Letters
Macy’s Priorities ‘In Sharp Contrast’ To Cline’s
June 22, 2026 Editor, The News-Gazette: Beth Macy’s challenge to incumbent Representative Ben Cline presents voters with a choice: continue the current government’s policies or pursue a different direction for our district and the nation.
Macy’s experience and priorities stand in sharp contrast to Cline’s unwavering support for the administration’s agenda. Critics cite his support for military action involving Iran, opposition to programs for reducing health care costs, expansion of the use of fossil-fuels over renewable energy, resistance to environmental regulations, support for tax cuts benefiting the wealthiest Americans, approving taxpayer funding for the president’s proposed ballroom project, and failure to condemn payments to individuals convicted for their roles in attacking the Capitol on January 6.
Macy’s career as an investigative reporter with The Roanoke Times brought her into close contact with the challenges facing area residents. Those experiences inspired two influential books focused on serious issues affecting the region. “Factory Man: How One Furniture Maker Battled Offshoring, Stayed Local — and Helped Save an American Town,” examines the loss of manufacturing jobs in Martinsville as companies moved operations overseas. “Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America,” centered in Covington and surrounding communities, explores the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic.
As a Washington outsider, Macy argues that her focus is on solving problems and improving the lives of all citizens. Supporters see her record of investigative reporting and community engagement as an alternative to Ben Cline’s continued support for an authoritarian administration. FRANK SETTLE Lexington
