PRESS RELEASE: Dr. Scott DesJarlais Officially Announces Run for Congress
February 10, 2010

Dr. Scott DesJarlais Officially Announces Run for Congress

Conservative Physician Seeking to Represent Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District

Jasper, TN -  Dr. Scott DesJarlais (DAY-JAR-LAY) officially announced today his candidacy for Congress in the Fourth District of Tennessee.  A conservative, general practice physician from Marion County, DesJarlais is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Lincoln Davis this November. 

“Never has there been a time that Americans have felt as misrepresented by their government as they do right now. In the past few years, we have witnessed our country being swallowed by Big Government, runaway spending and increasing deficits that will plague generations to come. It’s time for true, conservative leadership for Tennessee’s Fourth District and that is why I have decided to run for Congress,” said DesJarlais. 

“In this past year, conversations with my patients have turned from stories about hunting and fishing to discussions about the fear we all have as this country barrels down the path of socialism.  I intend to represent the values and ideals of this district, vote against the reckless agenda of Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama and protect our freedoms according to the Constitution of the United States.  As a small business owner, I understand that decreasing the tax burden is the only way to create the jobs we desperately need in this district and as a physician, I know that inserting government bureaucrats into my exam room is not good for any of my patients.”

My family is humbled by the overwhelming support we have already received from throughout this district and look forward to talking about our ideas and plans with the voters of Middle Tennessee in the upcoming months.”

Scott's deep understanding of rural communities comes from being raised in a working class family.  His father owned a barbershop and his mother has been a nurse at the local Veteran's Administration Hospital for nearly 44 years.   Scott's first job was shining shoes in his father's shop and he worked his way through college in the service department of the local farm implement dealership.  “Dr. D”, as his patients fondly call him, has practiced medicine in rural Tennessee for almost two decades, moving to the Volunteer State after completing medical school at the University of South Dakota and working in the Veteran's Hospital System. 

Dr. D’s Prescription for Tennessee includes:

• Reduce the size of government, end corporate bailouts and stop runaway spending to create jobs in Middle Tennessee.
• Decrease the tax burden and eliminate the death tax so small businesses and farms can grow.
• Bring common sense and real expertise to the health care crisis to protect our families, especially our seniors.
• Increase our national security and protect benefits for our veterans.
• Protect our traditional Tennessee values. Scott is pro-gun, pro-life and pro-marriage and proud of it.
• Impose term limits in the House and Senate.

DesJarlais is considered the front runner in the Republican primary, raising over $150,000 in 2009.  He was one of only nine challengers throughout the country to out raise the incumbent in the third quarter of 2009 and is on the National Republican Congressional Committee’s “On The Radar” list.

Scott Desjarlais and his wife, Amy, have three children: Tyler, Ryan and Maggie.  They are members of the Epiphany Episcopal Church in Sherwood, TN, where Amy grew up.

For more information about Scott DesJarlais, visit www.scottdesjarlais.com or join Scott on both Facebook and Twitter.