Eric Cunningham

Eric Cunningham was born in Louisville, Kentucky.[1] Cunningham earned an associate degree in business administration and management from Volunteer State Community College in 1990, a bachelor's degree in finance from Middle Tennessee State University in 1993, and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. His career experience includes working as an associate vice president of industrial products sales with Plastic Express, as the director of sales and a senior account manager with CSX, and as the assistant vice president for sales and marketing for Pinsly Railroad.[1][2] Cunningham has served as a board member, vice chair, and committee chair for opioid and heroin awareness with the YMCA. He has also served as first vice president on the board of the Southeast Association of Rail Shippers.[1][3]

Special election

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Regular election

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Cunningham was born in Louisville, KY and raised in Jacksonville, FL and Gallatin, TN. He moved frequently throughout his career with the railroad, but has resided in the NW suburbs of Atlanta since 2005. He has an MBA in Global Management and earned his Bachelors in Business from Middle Tennessee State University in 1993. Cunningham worked for CSX Transportation for 23 years and has been employed with Plastic Express since 2019. He has served on the Board for the North West Family YMCA where he has led committee on Opioid and Heroin Awareness and currently serves as Vice Chair. He and his wife, of 28 years, Deana have three children, son Zack (23), son Alex (20), and high school senior daughter Julia (17). They also have two labradoodles, Bailey and Miley. They attend West Ridge Church in Dallas, GA.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

We need to stop the mandates and quit forcing hard working, tax paying Americans into taking a vaccination in which there is no data or history as to the long-effects. Human beings are being treated like cattle, herded through testing lines and vaccination lines based on lies. It's despicable and shameful. Let people choose for themselves and their children.We need to get this economy back on track and we need representatives who not only fight against the mandates that are killing jobs, but who also understand other issues challenging our economy and this district. A great example is the huge supply chain issue. I have been in supply chain for 25 years, having worked for CSX and now for Plastic Express. Why can't we do more for the 14th District of GA to increase the number of containers flowing between the Port of Savannah and the CSX/GPA terminal in Murray County. We need action figures, not full of big talk and no substance.I will vehemently protect our constitutional rights and protect the men and women who serve or have served our country, either in the military or within our communities. I will also work hard to support our veterans and help improve their benefits and their healthcare treatment and facilities.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am very passionate about fiscal responsibility, about lifting up and supporting our Veterans, our military, and those in our community who risk their lives to protect and serve us. It is a shame that veterans, who risked their lives, are not treated with the best care possible. Instead, they have to wait 44 days for an appointment in the hospital or are not offered the best facilities when they are getting care. We have a lot of good doctors and nurses trying to help them, but they aren't given access to the best equipment and are stretched thin and working long hours due to lack of available nurses and other employees, hampered by the decision to accept a mandated vaccination or continue working. We have to get back to common sense decisions, that is the bottom line.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, ethics, respect, and action.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a driven person who is focused on facts and results. I am honest and a Christian and my faith is my foundation for my decision making. I understand how business is done in the corporate world and I believe that my experience in supply chain would be an asset, particularly in today's environment.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To represent the people of their district in all facets of the elected office and in a respectful manner. Talk is cheap, anyone can be heard, but to be listened to is what drives action and how goals are achieved.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I am not interested in a legacy, I just want to get things done for the American people and make our party stronger, not weaker.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan was probably one of the first significant historical events that I recall early in my life. I was 10 years old at the time and I couldn't understand why someone disliked this great President so much. This was a horrific event and, to me, showed great disrespect for the Office of the President of the United States. Regardless of who is in office, there needs to be some level of respect for the office. How President Trump was treated by the biased and liberal media before even taking office and throughout his whole term is shameful. There is too much division in our country right now and in particular within the Republican Party. We need representatives who can get things done and take appropriate action, who is able to work with others for the common good of their constituents. We need a better narrative and a lot more action within the halls of Congress. I believe I can be achieve this if elected.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I paid my way through college by working for grocery chain Kroger. I was not fortunate enough to have parents that could buy me cars, give me an allowance, or pay for my college tuition. I had to work hard from the day I turned 16 to save money, buy my own car, pay for my own insurance and save for college. I wasn't eligible for student grants or even student loans, so I worked hard and struggled to pay for my college tuition, books, housing, food, everything. My grades suffered a bit, as it would take me several weeks to be able to buy the expensive books and calculators I needed as I worked on my degree in finance. But I did it and graduated with a business degree and no college debt. My first career position after college was with CSX Transportation, where I spent most of my career as a leader in sales and marketing and helping customers through their supply chain challenges. I now work for a customer of CSX, Plastic Express, and I continue to work to improve the supply chain challenges we are now dealing with.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Creating laws, but with that, the opportunity to also get rid of useless laws that hinder economic growth as a country and for individuals and small business owners.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I think someone can be completely successful in our government without any previous political experience.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Russia and China.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Appropriations, Budget, Ethics, Oversight and Reform, Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans Affairs, Joint Economic Committee or any other committee where my experience would help our great country get back to growth and prosperity with the strongest military in the world. Any committee to that would work towards making our country garner the respect that it deserves. I believe committee work is one of the most important roles where a Representative can truly do the peoples work and benefit their constituency.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I 100% support term limits. While I may have some flexibility on the number of terms, I believe 2, but no more than 3 terms is more than sufficient for the U.S. Senate and that there should be a maximum of 5 terms, or 10 years, for a U.S. Representative.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes, to an extent. What you cannot compromise are your guiding principles.

