Guthrie intelligent and articulate; her opponent isn’t

Wayne Parker doesn’t have any business being in Congress. Our interviews with Mr. Parker indicated a lack of substance.

He went out of his way to avoid taking a position on any issue. He struggled to articulate his thoughts and was poorly prepared on issues facing the Tennessee Valley.

His opponent, Cheryl Baswell Guthrie, is conservative and adheres to many views that we question. She is, however, intelligent and articulate. In contrast to her opponent, she has researched the issues affecting the Tennessee Valley thoroughly.

The two are in Tuesday’s runoff election for the Republican nomination to the U.S. House District 5. This is Mr. Parker’s third try at the seat that retiring U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, is giving up.

Mr. Parker’s lobbying background is playing a role in the campaign. The sole reason he gave for not engaging Ms. Guthrie, a Huntsville attorney, in a debate now that the field is narrowed to two Republicans is that he did not want to talk about his past lobbying efforts.

There is nothing inherently wrong with his lobbying background, although it concerns us that he never mentioned it during extensive questioning about his past employment in a pre-June primary interview.

It is doubtful Mr. Parker would have any success pushing an agenda in Congress that would benefit his constituents. Ms. Guthrie, though, has the tools she would need to interact with members of Congress.

The Daily recommends Ms. Guthrie for the Republican nomination to Congress from the 5th Congressional District.