Dr. Mary Headrick has repeatedly asserted that Congressman Fleischmann does not adequately represent the constituents of District 3, but I respectfully disagree. Chuck’s consistent stand for the life of the unborn, prudent government spending, the incubation and protection of small businesses, and reliable, quality healthcare resonates with my core values and concerns, as I know it does for my neighbors and a vast majority of the district.
While I don’t doubt Dr. Headrick is well-meaning, I do not believe her agenda and care values line up with my own or those of many in District 3, and ultimately that is most important to me – any credentials she has are outweighed by the absence of common values.
I trust Congressman Fleischmann to best represent the beliefs and interests of my family and my community, and I encourage others to closely examine their core values against each candidate to decide for yourselves who best represents your voice, your beliefs, and your needs.
Early voting starts Wednesday. As for me, Chuck Fleischmann has my vote for Congress.
Amanda Russell
Chattanooga
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Unfortunately, I do not share this writer's trust in Fleischmann. I find his positions extreme and not in line with my values or those of so many others here in the Tennessee 3rd.
I agree that his stand for the life of the unborn is consistent: he voted twice for the "Life Begins at Conception" bill. In doing so, he defines a fertilized egg as a person. This puts an end to abortion for any reason, would outlaw many forms of birth control, would put an end to stem cell research, and would put an end to in vitro fertilization, something many couples rely upon to help them have children.
And what has he done for poor children who are already here? Voted to take money from food stamp programs they and their parents rely upon. I worry more about a child going hungry and doing poorly in school because of that than I do about the rights of the two cells that make up a fertilized egg.
Prudent government spending? No, Fleischmann voted to shut down the government, costing the federal government many millions and costing millions to the local economy as well.
Protection of small businesses? No, Fleischmann has done nothing here, but he has supported tax breaks for the very wealthy.
Reliable quality health care? No, Fleischmann voted against the Affordable Care Act over 50 times, voted to get rid of the Protection and Public Health fund, and he voted to turn Medicare into a voucher system.
I firmly believe that if we want to help ourselves,our families, and our friends and neighbors here in the Tennessee 3rd, then we need to vote for Dr. Mary Headrick.
Most Democrats and Republicans share the same basic values. We all want a country in which we can lead safe and secure lives, and our children can receive high quality educations and do even better than we have. Chuck Fleischmann has had four years to work on these things. Instead, he spent those four years putting his energy into perpetuating Congressional gridlock. We don't need two more years of the same.
We need someone who will work across the aisle, work to protect the programs that provide security in our lives, and work to protect us and to protect our children's futures - rather than protect the interests of those with the deepest pockets.
And this is why, for the sake of our shared values, we need to set party labels aside and give Dr. Mary Headrick our vote for Congress. Early voting begins on Wednesday and goes through Oct. 30. Election day is Nov. 4.
Janice Figel