To answer the OP without getting into what his/her personal politics may be, I would do what you suggested if I were in your position.
From a personal standpoint and to be an a-hole I will say two things. First, please, please don't bring any more liberalism to my state. Second, most people here don't use "than" and "then" synonymously. Some do, most don't. I guess a third thing as a corollary to my first. If you are conservative, please, please come here and help.
