I’ve had the privilege of taking care of the people of the 9^th District, through my medical practice, all of my professional life and have been treating North Georgians for their heart disease for the past twenty-plus years.  I’ve been in the examining room as my patients face life-threatening decisions—about their health, their families, their jobs, and I have experienced with them how all of these concerns are interrelated.  The people of the 9^th District are concerned about their children, their grandchildren, and their futures. These are people who take government spending seriously, who have always worked hard, and are not, by in-large, being counted in the current unemployment statistics coming out of Washington.  This is because many folks in North Georgia either own their own businesses, or work with several partners to provide their living. They are not receiving “unemployment benefits” from the government; they just simply don’t have work. In addition, these small business owners can’t employ others because they don’t have enough work to make ends meet.

I also understand the concerns of small business owners because fourteen years ago, my wife and I created a business in North Georgia from scratch. We have experienced the challenges of making payroll, as well as the rewards of knowing that we helped create many jobs in our area. We realize that those jobs provide a means for our employees to provide for their families, as well as, to purchase goods and services from other local businesses. Small businesses are the backbone of strong and healthy communities and are the “engines” which will get us out of this Great Recession.

With these experiences, I thought I would be able to help lead the charge to represent the people I’ve known for so many years, and articulate their issues of deep concern to the decision-makers in Washington.  That’s why I ran for the U.S. Congress. However, the voters in the May 11^th Special Election didn’t think I was the best candidate to do that at that time.

I am still passionate about returning control of our lives from the federal government back to the individual.  I am still passionate about allowing individuals to decide and control the course of their healthcare along with their physician, instead of being subject to the decisions and control of the federal government. I am still passionate about getting the federal government off the backs of small businesses, so businessmen and women can be successful and employ more people. This solution would get Americans back to work. I am adamantly opposed to robbing future prosperity from our grandchildren because of unsustainable government spending and unimaginable debt.  I am opposed to the continued borrowing of massive amounts of money from other countries, thereby jeopardizing America’s economic and national security.   I am passionate about enacting a fair and even tax system, one that directs our hard-earned tax dollars using common sense business practices. I am serious about protecting our borders and oppose illegal immigrants receiving services for which they pay no tax while taking jobs away from American citizens who fund those very services with their tax dollars.

I will continue to stand for these issues. My name will remain on the July20th ballot, though I will not actively be campaigning in this race.  There has been a lot of money spent in this 9^th District Congressional race and I’m not going to try to outspend the other people in order to win.  I hope I’ve clearly articulated my position on the issues of concern for the citizens of the 9^th District and I’ll continue to fight for them in public and in private. At some point, I’ll find a way to help and serve the people of North Georgia in the future.

Now, and in the days to come, I will always yield to the will of the voters.  If I am elected to serve at any point, I will do so gladly. In the meantime, I will help our Conservative elected officials in any way I can to understand and address these problems that affect us all, as citizens of our great country. May God bless the people of North Georgia and may God bless America.

“Everyone worked hard in the special election and I know my team is disappointed – as am I.  We knew the odds were against us when we announced in January yet the future of our country is too important for me not to have run.  We influenced the debate, we impacted this race in a positive way and we worked together to run a positive campaign.  I am honored to have been a small part of this effort. I am praying for our country and I believe that Americans will work for candidates who commit to making changes in Washington.  Now we all need to focus our efforts on electing the best candidate of the two in the runoff.  I intend to stay involved in the political process and I encourage everyone in the 9^th district to vote in the runoff election.  Working together we will change Washington.”

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“I am very humbled by these results, and I appreciate the strong showing my supporters made for me at the forum. I am excited for the final push in the campaign and am so grateful to everyone who has supported me. Thank you to the people of the 9^th district for your support and your vote Saturday,” said Cates.

Dr. Cates received 32 votes in the straw poll, just 5 votes behind the first-place candidate. 

“If this had been the actual primary election with a runoff between the two top vote-getters, the choice and difference between the candidates would be very clear to the voters of the 9^th district. The runoff choice from the straw poll presents a contrast between a politician looking for his next job, and a candidate who is ready and willing to fight for America,” Cates explains. “I am not a career politician.  I have not been a part of creating a budget crisis at one level of government and now looking to move to another level of government.  My singular goal is to take back America from the death grip of the career politicians and make our federal government responsive to taxpayers and voters, not party bosses and party politics,” said Cates.

“With 10 days left until the May 11 Special Election, my staff and I are continuing our strong campaign efforts. Thank you so very much to the supporters of my campaign”, Cates said.

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Dr. Cates is running in the May 11, Tuesday, Special Election–to be held in the 15 county 9th Congressional District area–to replace former Congressman Deal. Also, Dr. Cates is continuing his candidacy for this 9th District Congressional seat–for a two-year term–in the July 20th Republican Primary.

