The following questionnaire has been submitted to each candidate running in the Republican primary seeking the nomination for Republican candidate for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District. This seat is now held by Democratic Congressman Jim Cooper. Whoever wins the primary on August 5 will most likely face Cooper in November.
Tell me about yourself. Where are you from, what to you do for a living, what is your educational background, your political experience?
I am a native Nashvillian, who grew up in Bellevue and attended Hillwood High School. After graduation, I moved to Atlanta to pursue a fine arts education at the Art Institute of Atlanta. After a year in Georgia, I decided I wanted more than just a Fine Arts degree (FA), so I transferred to Middle Tennessee State University, where I majored in Graphic Design and minored in Computer Sciences. I later attended Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering and became a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer in the mid-nineties.
For the last twenty years I have also been a political activist — fighting to preserve the Constitution and other founding principles of our Republic. I have been on the front lines of many causes including the Tennessee Income Tax Protest. For the last eight to ten years, I have been non-partisan objector, fighting Republican policies with as much fervor as those proposed by Democrats. For that reason I consider myself more of a Tea Party candidate. That said, I still feel that we (conservative Republicans) are on the verge of revitalizing the Republican party with conservative ideals and principles and deemed that so important that I remain a Republican, rather than third-party candidate. On a personal note…
My wife Staci and I were married in 1996 and later had two beautiful girls.
Why are you running for this office?
My goal is to save our Republic from Progressives and others with socialist agendas in our government. I aspire to represent the many citizens who share the sentiment that we are under attack by an administration that is out to “fundamentally transform the United States.”
Ultimately, I want to ensure that our nation remains a Constitutional Government based on liberty for the sake of our children and grandchildren.
What do you see as the primary issue is this race?
Three core issues will shape the outcome of this election.
First: The agenda of the Obama administration, including but not limited to stimulus monies, TARP, Cap and Trade, and Healthcare Reform
Second: The unemployment rate and this Administration’s and Congress’s failure to address it by helping the private sector to create new jobs
Third: Illegal Immigration and National Security
If you are successful in winning the Republican nomination and you are successful in defeating Jim Cooper, when serving in the US Congress what issue will be your primary focus? What will be your priorities?
I will be focused on preserving the Constitution. To do this I will focus on reducing the size of government, lowering taxes, repealing the Healthcare Bill and returning our government to Capitalist principles.
When I make my decision who I will vote for for this office, not only do I want to vote for someone who has solid conservative values and who I think would make a good Congressman, but I want to vote for someone who I think can beat Jim Cooper. Best person and electability may not necessarily be the same thing. I have heard that it will take anywhere from $500,000 to $2 million dollars to mount a successful campaign. Do you have the support, the time and resources to conduct a winning campaign?
Without a doubt, money is vital to any political campaign. Your assessment that it will take somewhere around $500,000 and a large grass-roots campaign is accurate. This year, however, is different than any recent election year in Tennessee Politics. In a normal election cycle, a Republican candidate, in the fifth district, would receive around 40% of the vote if he/she spent $1 or $1,000,000.
This year’s election will be different for a number of reasons..
1. Republicans will appear first on the ballot for the first time in more than 100 years.
2. There is great unrest in the country and an active anti-incumbent movement.
3. The Republican base is highly motivated and averaging a 14% increase in voter turn-out.
4. Independent voters are trending Republican in large numbers.
5. Democrat turnout to date is down 9%.
6. Jim Cooper’s voting record.
If one wants to know more about your campaign or contact you how to they do that?
I can be contacted through the web site (www.voteforlonnie.com) by e-mail (lonnie@lonniespivak.com) or through the campaign phone number 615-530-6289.
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