Jackson Forms Exploratory Committee

Fellow Tennesseans,

After much thought and deliberation, I have decided to officially form an exploratory committee for the upcoming state representative race in the 70th District.

Over the coming months, I plan to visit every part of the 70th District and listen to the concerns and problems that face everyday Lawrence, Lewis and Wayne countians.

Right now our great state and its people face problems unlike any other time in our lifetime. Whether it is an economy in disarray, the growing number of uninsured Tennesseans or the crumbling of our roads, bridges and schools--we have a lot of work ahead in the coming years.

In order to get our district and state back on track, we need a new voice in Nashville who will stand up and be a leader on the big issues that we face.

I can be that leader and if I do decide to run, there are several things I can promise you.

1) I will fight every single day for quality and affordable health care for all Tennesseans. This is an issue that is near and dear to my heart. That is because both my mother and sister both have multiple sclerosis and I have personally saw what happens when someone does not have the coverage that they need to fight a sickness or disease. I want to fight to make sure no other family has to watch a loved one suffer from not having the coverage they deserve. In the most prosperous country in the world, it is a shame that we have so many uninsured citizens. I want to change that.

2) I will work hard to see that we create a 21st Century business community and workforce for our state that will produce good paying jobs for our district and state for years to come. That means investing in green collar jobs and the technologies of tomorrow all the while expanding on current industries. Tennessee is blessed to have the best and hardest working workforce of anywhere in the world. It is time that we invest in them and make sure they have everything they need to compete and win in this fast changing world we live in. If we are serious about getting out of the economic rut we are in and taking care of Tennessee's working class families, this is a must.

3) I will be a fighter for Tennessee's children. Our children today are not only in competition with each other here in the United States, but also worldwide. Therefore, it is crucial that we give them the tools necessary to thrive in the 21st Century. This means investing in education from Pre-K all the way to higher education. Being a young person who is at the end of his college career and not too far removed from his public school days, I know what is expected of students today, how we can better improve our schools and help students.

I love my district and my state immensely. There is no other place that I would rather live or raise my children in the future. But I am deeply concerned about the direction we are currently headed.

We can do better and we will do better, I am confident. With your help and prayers, we can make this happen--together.

I look forward to seeing you soon,

Chris