Dewey Gordon Bryan

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Dewey Bryan completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bryan's responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-415166-2026-05-14\" id=\"heading-bio-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-415166-2026-05-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-415166-2026-05-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tNorth Carolina native, grew up in Virginia, Tennessee resident since 1983.\r\n<p>4 year NROTC scholarship student UNC-Chapel Hill. Commissioned May 11, 1975\r\n</p><p>Designated Naval Aviator: 14 years: 1976-1990. 329 carrier arrested landings: 95 at night.\r\n</p><p>Retired FedEx airline pilot: 35 years. \r\nOctober 1983-August 2018. Flew as a Captain 28 of 35 years. \r\n</p>\nFAA designated simulator instructor/Proficiency Check Airman/Line Check Airman in the Airbus A300/310 aircraft for 13 years.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-415166-2026-05-14\" id=\"heading-key-message-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-415166-2026-05-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-415166-2026-05-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>‘IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID”. Pretty much sums up the complete economic mess our current representative has helped legislate us into. David Kustoff helped write the 1BBB that has screwed over hundreds of thousands OF HIS OWN CONSTITUENTS, including those wearing their red MAGA hats.\n<p>Fuel prices through the roof already, food prices and electric rates trying to reach new highs also.\n</p><p>West Tennessee farmers screwed by tariff policies the last 16 months (again).\n</p><p>Stock market reaches new highs and the Republicans celebrate.\n</p><p>Their constituents have to choose between purchasing food for their families or medication for themselves.\n</p><p>Health insurance subsidies gone: 20,000 households in this district.\n</p>\nYou get the gist here.</li><li>AFFORDABILITY. Referred to as a “scam” by a certain Republican “alleged” billionaire.\r\n\r\nContinually rising fuel prices must be part of that “scam”.\r\n\r\nIdiotic and mathematically flawed tariff policies raised prices for EVERY American on EVERYTHING.\r\n\r\nThe current administration celebrates citizens increasing their use of credit cards just to pay for basic necessities. \r\n\r\nWhere did they get their economics degree: Trump University?\r\n\r\nThe average hard working American sees their standard of living sliding backward, especially in Tennessee, the state with no minimum wage.\r\n\r\nThe affordability issue has to be turned around in order for the country to thrive again.\r\n\r\nJust trying to survive cannot become a standard of living.</li><li>SOCIAL SECURITY.\r\n\r\nSo you approach retirement age, after decades of contributing to Social Security. \r\n\r\nThen you find out that your benefits may be less than you were projecting, and learn that the program COVERING THE ENTIRE COUNTRY is projected to be broke in xx years.\r\n\r\nWhat has your representative done to keep this from happening? \r\n\r\nThe Republican side will have done nothing, as evidenced by the state of Social Security now. They will even be plotting to take your government contributions and place them under the management of their Republican handlers in the stock market.\r\n\r\nStock market crashes: you get screwed, not them. They make money either way.\r\n\r\nYour Republican representatives: they have their own retirement system: all theirs.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-415166-2026-05-14\" id=\"heading1-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-415166-2026-05-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-415166-2026-05-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tEconomy, affordability, Social Security, health care, SNAP benefits, Medicaid, AND EVERYTHING ELSE republican representatives are against.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-415166-2026-05-14\" id=\"heading2-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-415166-2026-05-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-415166-2026-05-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI look up to all these hordes of people who have worked for decades in local party politics. Their energy is infectious and motivating.<br/>\r\nThe example I have always revered was my grandfather. Opened a cleaners/dry cleaning business in the poorest county in southeastern North Carolina that he ran through his adult life. Bought the first uniforms for the high school marching band, laundered and maintained them for free for years. Helped many young men open various businesses in the town as a silent partner. Was on the way to take a monetary contribution to an orphanage he had supported for years when his life ended\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-415166-2026-05-14\" id=\"heading3-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse3-415166-2026-05-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading3-415166-2026-05-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse3-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tYou have to work the hardest for those constituents that need the most. You are REQUIRED to do everything in your power to help your district in every way you can. Anything less are you are not worthy of the position.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-415166-2026-05-14\" id=\"heading4-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse4-415166-2026-05-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading4-415166-2026-05-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse4-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tYou have to get out and about, still living your normal life. Going out to eat, attending school events for grandchildren, buying groceries at Kroger, pumping your own gas at Costco. You are employed by the public: the public expects interaction. If you never get stopped by a constituent it is because they don’t know who you are.