It is really surprising that a lot of people are not asking what the Third District Congressman has been up to. I recently checked his official website to find he has only sponsored four bills this year, none of which would really help with completing the Chickamauga Lock, or developing a plan that includes bringing more economic development and future jobs to the area.
The section of his official website titled, "In The News" has just three articles: 1 from January 2011, 1 from February 2011 and 1 from December 2010.
What has he done for the district during his tenure thus far? Nothing, that I can ascertain.
2014 will be a year of Congressional elections and it will be a year of much-needed, and deserved, reform...in various ways. One deserved reform is the election of a new Third District representative. The approaching future generation is here - this is the time that the next generation will begin to have to start stepping up, paying attention, becoming educated in the areas of representative government.
Since Rep. Fleischmann has been in office he has faced challengers on Election Day. He has managed to squeak it out with split decisions putting him back in office. The tide is ebbing and it is time to look at an up and coming individual to represent all of the Third District and to work well with others to accomplish more than just idle service.
It would be very refreshing to see someone like Weston Wamp give it his all once again to let the good people of the Third District know where he stands on the issues that he, himself, will have to tackle head on...something those outside of his age group will not have to really worry about.
Weston Wamp will be around to see the damage that has been done to the economy first-hand. I know Weston would work with members from both parties to come to amiable and assertive conclusions on major difficulties facing our country.
I don't want a "Where's Waldo" type representative. Tennessee's Third District deserves more hands on, more aggressive and more productive representation in Washington.
It's not too early to begin thinking about this. Just about eight months before who will win the Primary.
Talk to Weston if you have questions. He's around, you see him all the time. Stop him and ask him about concerns you have.
Think about it. Do the right thing.
Rick Tucker
* * *
I guess I am not surprised that this is starting already and there is even a poll for it, but couldn't we wait until candidates have declared that they are running for office? How about none of the above?
I find it hard to believe that there are not other, better qualified candidates. I am not at all satisfied with Chuck Fleishmann, as I don't feel that he represents my views or those of the 3rd District, but rather those of the Tea Party.
Weston Wamp, despite being the son of a career politician, does not have enough life experience or work experience, to be a representative voice in Washington..let's give it a few more years.
In the meantime, let's seek out other, more qualified candidates from both parties for the election in 2014. and while we are at it...let's revisit and fix these ludicrous, partisan, gerrymandered district lines to make them more representative of the regions within the state, rather than re-drawing the lines where the votes are.
John Fricke