Davis a politician to be proud of
Newly elected Democratic 4th District congressman Lincoln Davis has been involved in local and state government in Tennessee for a quarter of a century, having been elected mayor of Byrdstown, TN in 1978, eventually serving two terms in that office. He later served as both a State Representative and State Senator, giving him a unique perspective on the inner workings of Tennessee politics.
Davis recently parlayed this knowledge and experience into a seat in the U.S. Congress, where he plans to be, in his own words, “the best dad-burned congressman this district has ever had.”
The native Tennessean has developed a reputation as an intelligent, no-nonsense, folksy politician for the common people, eschewing some of the more liberal aspects of his chosen party, coming out as both pro-life and anti-gun control for instance.
A natural politician, his shock of white hair, evangelistic oratorical style and distinctive first name fit right in with his personal beliefs. Honesty, family values, integrity and spirituality aren’t just political rhetoric to him, but words to live by, unlike some politicians in recent memory whose public words belie their private lives.
Nor is he afraid to voice these opinions publicly in a current political atmosphere that seems intent on stifling basic Christian tenets and icons as shown by the recent rulings on the wording of the Pledge of Allegiance and the posting of the Ten Commandments.
“The Republicans have done a wonderful job of saying [Democrats] are going to take our guns and kill unborn babies and keep prayer out of schools. I will not be out-gunned, out-prayed or out-daddied by anyone,” he said in a speech in Huntsville, Tenn. during his campaign.
Davis has deep roots in his home state, having been raised on the Cumberland Plateau, most of which is included in the 4th District. His background is steeped in Tennessee history and homegrown heroes. Davis actually grew up on a farm his father bought from celebrated World War I soldier Alvin York. In fact, Sgt. York’s wife, Miss Gracie, and Davis’ grandmother were sisters, making York his great-uncle by marriage.
Following in those huge footsteps, he graduated from York Institute, the high school that venerated warrior helped to fund. He attended college at Tennessee Tech University, graduating with a degree in Agronomy, and afterward worked for much of his adult life in one of the time-honored occupations of his agrarian home state, farming.
And while Davis is now based in Washington, he has made it clear those deep roots still reach all the way back home as he works to make changes and develop legislation on issues he feels will affect his constituents in the 4th District directly. Issues like jobs, gun control, abortion, rising health costs and prayer in schools.
Obviously, the people of the 4th District can count themselves lucky to have planted the seed of the Lincoln Davis political tree in our nation’s capitol. Watching it grow and spread its protective branches over Tennessee and Tennesseans may well become a statewide pastime for the next few years as Davis uses his farm-inspired work ethic to fulfill his political promise.