Third District Congressman Chuck Fleischmann believes he has finally turned the corner with his constituents in his expansive, 11-county district, which ranges from the Kentucky border to the Georgia border.
After three bruising primary battles, and a near defeat to Weston Wamp in 2014, the Chattanooga Republican says he has "grown into [the] job," earned the traction that previously eluded him and that his poll numbers have never been higher.
"My numbers wouldn't be as good if I hadn't performed," Fleischmann said.
By "performed," he is referring to helping secure more money ($36-$37 million in fiscal 2017) to continue work on the new Chickamauga Dam lock, gaining additional funds for nuclear cleanup in Oak Ridge and elsewhere, attempting to tie Chattanooga in with the work going on at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and helping return 76 acres of Tennessee land to its original Cherokee Indian owners.
Fleischmann also says he is proud of an anti-Islamic State measure he sponsored that recently was folded into a broader domestic terrorism bill. He also defends his "aye" vote on an omnibus bill approved last December that wrapped together a number of smaller appropriations bills into one vote.
One of the third-term congressman's primary opponents, Geoff Smith, charges that the omnibus bill "fully funded abortion-provider Planned Parenthood," but National Right to Life President Carol Tobias instead says "the bill preserved existing pro-life laws such as the Hyde Amendment, and contrary to some claims, it contained no earmark, line item or specific appropriation for Planned Parenthood."
"Were there things I didn't [like in it]? Fleischmann asked. "Sure there were. But the 3rd District did very well."
Smith, 29, an Army veteran and Athens steel plant worker, and Allan Levene, 66, an England-born information technology specialist, are the congressman's primary election opponents. Smith, a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga graduate, calls himself "the only conservative running" and the only candidate in the race who is "East Tennessee born and raised." Levene, who also ran and lost in the May Republican primary in Georgia's 14th District, says he's in the race because of the electorate's "hatred" of the congressman, the fact "he's been there too long," and because "whatever he's accomplished, it's probably not much."
Apparently no fan of Fleischmann, Smith termed him "a bull in a china shop in the House," "way too wishy-washy" and "the best politician money can buy," and said he would be "exactly opposite of Chuck." He called himself "pro-union," is proud to continue "a Smith tradition of fighting for women" and said he, like Jesus, supports the Second Amendment.
Levene refers to himself as "the common-sense candidate" and the only one with a plan to head off the financial crisis he says the country is heading for in 2018-19. The solution, he said, is to give companies incentives to manufacture in the United States and to change the tax code to eliminate taxes on the profits of the manufacture of durables (and their suppliers). The changes, he said, would "create millions of jobs."
Fleischmann's primary opponents say they believe the country should confront the Islamic State. Smith said the first thing he'd do in Congress is declare war on the terrorist group, and Levene calls the group "cancerous." However, Smith said he would leave the details to the military, would put a time frame on the action and generally doesn't believe in the U.S. occupying a country. Levene, meanwhile, said the U.S., other than defeating the Islamic State, "basically should keep our nose out of other people's business."
Running to oppose the Republican primary winner in November are UTC public relations professor Michael Friedman, Wal-Mart employee George Ryan Love and former Chattanooga mayor's office policy fellow Melody Shekari. Friedman, 44, is pushing a plan in which the expansion of high-speed internet into rural areas would, in time, result in social and business improvements; Love, 37, said his campaign is based on "fighting for employees' rights in Congress"; and Shekari, 28, is basing her campaign on pledges like improving the Affordable Care Act, closing tax loopholes, more background checks for gun owners and student debt reform.
Although Fleischmann said he retooled politically after the near loss in the primary in 2014, he says his fiscal thinking on what the 3rd District wants has not changed.
"I would reduce tax rates if I could," he said. "The [federal government] problem is a spending problem. And I still want to fight waste, fraud and abuse." His district, he said "wants to see mandatory spending reforms and the fair use of tax dollars."
Though Fleischmann is not expected to face a close race in either the primary or general election, he said he is not taking anything for granted.
"We're running a robust campaign in all 11 counties," he said. "It's an unprecedented time in American politics. I think the electorate is paying attention."
We believe Fleischmann has demonstrated the desire and flexibility to get things done for the 3rd District and heartily endorse his re-election.