Democrat Billy Kennedy, a farmer from Watauga County, filed yesterday to challenge Republican Virginia Foxx, a three-term incumbent, for the 5th Congressional District seat.
Foxx also filed yesterday.
Kennedy, who also is a radio announcer and a carpenter, stopped during lunchtime at the Forsyth County Democratic Party's headquarters in Winston-Salem, where he told about 60 supporters that he believes Washington legislators support corporate interests over the people they are elected to represent.
"We need a representative in Washington who looks out for us and not just the privileged few, and it's time we did something about that," Kennedy said.
Kennedy hosts a call-in radio show, "Watauga Talks." He moved to western Watauga County in 1980 and is married with three children.
The 5th District includes Forsyth, Wilkes and Watauga counties, and is heavily Republican.
Kennedy said he is unfazed by the party politics.
"I think people are smarter than that," he said yesterday. "I think once they see the facts and see the way (Foxx) is really voting -- she's not voting in their interests."
Loretta Clawson, a Democrat and the mayor of Boone, said she thinks Kennedy can unseat Foxx.
"I think he can reach out to Republicans, Democrats, unaffiliated -- he reaches out to working people," Clawson said. "I think it really is the year to challenge someone who has been there who really hasn't done anything."
Kennedy is running on a platform of issues that include government accountability, job creation, education and health care.
The filing period for the U.S. House of Representatives closes Feb. 26. If another Democrat files, the primary election will be May 4. The general election is Nov. 2.
lgraff@wsjournal.com
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