The Knox County Democrat Chair is working in a pre-primary campaign?

It's a non-partisan election.

Paul & Gloria are two great additions to Ray's campaign.
I'm sure Kim is also but I dont know her.

Go get em Ray!

Paul Witt is two for two and Ray is now running at least in part in the neighborhood he grew up in. I'd trust this group he's got selected currently.

knoxrebel.....I couldn't agree with you more on this one. The chair of the county Dem. party should NOT publicly be working for any campaign until after the qualifying deadline. It's inappropriate, and it sends the wrong message to those considering a run. I don't know who the other potential candidates might be that have been mentioned, but they have every right to be upset.

Even though Dems do better inside the city limits than outside, I've never understood why they want to make this a defacto partisan race. Why alienate a significant bloc of voters going in? