Every two years, the even- and odd-numbered districts in the Tennessee State Senate take turns being up for election. There are 33 total seats, which means that either 16 or 17 seats are up each time. This year, the 17 odd-numbered seats are being filled. A Senate term is four years.
The following are contested Republican primary elections for August 5.
District 7
Stacey Campfield
Bio: Real estate investor
Political experience: Tennessee House of Representatives, District 18, 2005-present
Every two years, the even- and odd-numbered districts in the Tennessee State Senate take turns being up for election. There are 33 total seats, which means that either 16 or 17 seats are up each time. This year, the 17 odd-numbered seats are being filled. A Senate term is four years.
The following are contested Democratic primary elections for August 5.
Jean Howard-Hill, a former political science professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, said that a move by Chuck Fleischmann to get candidates to help him close ranks against major rival Robin Smith is “bad politics,” even though she doesn’t hold it against Fleischmann himself.
Here is the campaign’s press release:
“Just when you think Third Congressional District Republican politics is bad and is going in the wrong direction, then it gets worse,” says Third District congressional candidate Jean Howard-Hill.
According to her, she along with the other Republican candidates, have been asked by Chuck Fleischmann to drop out of the race and to endorse him.
“Granted,” she said “there may be those as Fleischmann suggests who may not want to see Robin Smith elected, but nevertheless, this is not how the political process should play out in real time. It wreaks of politics as usual, which should trouble and concern every voter within the Third District.”
“As a political science educator, we try to teach government in such a way that citizens understand the importance of the role they play in elections and in holding those elected responsible for how they govern. It is the people who determines who is most qualified. But what I am seeing is a bad model, which produces bad politics because it fails to take a look at the qualifications of all of the candidates, and then to leave the decision up to voters.”
Dr. Howard-Hill says that this grandeur positioning of both candidates who have been made to be forerunners, has been taken serious to the point that even now the two of them believe it and are using it to cause qualified candidates to perhaps consider dropping out of the race.
“When will the focus be on qualifications and issues, rather than money, political backing and polls.”
She also says that polls taken which do not reach the grassroots voters should not be taken serious and that depending upon who does the polling, it can be biased in one direction.
“Voters should ask themselves, how many of us have been actually polled?”
“The only poll that is legitimate,” she contends “is the one on election day, which is not until August 5, 2010.”
She says she has no beef with Fleischmann, but to his request, her response is, “I don’t think so! Because this goes against everything I teach and believe — which is the people should be the ones to decide who is most qualified, and not some within the media, the dubbed forerunners or anyone else!”
UPDATE: added “former” in front of “political science professor” in the blockquote.
If you’ve ever been to a Chattanooga City Council meeting, you may have witnessed the end of a session, where citizens can freely address their elected representatives on the council. Sometimes there is a valuable exposition of ideas; all too often, however, there’s just some crank whining too long about some pet issue that cannot be understood, let alone resolved.
District 8 Council Member Andraé McGary, who also hosts “Live and Local” on WGOW-FM 102.3 weekday afternoons (and has taken heat for same in such end-of-session rants), wants you to know how it should be done.
If you hear a rapping or a tapping at your chamber door this Saturday, be prepared to face an eager campaign worker or two. Gubernatorial candidate and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam says that his supporters “will take to the streets and backcountry roads to knock on doors and ask their neighbors to vote for” him.
The statewide door knock is indicative of the size, organization and dedication of the campaign Haslam has built over the past year and a half. No other campaign can match the intensity, passion and determination Haslam sparks in those willing to dedicate their time to his campaign.
Haslam has knocked on doors in the pouring rain, freezing cold and sweltering heat in 147 communities, allowing him and his wife Crissy to speak face-to-face with thousands of voters.
By the way, did you know that Poe foreshadowed the advent of bloggers? “Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking…”
David Morton has published election guides on the Government & Politics blog at Chattarati. The information therein is similar to what you get here, but the organization and layout are different. The more ways there are to get voters informed and involved, the better. Use whichever guide helps you the most. While I won’t speak for Morton, I have a hunch that he’d be as open as I am to feedback about what’s working and what’s not. Speak your mind.
When I announced the launch of 2010 Voter Guides, one of the best ways to determine in which districts one lives and votes was broken. I failed to mention, though, that it was fixed soon thereafter.
So, if you don’t know your local precinct, polling location, or districts, go here and enter your street address, minus the “Street,” “Pike,” “Drive,” etc. Then click on the address range that includes yours. Usually there’s only one search result. (Please note: this is for residents of Hamilton County, Tennessee only.)
The Hamilton County Election Commission staff were very helpful and informative regarding the temporary outage of the service, and they should be publicly thanked.
Former Chancellor Howell Peoples resigned after many years in office. On August 5, Hamilton County voters will elect a Chancellor in Division 2 to serve the remainder of Peoples’ term. Here are the candidates.
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