U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann provided a brief statement upon hearing that his Democratic opponent, Dr. Mary Headrick, has had to put campaigning on hold for a few days to attend to a critically ill family member.
“I was saddened by the news of Dr. Headrick’s brother. My family and I will keep her and her family in our prayers,” Fleischmann said.
Dr. Mary Headrick is suspending her campaigning activities for the U.S. House 3rd District race “for a few days,” due to her brother’s critical illness and emergency surgery, campaign spokeswoman Pat Combs said in a release.
“Dr. Headrick asked that people pray for her brother, Greer, to have a successful operation and recovery,” the statement said.
More information will be posted as it becomes available.
Even though some of the local Democratic Party faithful expressed their displeasure with Chairman Paul Smith by refusing to attend, the Choo Choo Imperial Ballroom was fairly filled with cheering supporters on Wednesday at the party’s annual Kefauver Dinner. Organizers said the event was sold-out.
Smith and his longtime friend, former Senate Majority Leader Ward Crutchfield, each received several ovations from the crowd at the urging of speakers ranging from Sen. Beverly Marrero of Memphis to Crutchfield’s daughter Missy, who heads the Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture, and who emceed the event.
The majority of those in attendance seemed willing to forgive and forget the elder Crutchfield’s 2005 arrest and 2007 conviction on federal bribery charges, though some were seen keeping their seats while the rest stood.
A few party stalwarts privately hinted that Smith may face a leadership challenge at the next re-organization meeting (to take place in Spring 2013), even as they asserted that the current rift is more personal than political. One member expressed a desire to see younger people move into party leadership, but said that the fundraiser is a time to emphasize party unity, adding that the re-organization will be the time to “air the dirty laundry.”
Missy Crutchfield used some of her time at the lectern to rather openly lobby mayoral candidate Sen. Andy Berke to continue the department she administers, which was created in 2005 by current Mayor Ron Littlefield, should he win the March 2013 election. (She also alluded to a common perception that Berke is a shoo-in by referring to the election as a “coronation.”)
HC Dem Party emcee Missy Crutchfield emphasizes job title to Berke. Paraphrase-”Education, Arts and Culture. Andy? Did you hear that? Andy?”
— Chris Carroll (@ChrisCarroll12) October 10, 2012
D. Bruce Shine, a Kingsport attorney and former staffer for Estes Kefauver, gave a biographical sketch of the Tennessee Congressman, U.S. Senator, and vice presidential candidate. Other speakers included Rev. Kenneth Love, Rep. JoAnne Favors, Sen. Beverly Marrero, and U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen. Collectively they extolled the virtues of organized labor and excoriated Republican-led legislative changes such as the requirement for voters to show photo identification at the polling place.
Candidates in the November election were recognized on the podium: Favors, Frank Eaton, Dr. Mary Headrick, Jim Lewis, Andraé McGary, and Sandy Norris Smith all were declared “winners” by Love. Following their recognition, candidates in the 2013 municipal election were invited to stand.
The annual Kefauver award, chosen by the party chair, was presented to Sandy Lusk, Missy Crutchfield, Jane Bowen-Forsythe, and Roger Graham.
Full disclosure: I was not able to stay through the entire event, and therefore missed the keynote speech by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis). Times Free Press reporter Shelly Bradbury covered it through its conclusion.
Tuesday evening’s candidate meet-and-greet and forum was sponsored by the Brainerd Unity Group, which bills itself as a nonpartisan community organization. I am a member of the group, though I confess I’m not regularly active in it, and I’ve slacked a couple of years on dues. (I’m paid-up now.)
When Candy Corneliussen, one of the group’s steering committee members, introduced me as the moderator, she described Tennessee Ticket as a “nonpartisan…or bipartisan” blog.
Media reports both before and after the forum made much of the fact that not many Republican candidates accepted the invitation to attend. The Democrats in attendance also attempted to heap shame on their GOP counterparts for being no-shows.
There are several factors that help round out the story. I want to make sure readers know as much as possible.
A few Republicans were at the event (including Oscar Brock, who manned a Romney/Ryan table), but they were greatly outnumbered. This is consistent with what I have observed about many political events in this town, whether explicitly partisan or not—and no matter which explicit or implicit party puts on the show. They are generally lopsided.
And I just wonder if that is all right and good. If we try too hard to sterilize these things, they may just become yawnfests that nobody wants to attend. One of my Republican friends who attended Tuesday acknowledged his ideological minority status, but quickly added that he has fairly “thick skin,” so it didn’t matter. He got to see how the other side thought. I think that’s great, but I don’t expect everyone to act similarly.
Even so, I do wish more GOP candidates had come to the Brainerd forum. As the moderator, my aim was to give voters of all stripes a fair view into the mindsets of candidates of all stripes. And if I were a campaign consultant (which I don’t ever want to be, for the record), I would highly encourage my candidate to make every possible effort to be in front of potential voters, no matter how seemingly “hostile” the political territory. In-person appearances do matter.
For the record, I do not consider Tennessee Ticket to be “bipartisan.” I spend too much time trying to inform citizens that there are often more than the two media-supplied choices for that to be accurate. I am not sure if “nonpartisan” or “unpartisan” is the correct descriptor, but you get the idea. At the same time, I am realistic about the fact that, most often, an election will produce either a Democratic or Republican winner. I try to be fair to that reality as well as to all potential alternatives.
We all have choices to make—even the candidates, on where they will show up. But if any candidate felt like he was not suitably welcomed to the October 2nd event, allow me to extend an apology (though I have no evidence to suggest that is the case).
Aside from all this: please review your choices in the upcoming election as they relate to your personal values, and please vote accordingly.
(If the Storify article does not appear below, you may click here to read it.)