CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Chris Register rode his bicycle some 16,000 miles across the United States, meeting and interviewing people from all walks of life – and all political persuasions – for a series of books, ‘Conversations With US.’ One of the things the Georgetown-educated lawyer and former Peace Corps worker found was that many people didn’t feel their views were being represented by the people in Congress.

Register sees the same issue in Virginia’s 5th District. It’s why he’s mounting an independent campaign for the district’s Congressional seat. But to get on the ballot alongside the nominees from the Republican and Democratic Parties, Register needs to obtain signatures from 1,000 registered Virginian voters by Monday.

“It’s so often done along partisan lines, as far as representation goes,” Register told Cville Right Now. “And I just don’t see anyone seeking to represent everyone.”

Register considers the district’s incumbent Congressperson, Republican Rep. John McGuire, a lackey for President Donald Trump, whose political career is based on support from the White House.

“He’s a Donald Trump sycophant. If you look at his campaign signs on the side of the road, half of the sign is him and the other half is talking about Donald Trump,” Register said. “His political fortunes are tied to Trump. So, do you think that if Trump comes out with some policy or something that a traditional conservative would disagree with – I mean, I don’t know, a war against Iran with no constitutional process, maybe? John McGuire is not going to vote against that because he knows that at the minute Trump comes out against him or the minute he loses favor with Trump, he’s going to lose the next election.”

McGuire, Register said, is not accessible to his constituents, especially those outside of areas that vote Republican.

“Even up till now, he hasn’t held a single town hall,” Register said of the first-term Congressperson.

Register said one of his campaign promises will be to hold weekly town halls, all over the district. The first one, he said, will be held in the precinct Register performed worst among voters with, a powerful message that he plans to represent everyone in the 5th.

“Because that’s how representation is supposed to work,” Register said.

Register views Democratic frontrunner Tom Perriello as equally beholden to big donors from the Democratic Party and said Perriello’s support for the Democratic redistricting effort earlier this year shows he places loyalty to the party above representing everyone in the 5th District.

“Tom Perriello supported disenfranchising half of the state with the Democrats gerrymandering scheme,” Register said. “I do agree with a lot of the things he has spoken about, but the problem, the biggest problem with him, is that he’s aligned with a machine that most people in this district don’t trust – the Democratic Party. His fortunes, just like McGuire’s fortunes are tied to Trump, Perriello’s fortunes are tied to the Democratic machine.”

He said too much of current American politics is “a zero-sum game, all or nothing.”

For example, while Register opposes the proposed Valley Link transmission line project, he said the 5th District Representative should consider alternative ways to help people who might have benefited from the construction – workers who are banking on getting jobs from the project or people who might be eager to take money from the power company for easement on their property.

Register has a draft of a “Bill of American Renewal” on his website which includes proposed Constitutional amendments designed to build on the work of the nation’s governing document.

Register understands the challenge in front of him. Republicans have won the 5th District every election since ousting Perriello from the seat in 2011, giving McGuire an advantage. Financially, Register can’t compete with the fundraising war chests of either McGuire or Perriello. He hasn’t even begun accepting donations.

But for now, Register and his team of volunteers believe they have a simple ask of the voters in the 5th District – sign a petition to give Register the chance to run in November, the chance to put his views before the voters. He’ll have volunteer tables at county fairs over the weekend as he makes the final push for signatures.

“Someone doesn’t have to be convinced that they’re going to vote for me right now,” Register emphasized. “If they just want to see an independent on the ballot, it’s not a commitment to vote for me. It just gives me the chance to earn that vote.”