posted September 8, 2005
) Fred Wilcoxon |
Mr. Wilcoxon said, "I am officially announcing my candidacy to serve the people of Bradley, Meigs and Polk Counties in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 22. I am a lifelong Republican and will be running in the special Republican Primary Election to be held later this year.
"I am a lifelong resident of Polk County and the district. I am married to Brenda Wilcoxon, and I have two wonderful children, Mason and Jordon Wilcoxon. I am a graduate of Polk County High School and the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy. I served as a police officer for both the Polk County Sheriff’s Department and the Cleveland Police Department. I am also a member of the NRA.
"I am currently employed in the family owned business Volunteer Construction & Millwrights Service in which I am in charge of the day-to-day operations. In 2002, I was elected to the Polk County Commission to serve District 2. As a County Commissioner, I serve as Chairman of the Judicial Committee. I also serve on the Budget, Agriculture, Sanitation and Jail Committees.
"When elected, I will work hard not only to keep the present projects such as road and infrastructure improvements on schedule, but also economic development initiatives moving forward. As your state representative, I will work with the local legislative delegation to secure State funding for the exit 20 project in Bradley County. I will ask the Commissioner of Transportation to conduct an advance planning report on Dalton Pike from the Armory to the Georgia State line. On State Route 60 I will ask for an advance planning report from the intersection of State Route 60 (Georgetown Road) and Eureka Road to the Tennessee River Bridge.
"Regarding the Hiwassee River Bridge on Highway 58 in the construction phase, I will work with the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Meigs County Government for a smooth and timely completion of the project. I will work with the appropriate parties to continue the progress of the Cherokee Memorial Park as well as continue to work with the Watts Bar Development Authority to help provide quality employment opportunities for the people of North Meigs County. I will fight to make the Ocoee River Gorge project a reality building upon the progress thus far. I will work hard to make the Copperhill Bypass a reality with an emphasis on making it a higher priority with the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
"I will support, protect and continue to defend the following:
"The Sanctity of Life.
"The Sanctity of Marriage between one man and one woman.
"Our Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms.
"These are some of the bills that I will sponsor and present when I am elected. I will sponsor legislation to eliminate the state sales tax from baby food, baby formula, bread, and milk. Not only do I not support and will not vote for an unconstitutional State Income Tax, but I will also even go further and sponsor legislation calling for a Constitutional Amendment to outlaw a State Income Tax in Tennessee. I will sponsor a bill putting child rapists behind bars for life without the possibility of parole. I will support legislation to lower the number of years for Retirement from 30 years to 25 years for First Responders, (Police, Fire EMS, Rescue) on State and Local levels. I will support legislation to overhaul our DUI law in Tennessee to where first time offenders are really first time offenders not second, third, or fourth time offenders.
"Education is a vital part of our society and every young person should be provided with the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. I fully support the BEP program and will fight any and all efforts to shift, transfer, or cut current funds from our schools here in Bradley, Meigs, and Polk Counties so that the big cities in Tennessee can reap the harvest on our backs. I support technology improvements in our schools and will work hard to gain additional dollars for our local schools. Also, we need to do right by our retired teachers. The retired teachers pension benefits need to be brought up to livable standards. Our working teachers need the pay and benefits they really deserve. In regards to higher education, the tuition increases over the last four years has made it very evident that young people of working families are not going to be able to afford to go to college. The lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship program and Technology Center Grants have helped alleviate some of the financial burden from the shoulders of our young people, but I will work to stabilize and attempt to decrease tuition costs during my term in office.
"I will work with my fellow state representatives in an effort to provide tax credits or various incentives to both large and small businesses to provide quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare to working families across Tennessee. Working in a family-owned business myself, I see every day the bureaucratic red tape and heavy regulation by the government of small business. Too many times folks who want to live the American Dream by starting their own business and being their own boss find themselves and their business fail due to overregulation. I want to help restore faith and confidence that the American Dream in Tennessee is still alive and it is not being strangled to death by big government regulation and taxation. Together, we must restore common sense in our government.
"I believe in being a good steward of the land that the good Lord has given us. I believe in having clean air and water as well as preserving and protecting our public lands for wildlife and sportsmen alike. Therefore, I am a conservationist and not a radical environmentalist.
"In light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding private property rights, I will support, protect and preserve private property rights and will sponsor legislation limiting the long arm of the government in taking private property for commercial development purposes. Roads, bridges, and vital economic infrastructure needs are one thing, but for any governmental entity to commence eminent domain procedures and condemn a person’s private property for commercial purposes such as building a huge mall or shopping center is just simply wrong.
"In closing, too many times our government has been left in the hands of politicians who are only looking out for themselves. I will be a State Representative who will put the people of Bradley, Meigs and Polk Counties first. I am willing to listen, learn, help, and then lead. We need to begin the process of restoring our values in government. Together, we must start the process of rebuilding trust, faith, and confidence in our state government. One way of beginning this process is by conducting town hall community meetings throughout the district. This way I can listen to you and learn your thoughts and opinions on a whole host of issues that directly affect you. I will take these views and our values with me to Nashville and vote the will of the district on legislation that comes before me. I will always be accessible and willing to assist you in any matter or issue that you may have.
"I trust the people and I will be your voice in Nashville. We will be heard. Together we will make a difference."
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