Jeff Gregory

City of residence: Shelby, N.C.

Occupation: Retired postmaster

Political experience: I have voluntarily served our country and federal government for 30 years, both in the military and as a retired postmaster.

Why are you running against six-term incumbent Rep. Patrick McHenry?

JG: McHenry is a career politician who is only concerned with his political career. McHenry called individuals defending our country while in Iraq “two-bit security guards.” McHenry serves on the Finance Committee, which oversees banks and insurance companies, and gets most of his campaign funds from banks and insurance companies. McHenry votes to fund Planned Parenthood and Obama’s amnesty, yet he says he is against both. McHenry was a lieutenant for John Boehner and is part of the huge problem in Washington. McHenry allows NAFTA and CAFTA and voted for Obama’s fast track. This is devastating to our district. I am a decorated veteran and a retired postmaster. I will defend the Bible, our Constitution and all that they stand for.

Are you unhappy with the state of the Republican Party?

JG: I am very unhappy and displeased with the current state of our country, its safety and future. I am disgusted with career politicians who are RINOs [Republicans in name only]. I am a Republican who is deeply concerned about the future of our republic. The Republican Party is the party to bring America back to her glory and respected days. But we must elect genuine grassroots officials to accomplish this goal.

If elected, you’d be a freshman congressman with little political clout. What do you realistically believe you can accomplish in your first term for the people of the 10th District?

JG: In my first year in Congress, I will hire a staff that will work diligently for our district and its constituents. I will not vote for liberal ideas. I will vote for what is best for God, family and country. I will search for a coalition of like-minded conservatives who will stand strong for putting America first. I will work hard to lower taxes and push for less government.

How do you feel you can represent the 10th District’s various ideologies and people in a way that champions compromise and bipartisan efforts? Or do you have other beliefs on representing a varied constituency?

JG: I will represent the 10th District as a decorated veteran who served on the first Columbia space shuttle recovery team in New Mexico. I will serve as a grassroots individual who worked full time in high school in textiles, as well as later for a large airline company. I will represent as a retired postmaster with 30 years of government leadership knowledge and experience. All of these previous positions and experiences have helped me prepare for and understand the need for jobs in our district.

Which 2016 Republican presidential candidate (including those who have dropped out) do you most identify with?

JG: I never identify with any candidates. I identify with the hardworking people of the 10th District. I identify with how the hardworking people of the 10th District have been ignored and have been given very poor representation in Congress by McHenry and other self-serving career politicians. I identify with the people who cherish the Bible, the Constitution and those who will honor and defend them. I will be supporting Donald Trump. He is the Republican candidate. All others have dropped out. It is time for Republicans to unite for the betterment of America and to defeat Hillary.

What’s the most important issue facing 10th District residents? How have/will you address it?

JG: I will fight to bring back jobs to our district, fight against funding abortion and for the rights of our unborn children. I will fight to enforce our immigration laws, defend our Constitution and lower taxes. Above all I will fight for God, family and country.

Job creation and cost of living affect many 10th District residents. What have you done/would you do to create living wage jobs?

JG: We must start new manufacturing and technical job programs. We must work with businesses to keep taxes low and to take burdensome, overregulated laws off of businesses so they can compete. We must repeal Obamacare, which is not only unconstitutional but a huge cost to businesses. We must look at unfair trade practices that have devastated our district’s economy. I want to create good-paying jobs with excellent health care benefits, that help give the people their dignity and trust in America back. We should look at creating a new reservoir for our district, as water is a key issue that industry always looks for.

What makes you more qualified than the other candidates?

JG: I am more qualified overall than any of the other candidates because I have seen the devastation of our district. I am keenly sensitive, loyal and deeply caring about all of our district’s people. My heart is deeply devoted to protecting and serving all of our military veterans to the very highest degree. I am a term-limit candidate, not a career politician. I owe no loyalty except to God, family and country. My constituents will always be put first. I am very unhappy and displeased with the current state of our country, its safety and future. I am disgusted with career politicians who are Republicans in name only. I am a Republican who is deeply concerned about the future of our republic.