Why VOTE Republican?

I have heard from many people that they are scared to vote Republican because they worry about a return to the Bush years and more "Crony Capitalism". Lets be honest we are not voting for a president, we are voting for members of Congress at the national level and voting for governors, state representatives, and senators at the state level. The last time the Republicans controlled Congress Clinton was in office. Remember those years? A booming economy, low interest rates, a strong dollar, and a balanced budget. Sounds good right? That is why it is important for everyone to vote Republican this November.

Do you stand for a fair and level playing field for all businesses? For Lower taxes, so that businesses can reinvest their profits and create more jobs? VOTE REPUBLICAN.

Do you stand for an end to intrusive government regulations? For the preservation of our free market system? VOTE REPUBLICAN.

Are you for a smaller, more efficient government? Are you for a government that follows the constitution? VOTE REPUBLICAN.

Are you for a government that honors families, traditional marriage, life, and the private and faith-based organizations that form the core of our American values? Then you must VOTE REPUBLICAN!

Give the Grand Old Party one last chance to save America as we know it.

Competition, it is said, doesn't build character. It reveals it.

As posted on my campaign blog:

I never really took the time to write a concession speech or give one for that matter, that’s what you do when you run a “big” campaign, but I believe that to be a successful politician, or anything else for that matter it is very beneficial to study the pitfalls and mistakes that lead to losing than to focus on just the ways to win.

With that being said, I have a few thank-yous I need to get out of the way. 

I’d like to thank God first of all, for giving me the desire and the courage to get involved. Knowing that what you do is not for your own glory, but for His sure does make knocking on doors much easier. I was able to share the gospel a couple of times over the course of a few months. I knocked on over 2500 doors and you never know what a smile and a friendly word might do for the person opening up their home to you. 

I also appreciate all the support I was given from my friends, family, fellow church members, and the neighbors I met out on the campaign trail. I received 673 votes and without your assistance I might have only received my vote alone! I especially thank my wife she was not on board in the beginning, but made many phone calls and helped with many of the other aspects of the campaign before it was over.

So what did I learn? 

1. Make sure Momma is on board. Make sure your wife is on board before you pick up your petition. My family is number 1 to me and I assumed that my wife would be in full support of my campaign, but I was wrong. In the future, I will make very sure that my wife approves my decisions before I make them. Your family is highly effected when you decide to run for office, make sure they are on board before you make even your first move.

2. Choose your opponent wisely. You have to be careful about choosing who you run against. I assumed that a 20 year incumbent would not be interested in putting up much of a fight given the current anti-incumbent atmosphere. But was I wrong! She knocked on doors and even decided to buy signs, as I had heard her say that she did not have to buy signs anymore. She saw the challenge and made changes to her election plan. I admire Mrs. Ealy and when I called her to congratulate her  I really meant that I was willing to help her in anyway because I care for our community more than I do my own pride. Unfortunately she has yet to ever return my phone call. 

3. Press the issues. Robert Arnold did a great job of this. His mail outs cut deep, and he had Truman Jones and his staff reeling the entire election. I never really pushed that hard. Yes I told people about her voting record on property taxes, but I never really made the real push by sending out a mailing detailing the differences between her and I. I thought that since it was a neighborhood race I should not go “dirty” and instead just talk about my platform and not about the incumbent.

4. Get more volunteers. Because I am active in many local political groups I have a slew of friends with tons of political knowledge and expertise. My problem was that much of their abilities were spread out across many campaigns. Of course the republicans swept the ticket and that makes me happy, but we did not place enough true conservatives on the county commission as we had planned. It takes money and people to win elections. I was able to raise the money because I have the best network of friends on the planet, and I have experience as a stock broker and the key to that business is asking for the check to close the deal. Next time, I’ll first make sure first that my wife is on board, and then I will find some people that will focus on my race alone.

5. Carry pepper spray. Really, when knocking on lots of doors, you have to beware of dogs and other dangers. I was bitten twice, once by a pit bull on my forearm, and once by a very little over aggressive dog on the ankle. I was also stung by a wasp and sprained my foot because I stepped in hole I didn't see. There are prices to pay when running for office, but even these were not as great as missing my family. You spend a lot of time away from your family during a race and its a struggle on the it as well on yourself. 

6. A little about me. I have lived in Murfreesboro for less than 3 years, and yet I received 673 votes. My opponent received 1325 and has lived here for over 40. You do the math, I laugh and tell people I have time on my side and there is something to that. 
I’ve learned that politics is mostly a popularity contest. Most people do not care your stance on many issues, they vote for who they know. In time more people will know and recognize my name and hopefully they will vote for me. I care about this community, it is my home. It is where I have decided to raise my family and I will continue to be involved and press for my conservative values to be represented by our elected officials and therefore in the laws of our county and of our state. I know that the people of Rutherford County share the same opinion I have on most issues, so I doubt this will be the last time they see my name on the ballot.

