Loading...
Faith, Family, Freedom and the Kind of Campaign We Deserve
This week’s column coincides with the beginning of early voting in Putnam County. In full disclosure, you, as my readers and followers, know that I am a candidate for Putnam County Commissioner, District 2, for those that are new here - welcome.
As I reflect on this campaign, some of my favorite moments have been the simplest ones: knocking on a neighbor’s door, sitting on a porch and having an honest conversation about our families, our community and the future of Putnam County.
Those conversations have reminded me of something we seem to be losing.
What happened to the days when neighbors took the time to sit together and talk? What happened to respecting one another, including the spouses, children and families of those who step forward to run for office? What happened to being able to disagree without treating one another as enemies?
Campaigning has allowed me to know my neighbors better, hear their concerns and learn more about the communities that make District 2 special. I will always be grateful for that. I wish I could have visited every door in District 2. There are a lot of doors!
But there have also been difficult moments.
Political labels have been used in place of honest conversations.
Most recently, I was accused of being a “white Christian nationalist.”
That accusation deserves a direct and unapologetic answer.
I will not apologize for saying:
I am a Christian.
I love my country.
My faith informs my values.
America’s history has been deeply influenced by Christianity.
I support faith, family and freedom.
I am a Christian. I love my country. Neither of those things is shameful, and combining those facts does not prove that I believe anyone else is less American, less important or less deserving of equal treatment.
I reject white supremacy, racism and hatred in every form. And I do mean every form, including the hateful rhetoric that continually attempts to divide our community.
I do not believe white Christians should have greater rights than anyone else. I do not believe someone must share my faith to be a true American. I believe in conservative values that represent who I am and reflect the principles held by many people in our community.
My faith guides how I live, how I treat people and how I hope to serve. My love for America includes respect for our Constitution and the freedoms it protects for every citizen, including those of different races, backgrounds, political beliefs and religious convictions.
Religious liberty does not belong only to Christians. Freedom of speech does not belong only to people with whom I agree. Equal treatment under the law does not depend upon political party, race, income, family name or church membership.
Those principles belong to all of us.
Labels should never replace facts. Anyone making such a serious accusation should be willing to identify the specific statement, policy or action they believe justifies it.
Being a Christian and loving your country are not evidence of extremism. They are not evidence of racism. They are not evidence that you want to deny another person’s rights.
People deserve political discussions based on facts, records, positions and actions. They should not be subjected to guilt by association, manufactured connections or accusations created by combining three commonly used words.
I will not apologize for being a Christian, loving my family or defending freedom. I will also not allow anyone to falsely redefine those values or assign beliefs to me that I do not hold.
This is part of why I am running for office.
Faith comes first in my life. It reminds me that leadership is service, that every person has value and that I am accountable for how I treat others.
Family is my “why.” My family is the reason I work, serve, sacrifice and care so deeply about the future we are building.
Freedom gives us the right to worship, speak, work, raise our families, defend life, participate in government and pursue the opportunities promised by our nation.
That freedom also protects people who criticize me, spread rumors about me or strongly disagree with everything I believe. I may challenge their accusations and correct false information, but I will still defend their constitutional right to speak.
That is what freedom requires.
Choosing not to trade insult for insult is not weakness. It is discipline. I will answer falsehoods with facts, but I will not allow anyone else to dictate the tone of my campaign or distract me from the people I am running to serve. They may be trying to draw me into their arena. I am choosing to remain in mine and specifically for Putnam Countians.
I still believe in conducting myself honorably. I still believe in honest conversations. I still believe we can disagree without destroying one another. I still believe public service should be about solving problems rather than creating division.
Most importantly, I still believe Putnam County’s best days are ahead.
As early voting begins, I hope every candidate and every voter will remember that we will still be neighbors when this election is over. Our children will attend school together. We will shop in the same stores, travel the same roads, attend the same community events and pray in churches throughout this county.
Let us debate the issues. Let us examine the records. Let us ask difficult questions. But let us also reject rumors, personal attacks and attempts to assign beliefs to people without evidence.
I will continue standing for faith, family and freedom while respecting the rights and dignity of every person I am elected to serve.
I will not apologize for those convictions.
This is what I mean when I say I will not back down. I will not be intimidated into silence, pressured into abandoning my convictions or shamed for openly standing for the values that guide my life. I will continue speaking the truth, defending our freedoms and serving with courage, compassion and conviction.
If you believe our community should be strengthened rather than divided, stand with me. If you believe people of faith should not be bullied into silence, stand with me. If you believe family, freedom and love of country are still worth defending, stand with me.
Let us show those who seek to divide Putnam County that we will not answer hatred with hatred, but neither will we sit quietly while our values are misrepresented.
We will stand.
We will speak.
We will vote.
And we will continue defending faith, family and freedom without apology.
God bless Putnam County, God bless Tennessee, and God bless the United States of America.
Editor’s Note: Clarissa Williams is the owner and executive editor of Highlands Insider and a Republican candidate for Putnam County Commissioner, District 2. This is an opinion column reflecting her personal views and campaign positions. The publication’s election coverage remains separate from this commentary and is conducted according to its established editorial policies.
