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politics: Voting Guide

Tennessee State Senate, Dist. 7: Campfield v. Briggs v. Alford v. Siler

why did you choose to enter politics?
oughly. i don’t think i’m anything new.

i used to read the paper and pull my to me it’s all about the issues; it’s
hair out because of the things i was not about me. Where do we differ on

seeing and the direction we were going. issues? You want to talk about an elec-

i said we’ve got to do something to tion, let’s talk about the issues; that’s
change this. i first got involved when i what i’m about.

volunteered in the bush-gore election.
Do you feel your votes follow the wishes

Do you think these issues of your constituency?

affect this election?
i would like to think, if they knew
i think people will look at the issues both sides of an issue, most people

and look at where i stand versus where would agree with my votes.
my opponent stands on the issues we’ll
Stacey Campfield
actually be voting on. i think the issues which bill have you sponsored that
are what will really rule the day.
you’re most proud of?

Stacey Campield has lived in Knoxville When we defunded Planned Parent-

for 20 years. A self-described “outspo- you have certainly had your share of hood and put the money back into our
ken” conservative, he was elected to publicity–both positive and negative. why?
health clinics; the tennessee Promise

three terms in the Tennessee House i’d be the first to say i’m an outspo- bill i co-sponsored in the senate, i
beginning in 2004 and has served in ken conservative; i always have been. thought that was a spectacular bill;

the state Senate since 2010.
You look at almost every political drug testing for welfare recipients that

person who’s a conservative, and they goes into effect July 1; and the bill i
pretty much get attacked pretty thor-
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why did you decide to enter politics?
commissioners rewrote the sheriff’s

during the [County Commission] pension—the county’s only open-
“black Wednesday” period, it was just one defined benefit plan.

scandal after another. We were becoming
a national laughing stock and there were what do you hope to accomplish in

concerned citizens in town that felt we nashville?

needed a different government.
i like to deal with real issues. if we
look at the problems that we have in

what did you hope to accomplish?
tennessee, it’s that we have too many
it was very simple: i want people to people who are unemployed, and we

have trust in their county government have too many people who have jobs

again. We wanted people to be sure that don’t pay enough.
there weren’t backroom deals going on. another problem in government
Richard Briggs
We have been absolutely fastidious— that we’ve always had on every level
there have been no secret meetings and is we’re always looking for the quick

we’ve been playing by the rules the last fixes. that’s not going to happen.
After a 32-year Army career, Republi-

six years.
We have to have a positive business can Richard Briggs has been a heart
environment, we have to have policies surgeon in Knoxville for 22 years. He

what is your proudest accomplishment in place to encourage an educated and was elected to the Knox County Com-
as a county commissioner?
skilled workforce, and we have to deal mission (District 5) in 2008 and was

the one that had the least recogni- with actual business recruitment.
re-elected in 2010.
tion and will probably help the citizens
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of knox County the most is that four

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cityviewmag.com july august 2014