Just when I thought I might get a few months off from standing in national elections, arguably the biggest by-election in recent history gets announced.
And just as I stood in the Scottish elections dressed as a giant Gannet to raise awareness for the campaign to end the Guga hunt, I’ll now be doing the same in the ongoing fight to finally bring an end to hunting with hounds.
The costume is ready — admittedly a little more terrifying-looking than the Gannet — and today I’m in Wigan to officially hand in my paperwork and secure my place on the ballot.
Why am I doing this?
Because I simply do not trust this Government to deliver for animals.
They’ve already u-turned on banning animal trophy imports, abandoned plans to ban foie gras imports, and allowed two more years of badger culling despite manifesto promises suggesting the exact opposite.
Right now, there’s a public consultation underway on banning trail hunting, but I still fear it won’t go far enough. There is still no clarity on whether all of the loopholes and exemptions in the Hunting Act will finally be removed. No clarity on how they will actually ensure the hunting of wild mammals is ended for good. And no clarity whatsoever on when meaningful legislative action will happen.
We cannot afford to sit back, hope for the best, and allow this issue to quietly fade away.
This by-election provides a national platform to raise these concerns, to pressure the Government to finally end hunting as quickly as possible, and to send that message directly to the man who could become the next Prime Minister.
If you’re reading this and haven’t already done so, please use our handy tool to fill out the public consultation on hunting in just a matter of seconds.
I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis.
I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God.
I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree.
Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons.
I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA.
While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon..
In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God.
We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987).
From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting.
Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982.
I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects.
In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston.
In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018.
Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia.
In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey.
As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova.
Love and God Bless,
Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi
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