Update: Kerry Roberts makes his case for the U.S. House of Representatives 6th District seat.

Democratic Candidates
Name: Dee Butler
Occupation: Local history author, married mother of three and a former public and private school teacher
Education: Graduated Oakland High School, 1983; University of Tennessee at Knoxville, BA Political Science, 1987; attended the Knoxville Democratic National Committee, Political Training Instititute, WA D.C.,1988; University of London, Institute of Education, MA Education, 1996, London, England; MA in Teaching, Belmont University, 2005, Nashville.
Website: myspace.com/deefortennessee or facebook.com/deefortennessee

Why are you running?
I am a former Congressional staffer, and researcher at the House Of Commons in the United Kingdom, who is running as a Democrat in the 6th Congressional District seat because I have the experience, background and skills to lead the 6th Congressional District in an environmentally conscious and sound direction in the areas of education, job creation and job growth. I believe this insight is essential in keeping us competitive in the 21st century global economy in which we live.

Name: Brett Carter*
Occupation: Attorney, Tennessee National Guard
Education: Gallatin High School, University of Tennessee
Website: brettcarterforcongress.com

What is the most pressing issue facing Middle Tennessee and your possible solution?
The economy is the No. 1 issue facing the country. Our federal government can play a role in the economic turmoil by focusing on improving infrastructure throughout the 6th District while also encouraging more thoughtful development of technological infrastructure such as smart grid technology to reduce electric waste and regional light-rail transportation. Financial reform must also be thoughtfully implemented so that abusive practices are eliminated, without binding the ability of banks to give loans to businesses for further expansion so important to our economic vitality.

Finally, I support the funding of education, including vocational training, which will continue to prepare Tennessee workers for the types of jobs in the current economy.

Name: Ben Leming
Occupation: Captain, United States Marine Corps
Education: Oakland High School, United States Naval Academy (Bachelor of Science), University of Maryland (Master of Leadership Studies)
Website: benleming.com

Why are you running?
I’m running for Congress because I want to change the tired ways of politics by breaking the old habits in favor of a civil, common sense approach. Electing new leaders with fresh approaches to solving old problems is necessary in order to get this country on the right track.

I left Middle Tennessee 15 years ago to join the Marines to become a warrior and serve my country.  When the war in Iraq began, my squadron was one of the first units in. I flew combat missions under fire to provide medical and casualty evacuations, taking our wounded to safety and ensuring our fallen warriors made it home to their families.

In the Marines, I learned to put the mission first. ... The bottom line is “mission first, politics last.”

What is the most pressing issue facing Middle Tennessee and your possible solution?
The most pressing issue facing Middle Tennesseans is jobs. We’ve got to get people back to work by creating good paying jobs right here in Middle Tennessee. Our small businesses, for example, create stable, honest jobs. But our current tax system rewards large corporations that can become “too big to fail” with tax incentives and loopholes while small business owners struggle to make payroll. This has got to change and I’ll work hard to make it happen.

In order to produce the jobs and the quality of life we all want, we have to continue to improve education. Education drives everything. It produces our workforce and it creates our community leaders. In Congress, I will fight hard to ensure our public schools prepare our bright young students for college and the future workforce. I will ensure that our public universities, such as MTSU, get the funding and attention they deserve because these schools are economic powerhouses in our communities.

I understand the frustration that many Americans feel right now. My wife, a breast cancer survivor, has a pre-existing condition that will follow her for the rest of her life. I have a home that I cannot sell due to the lagging economy. I have two wonderful boys that I want to ensure have the best education opportunities our nation can offer.

My family is a lot like your family. We sit around the table and talk about where we can make cuts in order to make ends meet. We need more common sense middle class Americans in Congress that know how to balance a budget. We can do this with your help.

Republican Candidates
Name: Diane Black*
Occupation: Nurse, State Senator in the 18th District
Education: Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Belmont University
Website: votedianeblack.com

What is the most pressing issue facing Middle Tennessee and your possible solution?
With government spending now consuming 24 percent of GDP, our first objective needs to be to decrease the size of government. A balanced budget amendment can aid with that-as can earmark reform and budget reform that stops the practice of funding the government through “must pass” supplemental and emergency appropriations bills. I will advocate budget reform that includes potent internal incentives – like suspending Congress’ own pay as soon as the budget deadline passes with no budget passed – to bring transparency and honesty back to the budgeting process.

We will never get the size of government in the economy to a realistic size until we have entitlement reform and the first step in that process is putting all entitlements “in budget,” so the actual truth of our current trajectory is evident to all.

