One senate candidate will be making his way back to Carter County this weekend.
As a 4th District State Senate hopeful and native to the area, Major Travis “Neal” Kerney will set up an “Old Fashioned” political rally at the Elizabethton National Guard Armory in Stoney Creek Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m.
Neal has been on active duty with the Army but was scheduled to return to the county Thursday, according to his wife, Sandra.
“Neal and I are excited to have this cookout for the great folks and families of Stoney Creek and Carter and Johnson County citizens,” Sandra Kerney, Neal’s wife, said. “We will have plenty of free food and some great southern gospel and bluegrass music for everyone to enjoy. This is a time to meet Neal and place your support for him.”
Neal, who served as a company commander at the Stoney Creek and Mountain City armories from 2005-2007, will be available for a meet-and-greet with citizens along with free hot dogs and musical entertainment by Kenny Price and the Coggins Family is scheduled for the rally.
Neal contacted the Elizabethton Star via email and added that while he was serving at Fort Irwin, California, he’s looking forward to being home.
“It has been 110 degrees during the day,” he said. “Sandra has been working very hard on my rally for this Saturday. There is a well-known political axiom in Carter County, ‘he who wins Stoney Creek wins the election’ … we are having bluegrass music, free hot dogs and expecting a good crowd.”
Taking a stance as a “new generation of conservative leadership,” Kerney recently told the star that polling in Carter, Washington and Sullivan counties – his stance is what people are wanting for this upcoming election cycle.
“Truly there is an anti-establishment movement taking place at home like there is throughout the country,” Kerney said.
While Kerney has never held public office, the senate hopeful has 21 years of experience serving the United States Army and Tennessee National Guard, adding his experience in Afghanistan was ‘unforgettable’.
Kerney added the fact he hasn’t held an office yet as a “badge of honor” at this point in time.