Former Senate Majority Leader Frist endorses Briggs

July 13, 2014

Former Senate Majority Leader Frist Endorses Richard Briggs for State Senate

Knoxville, TN-­‐ Former Republican Senate Majority Leader, Dr. Bill Frist today endorsed Dr. Richard Briggs for state Senate in District 7.

“Dr. Briggs will bring a strong and unique skill set to the Senate. He’s a principled conservative with a solid ethical backbone,” said Senator Frist. “Dr. Briggs has a long history of fighting for both our state and our nation. I’m honored to support Richard so he can start fighting for the people of District 7.”

Frist is the latest in long line of conservatives across the state voicing support for the Briggs campaign.

“I am honored to receive Senator Frist’s endorsement today. Senator Frist is someone that I have always admired and respected both politically and professionally. I am very grateful for his support,” said Briggs.

Early Voting begins July 18th. Election Day is August 7th.

About Bill Frist

Dr. Frist is a nationally acclaimed heart transplant surgeon and former Republican Majority Leader of the United State Senate. His leadership in the United States Senate was instrumental in passage of prescription drug legislation and revolutionary funding to fight HIV/AIDS at home and around the world. Frist annually leads medical mission trips to Africa and quick response teams to disaster areas around the globe. Frist currently services as an adjunct professor of Cardiac Surgery at Vanderbilt University where he was the founder and Director of the first of its kind Vanderbilt Multi-­‐Organ Transplant Center. Frist founded and is the current chairman of SCORE, an independent, nonprofit, and non-­‐partisan advocacy and research institution supporting Tennessee’s work to prepare students for college and the workforce.

About Richard Briggs

Dr. Richard Briggs, was appointed to the Knox County Commission in February 2008 and curently serves District 5.. Briggs holds a B.S. degree in Mathematics. Upon graduation in 1978 from the University of Kentucky College Of Medicine, Dr. Briggs immediately entered active military service with the U.S. Army with rank of Colonel serving in combat with the 1st Armored Division in Operation Desert Storm. Colonel Briggs was awarded the Bronze Star. With over 30 years of active and reserve military service, Colonel Briggs has served in Korea, Central and South America, and in Egypt during the crisis in Somalia.

Dr. Briggs practices cardiothoracic surgery at Tennova Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. He has held academic appointments at the University of Texas-­‐San Antonio, the University of Louisville and the University of Tennessee-­‐Knoxville. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Tennessee Medical Association. Dr. Briggs and his wife of 40 years, Stephanie, make their home in Knoxville.

For more information, visit briggsforsenate.com