Chuck Fleischmann
Encyclopedia
Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (born October 11, 1962) is the U.S. Representative
for . The district is based in Chattanooga and includes a large swath of East Tennessee
, including Oak Ridge
. He is a member of the Republican Party
.
, an unincorporated suburban community east of Chattanooga. He received a B.A. in Political Science
at the University of Illinois. He also received both Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude honors. He received his juris doctor
at the University of Tennessee College of Law
in Knoxville
. He then moved to Chattanooga and in 1987 founded his own law firm, Fleischmann and Fleischmann. He is a former President at Chattanooga Bar Association and former Chairman of the Chattanooga Lawyers Pro Bono Committee.
ran for Governor, leaving this an open seat.
His biggest competition in the Republican primary came from former state GOP chairwoman Robin Smith, who was the more conservative candidate. Fleischmann narrowly defeated second-place finisher Smith in a crowded primary. His Democratic opponent in the general election was John Wolfe, a fellow attorney. Fleischmann faced Wolfe in his first case as an attorney. He said he won that case and the appeal "and now I want to defeat him a third time." His other opponent was independent candidate Savas Kyriakidis, an attorney, restaurant owner and Iraq War veteran who claimed Fleischmann didn't appear to be enough of a fiscal conservative. Fleischmann won the race with 57 percent of the votes to Wolfe's 28 percent and Kyriakidis' 11 percent.
Fleischmann was originally undecided on Speaker John Boehner
’s debt limit bill of July of 2011. The Thursday before the vote, as the House was voting on a separate appropriations bill, Boehner privately met Fleischmann and two other undecided Republicans in an office off the House floor. Fleischmann subsequently decided to vote in favor of the bill.
On November 16th 2011 Fleischmann voted for a bill that encourages the display of “In God We Trust” in public buildings and schools and reinforces it as our nation’s motto.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for . The district is based in Chattanooga and includes a large swath of East Tennessee
East Tennessee
East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee, one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law. East Tennessee consists of 33 counties, 30 located within the Eastern Time Zone and three counties in the Central Time Zone, namely...
, including Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson and Roane counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about west of Knoxville. Oak Ridge's population was 27,387 at the 2000 census...
. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Early life, education and career
Fleischmann is a lifelong resident of OoltewahOoltewah, Tennessee
Ooltewah is a census-designated place in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 687 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, an unincorporated suburban community east of Chattanooga. He received a B.A. in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the University of Illinois. He also received both Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude honors. He received his juris doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
at the University of Tennessee College of Law
University of Tennessee College of Law
The University of Tennessee College of Law is the law school of the University of Tennessee located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Founded in 1890, the school is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools.-The Law Center and the...
in Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. He then moved to Chattanooga and in 1987 founded his own law firm, Fleischmann and Fleischmann. He is a former President at Chattanooga Bar Association and former Chairman of the Chattanooga Lawyers Pro Bono Committee.
2010 U.S. Congressional campaign
Republican incumbent Zach WampZach Wamp
Zachary Paul "Zach" Wamp is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1995 to 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party...
ran for Governor, leaving this an open seat.
His biggest competition in the Republican primary came from former state GOP chairwoman Robin Smith, who was the more conservative candidate. Fleischmann narrowly defeated second-place finisher Smith in a crowded primary. His Democratic opponent in the general election was John Wolfe, a fellow attorney. Fleischmann faced Wolfe in his first case as an attorney. He said he won that case and the appeal "and now I want to defeat him a third time." His other opponent was independent candidate Savas Kyriakidis, an attorney, restaurant owner and Iraq War veteran who claimed Fleischmann didn't appear to be enough of a fiscal conservative. Fleischmann won the race with 57 percent of the votes to Wolfe's 28 percent and Kyriakidis' 11 percent.
Interests
Rep. Fleischmann has always been a firm supporter of 2nd Amendment rights. He has received an “A” rating from the interest groups "National Rifle Association Political Fund Positions on Gun Rights" and "Gun Owners of America Positions on Gun Rights". He supports legislation that “allows licensed firearm owners to carry out their God-given right more freely” because “the right to carry a firearm is a right that allows law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and is crucial to the freedom of our country.” On November 16th 2011 Fleischmann voted Yea on the “National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011, which would allow a resident of a state that allows concealed carry to posses a firearm while visiting another state that has different firearm rights.Voting
Rep. Fleischmann’s first vote in office was the 2011 motion “Repealing the Health Care Bill” which he supported.Fleischmann was originally undecided on Speaker John Boehner
John Boehner
John Andrew Boehner is the 61st and current Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, he is the U.S. Representative from , serving since 1991...
’s debt limit bill of July of 2011. The Thursday before the vote, as the House was voting on a separate appropriations bill, Boehner privately met Fleischmann and two other undecided Republicans in an office off the House floor. Fleischmann subsequently decided to vote in favor of the bill.
On November 16th 2011 Fleischmann voted for a bill that encourages the display of “In God We Trust” in public buildings and schools and reinforces it as our nation’s motto.
Stop Green Initiative Abuse Act of 2011
In November of 2011 Rep. Fleischmann filed a new bill called the “Stop Green Initiative Abuse Act of 2011” which would repeal the Department of Energy’s “Weatherization Assistance Program”. This program attempts to assist low-income families in lowering their energy bills by adding energy efficient caulking and insulation to homes. A December 2010 report from the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office concluded that funds for the program had been “wasted or misspent”. Fleischmann’s office estimates that if this bill passes it would save taxpayers $2.1 billion dollars over the next decade. This is the third bill he has proposed.Personal life
Fleischmann is married to Brenda M. Fleischmann. They have three sons, and live in Ooltewah.External links
- Congressman Chuck Fleischmann official U.S. House site
- Chuck Fleischmann for Congress official campaign site
- http://www.vote-smart.org/candidate/123456/chuck-fleischmann"Representative Charles 'Chuck' J. Fleischmann"
- http://www.nooga.com/23626_fleischmann-introduces-bill-to-terminate-government-weatherization-program/ "Fleischmann Introduces Bill To Terminate Government Weatherization Program"
- http://thehill.com/homenews/house/174209-house-gop-still-short-on-votes "Boehner Struggles for Votes"