examiner
Tito Munoz, the Virginia man who played a small role in the late days of the 2008 McCain campaign as "Tito the Builder," is forming a political action committee and exploring a run for the Virginia General Assembly.
Munoz came to the public's attention when he attended a McCain rally in late October 2008 in Woodbridge, Virginia. The owner of a small commercial construction business, Munoz came to the event in work clothes, wearing a hard hat covered with McCain-Palin stickers, an orange high-visibility vest, and a sign that said CONSTRUCTION WORKERS FOR MCCAIN.
Munoz wore construction clothes to express his sympathy for Joe Wurzelbacher, the Ohio man better known as "Joe the Plumber." Munoz felt that Wurzelbacher -- to whom Obama made the famous comment that, "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody" -- had been savaged by the press for expressing skepticism about Obama's pledge not to raise taxes on individuals making more than $200,000 a year and couples making more than $250,000.
After the rally, Munoz, a naturalized U.S. citizen who is originally from Colombia, sought out reporters. "I support McCain, but I've come to face you guys because I'm disgusted with you guys," he said. "Why the hell are you going after Joe the Plumber? Joe the Plumber has an idea. He has a future. He wants to be something else. Why is that wrong? Everything is possible in America. I made it. Joe the Plumber could make it even better than me….I was born in Colombia, but I was made in the U.S.A."
(You can read my account of the event here. )
Munoz's statements came to the attention of McCain and Sarah Palin, who dubbed him "Tito the Builder" in later stump speeches. In the years since the campaign, Munoz has founded a group called the Conservative Hispanic Coalition, hosted a Spanish-language radio program, "America Eres TU" (America Is You), and been active in the Tea Party and the Prince William County, Virginia Republican Committee. He also serves on the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development, appointed by Governor Bob McDonnell.
Now, Munoz, who lives in northern Virginia's Prince William County, is forming an organization called TitoPAC and exploring a run for the legislature. "I came to America for a better life and more opportunities to succeed," he says in a statement to accompany his announcement, which is planned for Thursday. "While working with my Conservative Hispanic Coalition, Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, and the Tea Party, it became clear to me that there are many others who agree that government very often is an impediment to achievement and success. Whether a natural born citizen or a legal immigrant, every Virginian and American deserves the same access I had: to be made in the United States of America."
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