Cages Bend resident says more military veterans should be in national offices

 

When retired Sergeant Major Jon (Jonathan) Henry attended a political event earlier this year, the Cages Bend resident wasn’t particularly impressed by the guest speaker.

The Smith County native felt as though he were hearing a well-rehearsed speech from an individual who had been groomed by a high-paid campaign manager to make all the right comments to appeal to the audience.

“Putting lipstick on a pig,” Henry calls it.

Often from outside the state of Tennessee, high-dollar campaign managers are hired by political candidates to tell them what to say in order to gain broad support, says Henry.

Once the race has run its course, the campaign manager is off to another political election, Henry notes.

As a military veteran, Henry is active with local veterans organizations.

After hearing the speech, the Smith County native sounded off to his military friends.

In response, Henry’s friends told him to quit talking about the speech or run for office.

Instead of sitting on the sidelines, Henry—though in the middle of building a new house for his family (in which he is doing most of the work)—filed the necessary paperwork and earlier this year officially became a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, representing Tennessee.

For first time candidates entering the political arena, change is often a common theme. Despite the pledges, change has occurred.

“If we want change, we’re going to have to vote differently,” Henry relates. “If people want someone like themselves in office, then I think I’m the right guy for the job.”

True to the Republican Party, Henry supports the Second Amendment, is pro-life, believes in a strong national defense and the reduction of government regulations.

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