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-415166-2026-05-14\" id=\"heading5-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse5-415166-2026-05-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat legacy would you like to leave?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading5-415166-2026-05-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse5-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThat everyone in the 8th district knew I worked for them all the time. Those that needed the most help got that assistance, and they got it quickly.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-415166-2026-05-14\" id=\"heading6-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse6-415166-2026-05-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat was your very first job? How long did you have it?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading6-415166-2026-05-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse6-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tWaxing floors and putting out stock in a Rose’s dime store during the summer of 1970. Starting pay was $1.25/hr., rocketed up to $1.50/hr. after the first month. $40 a week take home: I was wealthy.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-415166-2026-05-14\" id=\"heading7-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse7-415166-2026-05-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat is something that has been a struggle in your life?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading7-415166-2026-05-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse7-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tTrying to understand how a person’s income or wealth makes them more worthy or better than the person who works all his or her life at blue collar or non-college income jobs, just trying to make each paycheck stretch until the next payday. No use for those that look down their noses at others. Except for a few lucky breaks, correct decisions, or parentage, they could be that person riding the trash truck during the sweltering summer or freezing winter in west Tennessee.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-415166-2026-05-14\" id=\"heading8-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse8-415166-2026-05-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading8-415166-2026-05-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse8-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tA Representative is the initial point of federal contact to a constituent, whether that person voted for you or not. Once you produce a positive outcome for that person after they make the effort to contact you, you might just gain another voter. If not, you still did your job, which is why you became a representative to begin with.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-415166-2026-05-14\" id=\"heading9-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse9-415166-2026-05-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading9-415166-2026-05-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse9-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tReversing all the damage, both foreign and domestic, all these damn republicans have caused. After the first 16 months of Trump II, why would anyone ever vote for a Republican again? The United States HAS to return to it’s position as the leader of the free world.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-415166-2026-05-14\" id=\"heading10-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse10-415166-2026-05-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading10-415166-2026-05-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse10-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tCompromise is necessary, desirable, AND REQUIRED for policy making. Everyone gets a little credit for the outcome, and you come back later to make an improvement to the previous outcome.<br/>\r\nPolicy making by Sharpie and executive order is bullshit.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-415166-2026-05-14\" id=\"heading11-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse11-415166-2026-05-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading11-415166-2026-05-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse11-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tNone so far. Campaign accelerating and competing all over the newly gerrymandered 8th Congressional district.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-415166-2026-05-14\" id=\"heading12-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse12-415166-2026-05-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading12-415166-2026-05-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse12-415166-2026-05-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI remember watching the first rocket launches in the Mercury space program on a new thing called a color television\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nDewey Bryan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bryan's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. North Carolina native, grew up in Virginia, Tennessee resident since 1983. 4 year NROTC scholarship student UNC-Chapel Hill. Commissioned May 11, 1975 Designated Naval Aviator: 14 years: 1976-1990. 329 carrier arrested landings: 95 at night. Retired FedEx airline pilot: 35 years. \r\nOctober 1983-August 2018. Flew as a Captain 28 of 35 years. FAA designated simulator instructor/Proficiency Check Airman/Line Check Airman in the Airbus A300/310 aircraft for 13 years. