Catawba County Veteran Lance Sigmon to Challenge Patrick McHenry in 10th District GOP Primary

Declaring a frustration with scandals in both parties, and a mission "to restore the ethics and honesty voters deserve in government," Newton attorney and retired U.S. Air Force officer, Lance Sigmon, today formally announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives, representing the 10th District of North Carolina. It is Sigmon's first attempt at public office, which he described as "a positive for voters who are disgusted with politicians in general and the 'epidemic' of ethics scandals'." "I will do my best for the people of the 10th District, and be honest with them at every turn, without self-promotion or looking for personal advancement," Sigmon said.

A retired Lieutenant Colonel, Lance Sigmon spoke first on creating an economic climate that will stimulate job growth, praising several local business leaders for their innovative, forward thinking strategies that have allowed them to not only retain their businesses, but grow them.

"Imagine what our business leaders can do in these 10 counties if the federal government, specifically the Congress, were more supportive in maintaining our businesses-not just being reactive when they close," Sigmon said. "We've licked our wounds over job losses to other countries long enough; it's time to get serious and do more-as a national policy-about encouraging new job creation in distressed districts like ours where there is a workforce ready and willing to work."

"It is the responsibility of our elected Representatives to lead the way in making sure that we are competing on a level playing field with our foreign competitors-not one that is tilted their way," added Sigmon "I am fed up with the epidemic of ethics, lobbyist and even sex scandals among both Republicans and Democrats. The voters deserve a Congressman who looks out for them rather than an out-of-touch politician, with pockets full of lobbyist money, who has become part of the problem and not part of the solution," declared Sigmon. "If I am privileged enough to be elected to Congress, it will be my unwavering mission to restore the ethics and honesty the people deserve in government - that's why I'm running," Sigmon said. "Unfortunately, I believe our current congressman has become a "Washington Insider" and forgotten about the needs of the citizens of the 10th District of North Carolina, leading him to have his own problems with ethics and honesty," Sigmon added.

"We need a congressman who will focus on uniting people who have common ideas and interests on important national issues, not dividing them," stated Sigmon.

Sigmon described himself as a "traditional Republican conservative with western North Carolina family values." He added that the 10th Congressional District of North Carolina "needs a representative in Congress who will vote 'right' on the issues for our people, not for special interest lobbyists from outside the district. We need someone in Washington who will be truthful with the voters here, who will represent our people, rather than 'sell his office' to out-ofdistrict special interests which make big contributions for specific votes on specific bills they're interested in." He ended by challenging McHenry "not to take Political Action Committee money from groups outside of our District who are only trying to improperly influence elected officials and get their votes in Congress."

A native of Conover, the 49-year-old son of Eddie P. and Boncella Killian Sigmon retired from the Air Force in 2005 after 21 years of service and moved his family into the south Newton home where his wife Melissa had grown up. The Sigmons, married 22 years, have two teen-age children, and are members of Abernethy Memorial United Methodist Church in Newton. He has built a specialized solo law practice, representing military defendants in courts-martial in the United States and abroad.

To find out more about Lance Sigmon, or to learn how to contribute to his campaign, Sigmon told interested persons to go to his website:
sigmonforcongress.com.
He added that a free biweekly newsletter also is available online or by mail to anyone who's interested.