NEIGHBORS: Fallbrook man hopes he has 'write' stuff to be president

By JEFF FRANK - Staff Writer | Monday, October 27, 2008 5:56 PM PDT ∞

FALLBROOK ---- Bill Warren has a dream.

It's a dream based on the theme that anyone can grow up to be president of the United States.

Nevermind the odds. The Fallbrook entrepreneur is hoping to capitalize on what he says is disgust with the two major party candidates to launch himself into the White House through a write-in campaign.

Warren, 64, kicked off his quest earlier this summer, shortly after Barack Obama passed the delegate threshold to claim the Democratic Party nomination, setting up his general election race with Republican nominee John McCain.

"I didn't like the two people running. I wanted to make a statement," said Warren, who thinks Obama is too liberal and McCain too stubborn on Iraq. "We have 300 million people in this country and this is the best we can do?"

Warren would certainly bring an eclectic resume to Washington. The father of four is a former gospel singer once asked to sing by Frank Sinatra at his wedding anniversary party.

He owns a shipwreck salvaging company, twice ran for Congress, has run a home-renovation business and established an Internet dating site.

He has also sued the United States government over the ownership of Navassa, a deserted, guano-covered island near Haiti. The case was dismissed without prejudice in December 2000 by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., said Warren, allowing him to refile the suit should he find more evidence to back up his ownership claim.

"I'm talking with a CNN reporter about a documentary (on Navassa)," Warren said.

For now, his main business is selling wood, particularly the burls of walnut trees. Burls are giant round growths usually caused by some sort of stress or injury to the tree. The wood is often used for paneling in luxury cars.

Warren has some strong beliefs that he would bring to his presidency. He is in favor of immediately bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We've done all we can do there. I think we need to protect America," he said. "If we pulled our people out of Iraq and Afghanistan, imagine how far we could go. I would take that money and put it in the hands of our people."

Warren also believes in reducing taxes and big government, deporting every illegal immigrant, encouraging domestic oil and gas drilling, reducing trade with Asia to cut the trade deficit and creating a free, socialized medicine system resembling those in European countries.

"I don't have health care," Warren said. "I had a kidney stone and it cost me $25,000. How on earth can people afford that?"

He's under no illusions of winning the White House, even though he insists that most people he talks to about his campaign say they will write in his name. But he believes "all things are possible" and that he would be a good man for the job.

"I'm not a professional politician. I think I'm more like the average Joe," Warren said. "I don't have a big ego or an agenda like my competitors. ... I like to get things done."

Warren selected Cheryl Hurd, a Fallbrook clothing sales representative, as his vice presidential candidate.

"She says it's great. She loves it," Warren said. "She knows we won't win, but at least we can say we gave it a try. She thinks it's a hoot."

Should Warren's write-in campaign fall short, he won't lack for something to do. He is organizing a salvage mission to explore the Firth of Forth near Scotland, seeking the remains of the Golden Quest, which sank in 1633 carrying Henry the VIII and the royal 260-piece dinner set.

That treasure is worth millions of dollars, he claims.

Warren has a letter from Buckingham Palace written on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II wishing him luck in his search.

But that's for the future. For the next few days he'll pursue his other dream, becoming the leader of the free world.

"I'm making a statement," he said, in referring to his run for president. "Never give up your dreams. It doesn't mean your dreams will come true, but America was founded on a dream. I think we need a really strong person. I'd love to have the chance to run this country."

If you have a suggestion for someone who would make a good Neighbors story, contact staff writer Jeff Frank at (760) 740-5419 or jfrank@nctimes.com.