We are fortunate in Tennessee's 3rd District to have several excellent candidates running to succeed Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga. After his remarkably good service, Rep. Wamp is now running for governor of Tennessee.

We have examined candidates in the congressional race. Many are sound, principled and impressive. We believe Hixson resident Robin Smith offers the best prospect of nomination in the Aug. 5 GOP primary, election in November and excellent service in Washington.

Mrs. Smith, a wife, mother and nurse, led the Hamilton County Republican Party from 1998 until 2002. In 2007, she was unanimously elected to lead the state Republican Party. She helped Republicans win majority status in the Tennessee General Assembly in 2008 -- when much of the rest of the nation was on the Obama and Democrat bandwagon.

But Mrs. Smith is no "rubber stamp" for the GOP. She has denounced outrageous spending and other bad policies promoted by both Democrats and Republicans. She has a detailed grasp of the issues as well. She understands, for instance, that Medicare and Social Security will go bankrupt without reform. She wants to let Americans under 50 divert part of what they pay for those entitlements into interest-bearing accounts that would be their personal property. Mrs. Smith will fight to repeal ObamaCare and is equally solid on other issues. She has the endorsement of former U.S. Sen. Bill Brock, R-Tenn., and other conservative groups and individuals.

But our support for Mrs. Smith in the GOP primary implies no disrespect for several of her worthy rivals. Chief among them is Chuck Fleischmann, a respected local attorney who holds sound views on taxes, the sanctity of life, the Second Amendment and other issues.

Another fine congressional candidate is Bradley County Sheriff Tim Gobble, a critic of deficit spending and bailouts.

Van Irion, a rugged constitutionalist, opposes excessive Washington control.

Art Rhodes manages a pension plan for church workers and was once chief of staff for Rep. Mike Parker, R-Miss.

Tommy Crangle is an engineer who was a top adviser to Iraq on electricity issues.

Dr. Jean Howard-Hill, a UTC professor, supports reform of earmarks.

Rick Kernea, a retired Air Force captain, wants smaller government.

So does Grover Travillian, of Sharps Chapel, Tenn.

There are other GOP candidates, too. The winner of the GOP primary will face the winner of the Aug. 5 Democrat primary in November.

We recommend Mrs. Smith for Congress because of her extensive experience and conservative views on the big issues confronting us.