Meet Cameron Parsons, Democratic nominee for U.S. House, Tennessee District 1
The Tennessean Editorial Board asked candidates on the Nov. 8 state and federal general election ballot in Tennessee to answer our questionnaire. Find biographical information and their responses to 10 questions. Early voting starts on Oct. 19.
More:Learn about candidates running in the Nov. 8 Tennessee general election | Editorial
Biographical Information
Name: Cameron Parsons
Age (at time of Aug. 4 election): 32
Neighborhood, town and/or city: Kingsport, TN
Education: BS in biology, BA in history from USA-Wise
Job history: Feedstock coordinator at Eastman Chemical Company
Family: Married to Rachel, with two daughters Addison (age 6) and Kendall (age 2)
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Ten Questions about your Candidacy
What office are you seeking? (Include district):
US House of Representatives, TN's 1st Congressional District — Democratic nominee
Why are you running for this office?
I am a typical, working father that wants a better future for my family. Our representatives are not representing our best interests. Regular people need a voice. Our government needs to work for the people. I want to be the person to establish term limits for Congress, enforce a balanced budget, protect civil liberties, save Social Security, and much more. It can be done.
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What makes you qualified to hold this office and better qualified than your opponent(s)? (Please specify if you are unopposed, but feel free to answer)
I have no previous political experience, no massive wealth to fund a large-scale campaign, and no significant financial backers. I am running because I love this country and I want to see it succeed. My campaign is based on my commitments to reforming our government, my willingness to learn and compromise, my willingness to help the people of this country, and my knowledge of history and civics. I want to be a true representative of the people in my district.
How can you make the biggest impact on your community through this position?
I will give every-day citizens a voice in Congress. People want education, housing, and other essentials to be affordable. People want our excellent government programs like Social Security, the Postal Service, and Amtrack to survive. People want to live safely, enjoy their liberties, and be free to pursue happiness. Politicians are only motivated by some combination of money, power, and keeping their jobs. I am no politician. We all deserve better than another politician. I will be your representative, and truly work for you.
If you are elected (or re-elected), what are your top 2 to 3 priorities for your new (or next) term in office?
My top goals are reforming government, stabilizing our economy, and protecting our civil liberties. Reforming the government involves establishing term limits on members of Congress, ensuring voting is safe and easy, establishing tighter limits on political donations, banning insider trading for members of Congress, and punishing politicians that break the law. For the economy, we can start with a balanced federal budget, encourage companies to pay higher wages by changing tax laws, crack down on monopolistic practices across multiple industries, and encourage innovation and American enterprise at home and abroad.
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What are you hearing most from voters about what they want you to accomplish, if elected?
Most voters want to see their representative working for them, not spending their time playing the stock market and blocking initiatives in Congress like lower prescription drug prices. Regardless of party, people are tired of the old politician behavior and want something new. I am open about my positions and want I want to accomplish. I will work on that for a set period of time, and then I will step away for the next person to take over.
What else do you want voters to know about you that will help them make an informed decision on Election Day?
I am not a politician, and I am not running a traditional campaign. If you would like to talk to me, reach out by email and I will get back to you. I don't have the money to go out campaigning every day. I am here to help, and I will do what I can to be the best representative in Congress for you all.
Tell us about a mentor or guide who made a difference in your life and what wisdom would you impart to the community?
I have had many excellent mentors that have made me the person I am today. If I had to pick, I will always default to my parents. They made sure that I understood the value of hard work, what it takes to be a good person, and how to be a loving parent myself. Speaking to the broad community, northeast Tennessee is a conservative area. I am not as conservative as my parents, but that has never been an issue for us. We always treat family and friends with respect, and I would like to see more of that. We are all Americans and we all want the best possible future for this country. We would be in a much different position as a country if more people approach politics with that in mind.
Will you commit to being civil in how you present yourself and the way you interact with opponents and others? (Our definition of civility is being a good, active, honest and respectable citizen)
Yes
A fun question: What are one or two attractions (restaurants, parks, venues, etc.) that visitors cannot miss if they come to your community?
In Tennessee's first Congressional district, Dollywood. It is world famous at this point, so I can't imagine that anyone would miss that. As an avid kayaker and general outdoors person, northeast Tennessee is a paradise. Apart from my home and work, I have probably spent more time at South Houston lake than any other place on Earth.
Call Opinion and Engagement Director David Plazas at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or tweet to him at @davidplazas.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Nov. 8 election: Cameron Parsons, candidate, Congress, D-1
