(Maryville , TN , January 14, 2008) – State Senator Raymond Finney (R-Maryville) announced today that he has filed election qualifying petitions and will be a candidate in the August, 2008 Republican Primary for re-election as state senator to represent the 8th senatorial district. The district consists of Sevier and Blount counties.

     "It has been a privilege and honor to serve in the Tennessee Senate," said Senator Finney. "I regard this district as belonging to the citizens, and I have worked very hard to remain accessible and to provide commonsense, conservative representation in Nashville. I will continue to make openness and accessibility among my top priorities in the next General Assembly." 

     To give citizens a greater voice in and understanding of state government, Finney said he has conducted hundreds of community meetings in the district, including monthly visits at county courthouses and visits to schools, churches, community centers, fairs, and other locations. Finney explained, "I try to meet constituents where they live and work. I listen carefully to their concerns. Even if I cannot help with a particular problem, it makes me a better senator to know a constituent's thoughts about issues and their concerns, fears, and hopes."

     Other efforts by Finney to make his actions open include providing his voting record on an Internet Website he has set up for this purpose (finneyvotes.com). He is the only member of the General Assembly to publish a complete record of his votes. He distributes annual preference surveys in the district. "More than 2,500 constituents responded to my 2007 survey, and I believe more than that number will respond in 2008," Finney explained. "I carefully read all written notes attached to the surveys."

     Finney added, "I consider it essential to keep in touch with the citizens of this district. I work tirelessly to gather input from citizens through personal visits, questionnaires, community forums, and four dedicated Websites. I want my voting record and every action in Nashville to be an open book, in order that that my constituents know fully how I represent them in Nashville."

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