Dr. Cates is a recognized leader on healthcare issues and an expert on cost-effective healthcare delivery. He is an interventional cardiologist and the sitting vice president of a major national cardiology medical society. Dr. Cates has served the medical needs of the people of North Georgia for the past 21 years.

“I’m ready to say ‘no’ to business as usual in Washington. We need to send a message and elect a non-career politician to Congress to represent the 9^th district,” said Cates. “I want to go to Washington and serve the people of this district. This is the biggest power-grab by the Federal Government in the history of our nation. And this is what one can expect from career-politicians!”

 Go to www.catesforcongress.com for additional information about Georgia’s 9th District Congressional candidate Dr. Chris Cates.

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 As an interventional cardiologist, Dr. Cates most recently was the Director of Vascular Intervention at Emory University hospital and Emory’s Crawford Long Hospital. He founded and served as chairman for America College of Cardiology’s conference on cost effective healthcare delivery.

Dr. Cates is pro-life, believes in protecting Second Amendment rights, and understands the burden of higher taxes on small businesses and Georgia families. He supports a balanced approach to our nation’s energy crisis including exploration of our national resources, term limits for members of Congress, and locally controlled, student centered education. Dr. Cates believes that American citizenship is a privilege and current immigration laws should be enforced to protect that privilege. As we continue to fight the war on terrorism, he understands that Congress must be an advocate for our American military men and women. Dr. Cates is passionate about ensuring that our military is fully equipped and trained to do their jobs.

 Dr. Cates has served the medical needs of the people of north Georgia for the past 21 years with weekly clinics in Hiawassee, Blairsville, and Dahlonega, and has been actively involved in the national debate on health policy and healthcare quality for 20 years. He has been a national leader in the area of the business of medicine for cost-effective healthcare delivery where he founded and chaired the American College of Cardiology national conference on the subject. He has addressed and worked as a healthcare expert with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Agency for Healthcare Review and Quality (AHRQ), and the United States Congress. Dr. Cates understands the importance of quality, affordable healthcare and is already fighting to protect every Americans’ right to choose their own doctor, access to emergency care, and access to the latest technological advancements in medicine.

 Dr. Cates is a distinguished graduate of The Citadel, the Medical College of Georgia, and completed his residency and cardiology fellowship training at Vanderbilt University. Native Georgians and lifelong Baptists, Chris and his wife, Joy, have been married for over 30 years and live in Blairsville, Georgia. They have 3 grown children and are awaiting the arrival of their first grandchild in April. Dr. Cates is seeking to represent the people of Georgia’s 9th Congressional District.

 To find out more on Dr. Cates and his campaign, please visit www.catesforcongress.com.

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Dr. Cates is running in the May 11, Tuesday, Special Election–to be held in the 15 county 9th Congressional District area–to replace former Congressman Deal. Also, Dr. Cates is continuing his candidacy for this 9th District Congressional seat–for a two-year term–in the July 20th Republican Primary.

 Dr. Cates is a recognized leader on healthcare issues and an expert on cost-effective healthcare delivery. He is an interventional cardiologist and the sitting vice president of a major national cardiology medical society. Dr. Cates has served the medical needs of the people of North Georgia for the past 21 years.

“I’m ready to say ‘no’ to business as usual in Washington. We need to send a message and elect a non-career politician to Congress to represent the 9^th district,” said Cates. “I want to go to Washington and serve the people of this district. This is the biggest power-grab by the Federal Government in the history of our nation. And this is what one can expect from career-politicians!”

 Go to www.catesforcongress.com for additional information about Georgia’s 9th District Congressional candidate Dr. Chris Cates.

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 Dr. Cates is running in the May 11, Tuesday, Special Election–to be held in the 15 county 9th Congressional District area–to replace former Congressman Deal. Also, Dr. Cates is continuing his candidacy for this 9th District Congressional seat–for a two-year term–in the July 20th Republican Primary.

 Dr. Cates is a recognized leader on healthcare issues and an expert on cost-effective healthcare delivery. He is an interventional cardiologist and the sitting vice president of a major national cardiology medical society. Dr. Cates has served the medical needs of the people of North Georgia for the past 21 years.

 “I am ready to go to Congress to help create jobs, decrease the size of the Federal government in the lives of Americans, fight for lower taxes, and help families save more,” said Cates. “I will oppose all initiatives that grow the size of the government and will support reforms that are fair, simplify the tax code, and reduce the tax burden on small businesses. I believe spending is out of control in Washington and it must be cut.”

 Go to www.catesforcongress.com for additional information about Georgia’s 9th District Congressional candidate Dr. Chris Cates.

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Cates discussed his active involvement in the national healthcare debate for over 20 years as a practicing interventional cardiologist, as well his understanding of the burden of higher taxes on small businesses and Georgia families.

April 26, 2010

WHO: Dr. Chris Cates (R-Blairsville), Congressional Candidate for Georgia’s 9^th District

WHAT: WDUN Newstalk 550, Bill and Joel Morning Show

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