Republican congressional candidate John Gard, at podium, conducted a news conference during a visit to the facility of Yale Materials Handling-Green Bay Inc

A congressional candidate used a visit to a Yale forklift dealership in Wisconsin to outline his advocacy of oil exploration, federal worker training programs and financial regulations.

Gary Fairchild, president and owner of Yale Materials Handling-Green Bay Inc, arranged for the visit of Republican John Gard, who challenges incumbent Democrat Steve Kagen in the 4 November general election. Kagen narrowly defeated Gard in their previous contest in Wisconsin's 8th congressional district in 2006.

Gard used Yale as an example for his campaign position that export taxes should be either reduced or enforced fairly in all countries. He said Japan applies a tax on a US-made Yale forklift sold in Japan but does not tax a Japan-manufactured forklift that is sold in Japan.

Gard calls for a comprehensive approach to making America energy-independent, strengthening and providing adequate taxpayer protection and regulation of the financial markets and only supporting trade agreements that are fair to American workers and are tough on countries like China that he says "don't play by the rules".

During the event at Yale, the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce announced its endorsement of Gard. About 30 Yale employees participated.

Gard represented the 89th district in the Wisconsin state assembly from 1987 until 2007 and was the assembly speaker from 2003 until 2007.
Fairchild has owned and operated Yale Materials Handling in Green Bay since 1985 with branches now in Stevens Point, Marinette and Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

Separately, Fairchild acquired Yale Materials Handling-Minnesota Inc in Ham Lake, Minnesota in April 2001.

Together, Fairchild's dealerships employ more than 170, have annual sales in excess of USD50 million and sell and service Yale, Sellick and Landoll Bendi forklifts; Genie and JLG aerial lifts; and Cascade attachments.

Fairchild says his projected 2008 sales in the Minnesota operation are about the same as last year but those in Wisconsin may be 10% lower if current sales patterns continue through the end of the year.

Financing is not a problem at his bank. "We can get all the money we want for expansion," he notes. "They do not have a shortage of cash."