September 24, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
Congressional candidate Chris Finley was in DeKalb County Wednesday on the campaign trail in his quest to unseat Incumbent John Rose in the November 3 election.
Finley, a Democrat, is from Sparta but he has roots in DeKalb County as his mother was a local native.
If elected, Finley said he would hold regular town hall meetings and respond to the needs of the common man rather than big business people. Finley said.
“Everybody in these big companies especially these chief executives are increasing their pay while squeezing the working people even more. That’s what is wrong with our country right now. The working Joe’s and Jane’s are just pawns. They are numbers. You don’t see that in small businesses. They (small businesses) take care of their employees because they know that is who is important,” he said.
Finley added that Congress is also blame. “ Some of them have been in Washington so long that they have forgotten what it is to work for a paycheck. They have given themselves great benefits and pay. They spend all their time in Washington but they don’t interact with people,” he said.
“One of the major things I want to bring back is a town hall meeting. The important thing is that I will listen. I don’t know everything and if I get elected I still won’t know everything. Some of these guys (congressmen) seem like they do know everything and don’t ever listen to people. I am hearing that over and over again about how disconnected they are and that they live in a bubble. How do you solve that? You find somebody who is willing to get out among the people and listen to their issues,” said Finley.
In a prepared media release, Finley said “ I was born and raised on the family farm in which I still own. I graduated from White County High School. At Tennessee Tech I earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in accounting and a minor in history.
“My roots and love of Tennessee run very deep. My great, great, great, great grandfather fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain and is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Lebanon. Many of my other ancestors fought in the Revolution as well, and two of them died during the War. My great, great grandfather and his brother signed the first petition to form Putnam County in 1842. I am blessed to be part of a long line that has fought and worked to make our community a better place for us all”.
“My father was also born in White County, and after serving in World War II, he was a banker for 33 years. My father loved people and worked hard to serve his community’s needs. Many is the time I have been told how my father helped someone in tough times. I learned from him to care for the people in my community, to reach out and help whenever possible”.
“My mother was born in DeKalb County. Her family had close ties with Joe L. Evins. It was from those ties that I learned how a member of Congress can serve and help in the community. The love and respect for Joe L. Evins is evidenced by the many buildings in the district which bear his name”.
“I suppose service is in my DNA, and I have been disappointed in our representatives in Congress not living up to the ideals of Joe L. Evins. The people of his district came first. They were his friends and neighbors, and he worked hard to improve the lives of those people in all parts of the district. It’s time for you the voter to be once again the first priority of your Representative in Congress”.
“There is much work to be done, and I ask for your help to put this on the right path, to reach out across party lines and get the job done. To that end, I pledge to have town hall meetings throughout my time in Congress, to give my friends and neighbors a real voice. Together, let’s be the difference our country needs in these difficult times,” the statement concluded.
Finley is one of two candidates on the ballot trying to defeat Congressman Rose, a Republican. The other is Christopher B. Monday, an Independent.