NASHVILLE – He once considered running for Congress himself, but today state Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, became the first local lawmaker to publicly declare his support of Robin Smith in her 3rd Congressional District bid.
“There has been no more consistent and steadfast friend to Hamilton County Republicans and Republicans across Tennessee than Robin Smith,” Rep. McCormick, state House Republicans’ assistant leader, said in a Smith campaign news release.
“Whether it has been standing up to the income tax, or fighting for the values that make us strong, Robin has been there for us and, in 2010, I encourage the voters of the Third District to be there for her.”
The Republican primary is Aug. 5. Mrs. Smith, a former state Republican Party chair, is running to succeed U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., who is running for governor.
The Republican side of the 3rd District primary is far more crowded – Chattanooga attorney Chuck Fleischmann, Bradley County Sheriff Tim Gobble, businessman Tommy Crangle, attorney Van Irion and educator Jean Howard-Hill, among others. Businessman Mark DeVol is running as an independent.
The 3rd Congressional District includes all or part of 11 counties – Hamilton, Bradley, Polk, Meigs, Rhea, Roane, Anderson, Union, Claiborne, Grainger and Jefferson.