Dr. Phil Roe Announces Re-Election Bid To Congress

Statement

Congressman Phil Roe, M.D. officially announced that he is running for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives at a campaign event this morning. The career medical doctor was first elected to Congress in 2008 after serving for two years as Mayor of Johnson City.

World War II veteran and former P.O.W. Lawrence Shoemaker led the pledge of allegiance. Roe was introduced at the Johnson City Municipal Building event by former Kingsport Mayor Jeanette Blazier.

"Some things never change. Phil Roe is still the same Roe we know. He is able to convey our values and delivers our voice to Washington because he truly shares the same heartsong as us," Blazier told the audience of friends and supporters.

Roe's campaign materials this year feature the slogan "In Tune with East Tennessee."

Blazier remarked, "I can't think of a theme that would ring more true. That's one of the many beauties of East Tennessee, our rich musical roots that express our cultural connectedness, our love for each other and our churches and communities. Dr. Roe represents that so sincerely."

Roe started his remarks noting that "Eight years go by mighty fast."

After a 35 year medical career and delivering almost 5,000 babies, Roe said he first ran for Congress because, "We needed people with vast real life experiences outside politics to serve as citizen servants like our founding fathers envisioned. Not as career politicians."

Roe said, "Being a good congressman is like being a good doctor: If you listen and put your patients first and give them your best, they'll take care of you and re-election will take care of itself."

"Some of you here this morning have been with me on this journey from the very beginning," Roe wistfully remarked, "together with me and with each other, through thick and thin, through happiness and heartache. You all have kept in touch. You all have kept me in tune. And I cannot thank you enough."

Roe highlighted the issues that will be the focus of his campaign this year including "local control of local schools," his "ongoing opposition to Obamacare," which he wants to replace with "free market principles," and his "perfect score" pro-life voting record.

Roe, who serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee, helped pass The Veterans Choice Act signed into law by the President in 2014, which gives veterans who live more than 40 miles from a VA health facility or who have had to wait more than 30 days for an appointment the ability to use any healthcare provider they choose on the VA's tab.

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