Congressman Fincher not seeking 4th term

JACKSON, Tenn. — A big announcement by congressman Stephen Fincher Monday, catching many across West Tennessee off guard. The three term U.S. Representative from Crockett County will not seek a 4th term.

Congressman Fincher has served 3 consecutive terms, winning his 2014 re-election bid with more than 70 percent of the vote. Now he said it is time to leave D.C. and head back home and politicians from across are area are seeing that as a very big opportunity.

“He was a farmer who never held office before. His campaign motto was ‘plow congress’,” Jay Bush with the Madison County Republican Party said. “He went up there and represented West Tennessee’s conservative values.”

In a statement, the Crockett County native gave no reason for not seeking another term but said he never intended to become a career politician, instead deciding to go back to the family farm in Frog Jump.

“He did what I think our founders expected our elected representatives to do,” Bush said. “They are citizens who go and serve for a brief period and then they go back home. That’s exactly what the congressman has done.”

Fincher opened the door for Republicans in District 8 and now with him leaving they are lining up, vying for his seat. Some candidates who have already announced include State Senator Brian Kelsey, Former U.S. Attorney David Kustoff, Memphis Radiologist George Flinn, Shelby County Register of Deeds Tom Leatherwood, Shelby County Commissioner Steve Basar and State Rep. Steve McManus.

“There’s going to be a lot of interest in that seat,” Bush said. “Open congressional seats don’t come a long that often and I wouldn’t be surprised if more candidates jump in over the next few days.”

As Fincher’s tenure coming to a close some said they hope he will be back for more.

“I think West Tennesseans will remember him fondly for his time in Washington and hopefully we haven’t seen the last of him,” Bush said.