Senate incumbent Raymond Finney (R) fended off the attacks by three candidates for his seat last Thursday evening during a public debate. The state primary party elections for the Legislature are Aug. 7

The candidates are Senator Raymond Finney, R-Maryville, Representative Doug Overbey, R-Maryville, James Bishop, R-Sevierville and Ira Lapides I-Gatlinburg. The District 8 Senate Seat has for the past number of years been occupied by a resident from Maryville.

The debate took place at the Sevier County Courthouse. It was sponsored by Sevier County Right To Life and narrated by Seymour Herald Publisher Joe Karl and Knoxville News columnist Greg Johnson.

Opening statements by each candidate displayed their differenced.

Senator Finney described his involvement with the Right to Life organization as a charter member of the Sevier County Chapter. He talked about what he observed during his retired physician and his four websites devoted to the right to life. He passionately believes he needs to do what he can to keep women from having the pain of suffering thru an abortion. He is the Founder and President of the Blount County Right To Life and a charter member of the Sevier County Right To Life, has been involved with prayer chains, given pro-life messages at various churches at many other events. “I’m a retired physician and I know what these women go thru after an abortion, I’ve seen aborted babies and it’s shameful to let women suffer like this,” Finney stated.

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