...or does the local Democratic Party chapter seems to be far more concerned with state/regional politics than it does local? I mean, there's an election going on, but absolutely zero front-page real estate on their website is devoted to drumming up support for the aforementioned "fine Democratic city candidates" - or ANYTHING local, for that matter.

It's great that the local Dems want to celebrate Obama's first year in office, but where the hell is there candidate slate for the upcoming county elections? Who's their mayoral candidates? Who's their Commission offerings?

Why are the local Dems so concerned with state/regional level politics when they consistently get their asses handed to them at the local level?

I'm not trying to attack them; I'm genuinely curious about the priorities of the local Democratic Party.

As voters, we depend on having more than one strong local political party in order to foster an environment of healthy competition. If one group's consistently phoning it in at election time, though, then the other group can run whatever plate of wet crap they want for office if there's no meaningful challenge.

Do the Dems plan on even running a full slate of candidates this time around?

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ANONYTARD (n.): A user of internet message boards who makes cowardly, baseless, and/or otherwise dishonorable attacks from an anonymous standpoint, with the express purpose of avoiding personal consequence via identification. Usually a virgin.

Democratic Party Chair Gloria Johnson.
The Board of Governor's & the Executive Committee.

Are working very hard to organize the Democratic Party
for the 2010 county & local state elections.

I would urge anyone interested to go to the Democratic
Headquarters on Morgan next to the Labor Temple on Magnolia
& see for yourself how dedicated & united all Democrats are
for success in the 2010 county & local state elections.

Perhaps the reason the local Democratic Party seems to be far more concerned with state/regional politics than it does with local is the simple fact that we are in a GOP-dominated county and a GOP-dominated region of the state. I've heard a Democrat say recently that the reason the local party looks "outward" is that most people's interest appears to be primarily sparked by state/regional/national as opposed to local issues. That sounds reasonable, but should the local party be spending their efforts (calling, door-knocking, etc) in a state house race in Middle Tennessee? I don't think so, for the same reason I don't want folks from Rutherford County coming to Knox County telling me how I should vote. I kind of resent it. I mean, are we more enlightened than they are, or vice versa? We have plenty of work to do here and while going elsewhere or helping elsewhere might enthuse Dems, it doesn't do a heckuvalot to improve our chances in Knox County. But aside from disagreeing with this, in an off-year, Gloria has done a commendable job. We'll see if she and local Dems can head into 2010 with decent prospects ahead. One thing is certain: "all politics is local."

And true, we do have a city election underway, but then, when your own elected Democrats are bucking Democrats and endorsing and openly supporting Republican candidates, well, you are probably not going to make much headway in enlisting voters to support your Democrat candidates in that race.

Insofar as front page real estate on the Dem website goes, it is a non-partisan election. The better way to get the word out for Democrats who are running in city races is to help them through their own individual campaigns and I know for certain that Gloria is doing that. Otherwise, by pushing a city candidate's Democratic credentials, you stand a very real chance of losing them critical Republican votes. Why write off such a large percentage of the voters?

Finally, as far as next year goes, be patient. You can't even pick up a petition until November 20. Sure, there are a few folks who have already appointed treasurers, but only two have actually collected anything substantial. My guess is there will be Democrats running in most of the offices up next year. But what we need is a strong slate of candidates. This said, there are some countywide offices where Democrats should think twice about running someone (unless they can put up a well-financed, well-known candidate) - Mayor, Sheriff, County Clerk)- lest they get destroyed and negatively affect district races where other, stronger Democratic candidates are running. This I do know: there will be several strong Democrat Commission candidates - in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, and 9th Districts. Doubt a well-known Democrat will run in the 2 at large spots.

It has always perplexed me that Tn had Dem rule for like 200 years and yet we are one of the most unfriendly states to labor. Local folks seem to be helping the council candidates.

The City elections are non-partisan. Could we please try to make that as real as possible?

I agree.

When I was first coming up in politics back in Morristown
I was taught..city elections are NON PARTISAN by law.

Therefore,the Hamblen County Democratic Party NEVER got
involved IN ANY WAY with city elections.

Let me tell you back in the 80's the Hamblen County Democrats
ran things.We had the Sheriff,the County Executive,the County
Clerk,the Register of Deeds,the Property Assesor,the Clerk of
the Court & the Supertendent of Schools.

Plus a Democratic congressman that won Hamblen County every
time & the State Represenative to boot.

Why did the Party NOT get involved..simple.

The Hamblen County Courthouse Democrats believed
we had enough to say grace over winning our races
to fool around with Morristown City Hall races.

If you want to get involved with city races..cool.
But the Party aint foolin with em.

I supported former Morristown Mayor John Johnson.
He was a Democrat.But NEVER ran as one.

John's campaigns were non partisan & it showed.
Around the table in John's campaign war room
were big time Republicans & big time Democrats.

The Republican newspaper was behind John 100%.

John was always around to help Democrats in county
& state & federal elections.

But he wasn't going cut his nose off to spite
his face running a partisan mayor's race.

I think the Knox County Democratic Executive Committee
should spend the off year totally focused on organizing
for the partisan county & state races that are always
just around the corner.

But thats not the way folks on the Committee want to
roll & thats fine I just wasn't taught that way.

And this old yeller dog dont want to learn the trick of
mixing non partisan city races with partisan politics.