Chuck FleischmannU.S. House District 3
Although we did not support U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., in the August Republican primary, we never lost sight of the fact that he has been -- and will be -- a reliable conservative vote on issues in which a majority of 3rd District residents are interested.
Indeed, it appears the two-term congressman has changed his tone somewhat since the bruising primary race he won by fewer than 1,500 votes among the nearly 92,000 cast in the sprawling, 11-county congressional district.
At a joint forum last week with Democratic challenger Mary Headrick, Fleischmann stressed the importance of working across the aisle, talked of "great debate" in Washington, D.C., and said "the things that divide us are really minimal."
When his primary challenger, Weston Wamp, made similar statements in a debate with him, he suggested Wamp might be a better Democratic candidate. But since then, Fleischmann has loosened his ties with take-no-prisoners advisor Chip Saltsman and become a kinder, gentler candidate.
For his reliable conservative philosophy, and because of Headrick's far-left agenda, we endorse the incumbent in the Nov. 4 general election.
In the past year, Fleischmann has helped work out a new formula that in the future will get work going again on the new Chickamauga Lock, helped secure funds for then-struggling Erlanger hospital, helped open new veterans clinics in the district, helped assure $3-$4 billion in funding for government projects such as environmental cleanup and the uranium processing facility in Oak Ridge. He also backed -- though the bill didn't pass -- a sugar reform initiative that would have helped sugar-related manufacturing plants in the 3rd District.
He also seems to have ramped up his visibility, commenting recently on Attorney General Eric Holder's resignation, the passage of a government funding measure and the passage of a super computing bill that supports work at the Oak Ridge National Lab.
We encourage the congressman in a potential third term to be even more visible, to look for ways to be a player on issues important to the 3rd District (not just in Congress) and to put flesh on his promise to work across the aisle.
Headrick, a retired Maynardville physician with expansive knowledge in many areas, has changed little since she lost to Fleischmann in the 2012. In lockstep with President Obama on many issues, she suggests "our tax structure should be reformed so that all pay a fair share" (higher taxes on most), has nothing but praise for unions, says Obamacare makes "health insurance affordable," supports "freedom in reproductive decisions" (abortion), and speaks of regulation in climate change (higher energy costs). We believe those positions are out of step with most 3rd District voters and think Fleischmann offers an agenda closer to what the average East Tennessee resident wants.
Patsy HazlewoodState District 27: Hazlewood
The only contested race involving state legislative candidates in Hamilton County is between longtime businesswoman and Republican Patsy Hazlewood and information technology professional and Democrat Eric McRoy in District 27.
Although this is an open race, and despite McRoy's good intentions, we strongly endorse Hazlewood, who has been an assistant vice president for AT&T and BellSouth, an organizer and founding director for CapitalMark Bank & Trust, a board chairman of the Better Business Bureau and campaign chairwoman for the United Way of Greater Chattanooga.
Most recently she served as the 10-county regional director for the Tennessee Department of Economic Development under Gov. Bill Haslam.
Hazlewood touts conservative values similar to retiring state Rep. Richard Floyd, supporting the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, Second Amendment rights and the gradual elimination of the Hall income tax. Like Floyd, she also has questions about the implementation of Common Core standards.
Concerned about the preparedness of the area's workforce, she advocates the county get an increased share of state Basic Education Program funds and offer more technical instruction.
McRoy, a veteran, husband and father who also has worked in the health care field, was active in the campaigns of Andy Berke for Chattanooga mayor and Chris Anderson for Chattanooga City Council. He believes the state needs to expand Medicare to include more people and be more transparent in its education funding formula. He says he'll be "a voice for all" the people, offer a "broader perspective" and that "bickering is not my plan."