PRESS RELEASE: Remarks from today’s Press Conference in Reno with Democratic Candidates
RENO, NV — “As perhaps never before, our communities in northern Nevada face both enormous challenges and opportunities.
Too many among us are still hurting from the devastation of the Great Recession. Small businesses still struggle. Jobs that pay living wages that can support our families remain scarce. Overcrowded schools and our inability to attract qualified teachers dim our children’s futures. We are awash in hate speech from demagogues that seek to divide us.
The Democrats assembled here are ready to take on these challenges and turn the tide.
- We remain committed to the needs of all our people, not just those of the wealthiest few and big business.
- We reject the tactics of obstruction and the language of hate and division.
- We embrace the diversity of our community and its many needs.
- We will seek every vote, in every region, especially from those disgusted with government dysfunction.
- Through words and actions, we will represent all the people of northern Nevada.
I am a pragmatic progressive, ready to work in Congress to support northern Nevada’s seniors, women, minorities, working families and small businesses. I go to Congress to bring good jobs with fair wages to northern Nevadans, strengthen Social Security and Medicare, get big money out of politics and preserve our public lands.
I seek to replace Mark Amodei, a lawyer, lobbyist and career politician already looking for his next job. Based on his own comments and lack of action, it seems he’s already got one foot out the door!
Hard to believe that in a historic Do-Nothing Congress, Mr. Amodei has failed to show up to vote on bills at three times the rate of his peers.
To make things worse, even when Mr. Amodei does show up, he votes against the welfare of Nevadans. But don’t take my word for it; non-partisan groups say the same thing. Based on recent scorecards assembled to keep the actions of Congress accountable, Mr. Amodei received:
- a ZERO rating on votes important to seniors from the Alliance for Retired Americans
- a ZERO rating on women’s legislation from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund
- a rating of 20 out of 100 on bills important to Latinos from the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda
- a ZERO rating on votes affecting the LGBT community from the Human Rights Campaign
- a 3 out of 100 rating on environmental bills from the League of Conservation Voters
And let’s not forget that Mr. Amodei voted lockstep with his Republican colleagues for the disastrous government shut down that left 11,000 northern Nevada families without a paycheck.
His votes explain why a recent poll showed barely a third of northern Nevadan’s believe Mr. Amodei is worthy of re-election and nearly half believe it’s time for him to get his wish and come home.
As he recently told us, Mr. Amodei is not happy working in Washington and would rather come back to Nevada and run for governor or attorney general. The voters of northern Nevada should be offended that he’s chosen to run for Congress again.
Mr. Amodei has been the poster child of the dysfunction in Washington; a Republican-led Congress that has been terrible for seniors, women, minorities, and our environment. His stated support of Mr. Trump and his failure to denounce his divisive and disastrous agenda indicates his votes will only get worse.
I’m sure the voters of northern Nevada will want to hear Mr. Amodei explain his lack of interest, lack of action, and less than stellar voting record when we debate in October.
I have a decades-long history as a businessman who walks the talk — helping local small businesses prosper and bringing high tech opportunities to northern Nevada.
I’ve got a history of reaching out to my Republican colleagues to find common ground while strongly advocating my progressive ideals and working with community organizations for social justice.
I’m ready to get to work in Congress for the benefit of northern Nevadans and our nation.
I’m proud to stand with these other Democratic candidates seeking to represent us in city, county and state government. They represent the values of hard-working Nevadans and the common-sense approaches needed to move our communities forward.”
Evans is a businessman and entrepreneur advising early-stage companies. He previously worked as a senior executive in large and small high technology companies.
Evans is a former Chair of the Washoe County Democratic Party and served on Reno’s Ward 3 Neighborhood Advisory Board. He was Board Treasurer of Acting in Community Together in Organizing Northern Nevada (ACTIONN) and was the Founding Nevada Director for the Cleantech Open. He is currently a member of the NAACP, the Democratic Women of Washoe County and the Alliance for Retired Americans.
To learn more about Chip Evans and his campaign for Congress, visit chipevans4congress.com, follow Chip on Facebook or Twitter @chip4congress, stop by Campaign Headquarters at 4635 Longley Lane, #109, Reno, or call 775-240-1222
# # #