On the revenue side, I believe we need to eliminate the estate tax permanently, eliminate capital gains taxes, lower the corporate tax rate, and simplify and flatten the personal income tax. We can do all of these things in the near term with a conservative House majority.  

The federal government also should pass new free trade agreements to spark growth and it must implement a national energy policy that opens up the energy marketplace to ensure a stable cheap supply.

Name: Bruce McLellan
Occupation: Retired Television News Anchorman/Reporter, Broadcast News Manager
Education: Kent State University, Indiana State University and graduated from an Academy for Radio/Television Broadcasting in Chicago.
Website: BruceMcLellanForCongress.org  

Why are you running?
I am running for office because I have yet to hear anybody seriously address the major existential threats that we, as a republic, are facing. All my opponents in this race and even our current politicians in Washington, say they are for this and they are for that, because that’s what everyone wants to hear from the candidates, but none of them go beyond the feel-good one liners to say what they would do, or how they would do it.

And that’s where I differ from all the rest. I have done my homework, I have researched the issues and I have come up with ideas and solutions, in depth, on how we can get ourselves out of this mess.

What is the most pressing issue facing Middle Tennessee and your possible solution?
The most pressing problem facing Middle Tennessee residents should be our failing economy, lack of jobs and swimming in a sea of red ink, that’s got our nation still on the brink of a depression or worse, facing a total economic and financial collapse of our republic. We need a voter turnout of such Biblical proportions to not just take back the House, but to take back the House and Senate with veto-proof majorities, so that we can finally pull back the reins and shout, “Enough of this wild out-of-control spending, let’s cut down the size of government once and for all and start living within our means!

Name: Jim Tracy
Occupation: Small Business Owner, Jim Tracy Insurance
Education: B.S. Agriculture Education
Website: jimtracyforcongress.com

Why are you running?
First and foremost, I am a small business owner who knows how to balance a budget and meet a payroll. I know from experience that lower taxes, fewer regulations,that lower taxes, fewer regulations, and less government red tape are the keys to improving our economy and creating new jobs.

My experience as a teacher and county school board member also gives me unique insight into education and the needs that local communities face. And finally I am the only person in the race with agriculture experience, an industry vitally important to the 6th Congressional District.

What is the most pressing issue facing Middle Tennessee and your possible solution?
I believe the most pressing issue that Middle Tennessee is facing is the national debt and spending.

The federal government’s reckless spending has led to record budget deficits, a $12 trillion national debt and the highest unemployment rate in 26 years. That’s why I will lead the fight for a balanced budget amendment.

Also, to show the American people that Congress is committed to reducing government spending, I am proposing that we cut Congress’s pay, a 5 percent cut in the salary for all members of Congress and ending the automatic cost of living increases.

Also we need to cut Congress’s pensions and replace those congressional pensions with a 401(k) style plan where members contribute to their retirement themselves.

And finally, we need to cut the perks of Congress, doing all of this will save the taxpayers millions of dollars every year.

Name: Lou Ann Zelenik
Occupation: Retired owner of L&N Construction
Education: Graduate Degree at Vanderbilt School of Engineering
Website: VoteLouAnn.com or LouAnnZelenik@votelou-ann.com

Why are you running?
I decided to run for Congress more than a year ago after standing up for conservative principles for so long and seeing politicians destroying the future of our nation with their reckless spending and arrogant lifestyles. We can no longer afford a large cumbersome government. My qualifications are that I am not a politician. I have never held office but my experience comes from building a heavy construction company as a single mother.

I have broken through every glass ceiling that has ever been put before me. I now want to break apart big government and reduce it by 30-50 percent. We must de-fund, and repeal Obamacare and reduce health care costs. We need a government that is less intrusive in society and we need make sure that our children and grandchildren have the same opportunities that I had, the ability to start your own business and succeed.

What is the most pressing issue facing Middle Tennessee and your possible solution?
Deficit spending because we can no longer afford the reckless spending of Washington.  Politicians are spending our children and grandchildren’s futures.  We need to stop spending our children’s futures and restore the ability for our children to have the same opportunities that I had when starting my own business.

We can do this by stopping government excesses and waste.  We need to shrink not just government spending, but the size of government itself.  I propose reducing government by 30 percent.  We need to eliminate duplication of programs and look at the waste and fraud in the entitlement programs. I would also propose elimination of non-essential programs and start zero baseline budgeting.  I support a balanced budget amendment and would oppose all earmarks and pork barrel projects.

*Provided by the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce’s Election Guide.