The Johnson City Press - Davis Makes It Official - Upstate Lawmaker Says He'll Seek Jenkins' Congressional Seat.

Davis Makes It Official - Upstate Lawmaker Says He'll Seek Jenkins' Congressional Seat.

17 Feb 2006

Davis makes it official - Upstate lawmaker says he'll seek Jenkins' congressional seat.

By Ben Ingram
Press Staff Writer
bingram@johnsoncitypress.com

Not long after hearing that U.S. Rep. William L. "Bill" Jenkins would not seek re-election this year, state Rep. David Davis, R-Johnson City, turned an eye toward his good friend's 1st Congressional District seat.

Davis announced Thursday that he will be a candidate for the position, leaving open his 6th House District seat in the Tennessee General Assembly.

Interest in Davis' seat has been expressed by several, including three Republican candidates — Johnson City resident Ethan Flynn, Dale Ford of Jonesborough and Lee Sowers of Gray.

Davis admitted that being a runner-up to Jenkins in the 1996 GOP primary in the race to succeed Congressman James H. Quillen, along with years of encouragement from his constituents in the 6th District, helped make the decision for him a bit easier.

"I will probably be seen as the front-runner and the only conservative," Davis said.

"It's really been an honor to serve the citizens of the 6th District in the House of Representatives and to be a voice in Nashville."

He said that he would remain steadfast in providing the same conservative leadership in Washington that he did in Northeast Tennessee and Nashville.

"The things that I've worked on at the state level, whether it be limited government, pro-life issues, Second Amendment rights or the matter of eminent domain, are the same issues that will head the list in Washington," Davis said.

"I will continue at the federal level the important work we have done at the state level."

Davis said he expects his Northeast Tennessee values to aid in his possible transition.

"People of faith here need someone who will stand up for their religious freedoms in Washington," he said.

On an economic front, Davis said his background as a business owner and someone who has created jobs in the field of health care will greatly benefit the 1st District in the area of economic development and health-care issues.

"It always makes a difference when you have a representative who instead of just talking about it has actually done it," said Davis, a respiratory therapist and health-care business owner. Davis has taken a leadership role in bringing the need for home health care to the forefront, and in protecting small business.

"It is good news indeed to hear that Representative Davis is running for Congress," said Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, in a released statement. "As a Christian, a successful businessman and one who fully understands health-care issues, especially as they relate to the people of the 1st Congressional District, we will all be well-served when Representative Davis wins this seat."

http://www.rightforcongress.com/articles/article/3372072/48834.htm