Campaign website

Cunningham's campaign website stated the following:

U.S. MILITARY

One of my biggest regrets in life is that I did not serve this great Country in the military. The men and women who have served are my true heroes. Our leaders and we as citizens should thank God each and every day for these brave soldiers and pray for the safety. We need to do more to support our military and their families and our veterans. Congress wastes too much money on totally unnecessary spending that would be better spent improving our military and making it stronger instead of sitting idly by while China becomes the strongest military in the world. We have to change our priorities and make smart and focused decisions before it's too late.

SECOND AMENDMENT

I wholeheartedly support our constitutional rights under the 2nd Amendment to keep and bear Arms. I freely exercise this right and firmly stand against any infringements. I will do everything in my power to defeat any suggested or proposed changes to this amendment.

PRO-LIFE

I am 100% pro-life. I strongly oppose any federal funding to support abortion and believe that life begins at conception.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

This is one of the key topics that drives my run to be a representative of the people. I strongly believe that our religious freedoms are being taken away from us both overtly and covertly. I believe God has been and continues to be removed from our daily lives, our families, our schools, and our communities. I also believe too many of our leaders, both at the state and federal levels, are not using judgement founded on Christian faith when making decisions for our country.

BORDER PROTECTION

I support immigration, as long as it is done legally, and Biden has reversed much of what President Trump implemented to keep us safe. Biden is allowing lawlessness to cross our borders and is sending criminals in the dark of the night to a city near you without any say from the constituency. We cannot allow this to continue to happen. I believe that the U.S. should aggressively continue to build a border wall to keep our country and citizens safe and stop illegal immigration. The current administration and DOJ leadership have done a horrific job keeping us safe. They have willingly allowed our citizens to be put at risk by allowing potential terrorists and criminals to freely walk into our country unchecked, let alone those coming in with COVID-19,

MANDATES

I absolutely condemn mandates and believe they are unconstitutional. If someone decides to become vaccinated or not get vaccinated, that is perfectly fine, it should be their decision. Allowing our government to intervene in this decision and force people to get vaccinated, especially young kids, when there is not sufficient data or history to show the effects of the various vaccines is absurd.

EDUCATION

Nothing is more critical to the future of Georgia and our Country than education. An education system that removes the history of the United States and replaces it with non-fact based and divisive material cannot be tolerated. Our U.S. history should be taught based on facts, not feelings. Our kids deserve better and parents need to be involved in their children's education. We cannot have an education system based on bias and division.[4]

—Eric Cunningham's campaign website (2022)[5]