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? ‘IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID”. Pretty much sums up the complete economic mess our current representative has helped legislate us into. David Kustoff helped write the 1BBB that has screwed over hundreds of thousands OF HIS OWN CONSTITUENTS, including those wearing their red MAGA hats. Fuel prices through the roof already, food prices and electric rates trying to reach new highs also. West Tennessee farmers screwed by tariff policies the last 16 months (again). Stock market reaches new highs and the Republicans celebrate. Their constituents have to choose between purchasing food for their families or medication for themselves. Health insurance subsidies gone: 20,000 households in this district. You get the gist here. AFFORDABILITY. Referred to as a “scam” by a certain Republican “alleged” billionaire.\r\n\r\nContinually rising fuel prices must be part of that “scam”.\r\n\r\nIdiotic and mathematically flawed tariff policies raised prices for EVERY American on EVERYTHING.\r\n\r\nThe current administration celebrates citizens increasing their use of credit cards just to pay for basic necessities. \r\n\r\nWhere did they get their economics degree: Trump University?\r\n\r\nThe average hard working American sees their standard of living sliding backward, especially in Tennessee, the state with no minimum wage.\r\n\r\nThe affordability issue has to be turned around in order for the country to thrive again.\r\n\r\nJust trying to survive cannot become a standard of living. SOCIAL SECURITY.\r\n\r\nSo you approach retirement age, after decades of contributing to Social Security. \r\n\r\nThen you find out that your benefits may be less than you were projecting, and learn that the program COVERING THE ENTIRE COUNTRY is projected to be broke in xx years.\r\n\r\nWhat has your representative done to keep this from happening? \r\n\r\nThe Republican side will have done nothing, as evidenced by the state of Social Security now. They will even be plotting to take your government contributions and place them under the management of their Republican handlers in the stock market.\r\n\r\nStock market crashes: you get screwed, not them. They make money either way.\r\n\r\nYour Republican representatives: they have their own retirement system: all theirs. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Economy, affordability, Social Security, health care, SNAP benefits, Medicaid, AND EVERYTHING ELSE republican representatives are against. Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why? I look up to all these hordes of people who have worked for decades in local party politics. Their energy is infectious and motivating. The example I have always revered was my grandfather. Opened a cleaners/dry cleaning business in the poorest county in southeastern North Carolina that he ran through his adult life. Bought the first uniforms for the high school marching band, laundered and maintained them for free for years. Helped many young men open various businesses in the town as a silent partner. Was on the way to take a monetary contribution to an orphanage he had supported for years when his life ended What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official? You have to work the hardest for those constituents that need the most. You are REQUIRED to do everything in your power to help your district in every way you can. Anything less are you are not worthy of the position. What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office? You have to get out and about, still living your normal life. Going out to eat, attending school events for grandchildren, buying groceries at Kroger, pumping your own gas at Costco. You are employed by the public: the public expects interaction. If you never get stopped by a constituent it is because they don’t know who you are. What legacy would you like to leave? That everyone in the 8th district knew I worked for them all the time. Those that needed the most help got that assistance, and they got it quickly. What was your very first job? How long did you have it? Waxing floors and putting out stock in a Rose’s dime store during the summer of 1970. Starting pay was $1.25/hr., rocketed up to $1.50/hr. after the first month. $40 a week take home: I was wealthy. What is something that has been a struggle in your life? Trying to understand how a person’s income or wealth makes them more worthy or better than the person who works all his or her life at blue collar or non-college income jobs, just trying to make each paycheck stretch until the next payday. No use for those that look down their noses at others. Except for a few lucky breaks, correct decisions, or parentage, they could be that person riding the trash truck during the sweltering summer or freezing winter in west Tennessee. What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution? A Representative is the initial point of federal contact to a constituent, whether that person voted for you or not. Once you produce a positive outcome for that person after they make the effort to contact you, you might just gain another voter. If not, you still did your job, which is why you became a representative to begin with. What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade? Reversing all the damage, both foreign and domestic, all these damn republicans have caused. After the first 16 months of Trump II, why would anyone ever vote for a Republican again? The United States HAS to return to it’s position as the leader of the free world. Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking? Compromise is necessary, desirable, AND REQUIRED for policy making. Everyone gets a little credit for the outcome, and you come back later to make an improvement to the previous outcome. Policy making by Sharpie and executive order is bullshit. What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign? None so far. Campaign accelerating and competing all over the newly gerrymandered 8th Congressional district. What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? I remember watching the first rocket launches in the Mercury space program on a new thing called a color television\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}]