Our man in Nashville, Richard Locker, trekked his way to Martin yesterday to see if he could get Stephen Fincher, the Republican nominee in the 8th Congressional District, to answer questions about the $250,000 unsecured loan and strange campaign finance disclosures in which he claimed to have no assets, not even a checking account (yet seems to have the money to live in a huge house and send his kids to private school). Democratic nominee Roy Herron has been hammering Fincher about it.
Rick also threw out a basic question The CA always asks candidates running for an office that either directly or indirectly includes Memphis -- if elected, what's he going to do for the city? And suddenly the story took a whole new turn.
Despite having been a candidate since late last year, Fincher made at least three declaratory statements that Memphis was not, in fact, a part of the 8th District. As you can see at this link, a not insignificant part of the the district is located in Memphis (much of Frayser, some of Raleigh). In terms of population, it takes up a sizable chunk -- and many of those voters are of course Democrats, which is why many believe if Republicans are in charge of redistricting, at a minimum Frayser will be thrown into the 9th District.
From Rick's story:
Rick also threw out a basic question The CA always asks candidates running for an office that either directly or indirectly includes Memphis -- if elected, what's he going to do for the city? And suddenly the story took a whole new turn.
Despite having been a candidate since late last year, Fincher made at least three declaratory statements that Memphis was not, in fact, a part of the 8th District. As you can see at this link, a not insignificant part of the the district is located in Memphis (much of Frayser, some of Raleigh). In terms of population, it takes up a sizable chunk -- and many of those voters are of course Democrats, which is why many believe if Republicans are in charge of redistricting, at a minimum Frayser will be thrown into the 9th District.
From Rick's story:
"I'm in Memphis a lot and see lots of folks. They're close to us and part of the district. ... The city of Memphis is not in. But we're going to work for the state and country to do what we can. Memphis is a key part of the 8th District. I mean it's close to us."Fincher's campaign is continuing to describe these issues as frivolous distractions from what they say is the most important issue facing the voters -- the fact that Roy Herron is a Democrat who would support Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Obama. As my story last weekend pointed out, that's the main message coming from all Republican nominees running in hotly contested Mid-South congressional races.Asked if the district lines don't extend into the city, he said, "Into Shelby County. Just into the county part. I don't think we have the city part. I don't think the city of Memphis."
Campaign manager Paul Ciaramitaro said "Frayser," and Fincher said, "Frayser is, okay, yes."
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