The following are contested Republican [...]]]> 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
• Profile: See Knoxville News Sentinel
• Blog: Camp4u

Nicholas Ciparro

• Bio: Musician, Cook
• Profile: See Knoxville News Sentinel

Steve Hill

• Bio: Business management
• Profile: See Knoxville News Sentinel
• Website: http://www.stevehillforstatesenate.com/

Ron Leadbetter

• Bio: Attorney
• Political experience: Ran for Tennessee House of Representatives, District 18 in 2008
• Profile: See Knoxville News Sentinel
• Website: http://www.ronleadbetter.com/
• Social media: Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, YouTube

District 9

Mike Bell

• Bio: Businessman, Farmer
• Political experience: Tennessee House of Representatives, District 23, 2007-present
• Social media: Facebook

Lou Patten

• Bio: Businessman
• Political experience: Tennessee Senate, 1986-94
• Website: http://loupatten.com/
• Social media: Facebook, Twitter

District 17

Mae Beavers – incumbent since 2003

• Bio: Paralegal, Financial adviser
• Political experience: Wilson County Commission, 1990-94; Tennessee House of Representatives, 1995-2003
• Website: http://www.maebeavers.com/
• Social media: Twitter

Gordon Borck

• Bio: Computer systems engineer
• Website: http://borckforsenate.com/

Susan M. Lynn

• Bio: Businesswoman
• Political experience: Tennessee House of Representatives, District 57, 2003-present
• Key issue: State sovereignty
• Blog: State Representative Susan Lynn
• Website: http://www.repsusanlynn.com/
• Social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Plaxo, Twitter

District 21

James P. Chesser

• Bio: Engineer, Attorney
• Profile: See A Disgruntled Republican
• Website: http://www.chesserfortnsenate.com/
• Social media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

Steven Dickerson

• Bio: Physician, Guitarist
• Profile: See A Disgruntled Republican
• Key issues: Limited government, Free enterprise
• Website: http://www.votedickerson.com/

District 27

Jim Harding

• Bio: Farmer, Air Force veteran (Ret. Col.)
• Website: http://jimharding.com/
• Social media: Facebook, Twitter

Don McLeary

• Bio: Investment executive
• Political experience: Tennessee Senate, 2003-07
• Website: http://www.donmcleary.com/
• Social media: Facebook, Twitter

If you have information to contribute about any of these candidates, please leave a comment below. Comments are moderated.

The following are contested Democratic [...]]]> 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.

District 17

Aubrey T. Givens

• Bio: Attorney
• Website: http://www.aubreygivens.com/
• Social media: Facebook

Sam Hatcher

• Bio: Newspaper publisher; National Guard
• Website: http://www.samhatcher.com/
• Social media: Facebook

George McDonald

• Bio: Farmer
• Website: http://www.georgemcdonald2010.com/
• Social media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

District 21

Douglas Henry – incumbent since 1971

• Bio: Attorney
• Political experience: House of Representatives, 1955-57
• Website: http://www.senatordouglashenry.com/
• Social media: Facebook, The Twitter, YouTube

Jeff Yarbro

• Bio: Attorney
• Website: http://www.yarbro2010.com/
• Social media: Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, YouTube

If you have information to contribute about any of these candidates, please leave a comment below. Comments are moderated.

A new video was also posted today.

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 [...]]]> Cross-posted from Chattarati.

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.

The [...]]]> 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…”

So, if you don’t know your local precinct, polling location, or districts, go here and enter your street address, minus [...]]]> 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.