I've heard it said that, “Experience is the worst teacher. It gives the test before it gives the lesson.” And there is a lot of truth in it. Now I have experience, and hopefully if you ever decide to run and you'll have read this you will avoid some of the pitfalls I made. We must remember its not whether we lose, but how we lose and how we might change because of it.  What is important is what we take away from the loss that we never had before, to apply to our future endeavors. Losing, when done right, is winning.

A Little About Me

Born in Horse Cave, Kentucky, I know the value of hard work. My father, an air force veteran worked on heating and cooling units and my mother worked at the local factory. My parents worked jobs so I could have a career. I can’t say thank you enough to them. My dad worked two jobs for as long as I could remember so that my brother and I would have all the things he did not. My mom managed to keep the home fires burning during the day and work at nights. Whenever I accomplish anything, it’s on their shoulders I am standing. I am convinced that if they had not worked so hard, I might not have become who I am today.

In high school I played football and tennis. My father told me that I had all my life to work and only a few years to do these sorts of things. So as long as I was doing extracurricular activities he made sure I had a car to drive and gas in the tank.  Because I only had to work in the “off season” better known as summer break I was able to enjoy high school for all it was worth.  I lettered in football, tennis, and the academic team, and graduated in the top third of his class. Even at a young age I was eager to be involved in politics, so it came as no surprise to my former classmates when I decided to run for County Commissioner earlier this year.

College was a short drive down to Bowling Green, KY.  (Home of the Hill Toppers)  I joined a fraternity and was very active in lots of other clubs and groups on campus including starting the Economics Club and serving multiple terms as a member of student government and as a residence hall president.  I really enjoyed college; so much that I stayed there for over 5 years! I finally graduated in December of 2000. I am the first of my family to graduate from college, which provided its own set of challenges. (I’m sure to discuss further in future postings)

While an economics degree was not easy to attain, it did not make for a smooth transition from college to the real world. Luckily, I had worked my way through college and was able to find a sales job at Dell. I did not like being tied to a cubicle for 60 hours a week, although the money was really great, I desired more. I had always wanted to be a stock broker and a childhood friend, Jason Claycomb, opened the door of opportunity to me.(Who I highly suggest as a financial planner if you ever need one and I am not available)  Of course this was now 2002 and the US was in a recession, talking about great timing, it was very difficult to build a book of business. I was probably too young for the job, but I worked hard to learn the craft. I read many books studied far more than I ever had in college and learned how to be a financial planner.  Over the next half decade I would take advantage of being young and single. I moved companies and chased down greater and greater opportunities. 

Then I met someone that would change my life forever. I met the love of my life, Christy, a few years after my move to Fort Wayne where I was working for Wells Fargo Investments. It’s almost a story book tale.  I was a groomsman, in a fraternity brother’s wedding, and Christy was a brides made. I was awestruck from the very beginning. I was always looking for a reason to move back to the south, and Christy gave me the just reason I was looking for.

I continued to work as a financial asset manager until I completed my MBA at MTSU in 2008. While earning an MBA I fell in love with Murfreesboro. It was so much like Bowling Green, KY I instantly felt at home.  Of course in 2008 the market was falling apart and it was very difficult to make money in the financial services business, so I started In Your City Inc., an idea I created as a project for one of my classes, where I helps small to medium size businesses build websites and improve their presence on the internet.

Married for five years, Christy and I are now the parents of two lovely girls, Carly and Collette. Carly attends preschool at Providence Christian Academy and the youngest Fancher, Collette, is now over a year old. We are members of the First United Methodist Church here in Murfreesboro. I am a regular usher at the contemporary service and I encourage you to pay us a visit if you do not have a church. I promise to take great care of you. 

Currently, I am very active in regional politics. Although I was unsuccessful in my first election, I am still trying to help many other good conservative candidates win. Sometimes I think God lets us fall down so we will learn valuable lessons that we might have not learned if we had been successful. My loss taught me a lot. (Another topic I plan on talking about in the near future) I am also very active in the local Campaign for Liberty Chapter, as well as both the Rutherford County Republicans and the Young Republicans where I am currently the Chairman.  I am not sure what the future holds for me. I just take it day by day. I try to help where and when I can and I just trust in God’s providence that he has me right where he wants me, and with his help I’ll do what he wants me to do.