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EDITOR'S NOTE: State Rep. Doug Overbey spoke Tuesday with about 30 supporters on the steps of the Blount County Courthouse about his motivation for running for the 8th Senatorial District seat.

"Number one is to continue to stand up for Blount and Sevier counties' share for our state education funding dollars.

"We cannot afford any longer to have someone at the state Senate who sits quietly at his desk and decides to vote with the majority of the Senate when that's against the interest of the taxpayers from Sevier and Blount counties. It's important to stand up and let your voice be heard and make your vote count.

"Secondly, we need to continue to stand up to make sure that we can afford to heat our homes and fuel our cars. We don't need to support legislation in this day and time that would automatically raise the cost of your gas 34 cents a gallon or $10 a tankful.

"Now maybe that's not important to somebody that can put a quarter of a million dollars of his own funds into a campaign, but, as I've knocked on door after door after door, that's not where everybody else in Blount and Sevier counties are. They're hurting right now with high gas prices, and adding 34 cents a gallon or $10 a tankful will continue to hurt, and we need to make sure that doesn't happen.

"Finally, and this is near and dear to mine and Kay's heart, as the father of three daughters, the parents of three daughters, we need to stand firm for family values.

"And to me protecting family values means to fight for the unborn, newborn and those born with disabilities. We have to look out for those who cannot look out for themselves, who cannot speak out for themselves and stand firm for our families in this day and time.

"Now, Kay wanted me to tell you all this. We believe everyone -- everyone here, everyone in these counties -- have gifts from God. God bestows all of us gifts. And I think public service is a gift. And I think through background, education and training, the good Lord has shown his favor to allow me to be in public service. And I want to takes those gifts to the state Senate."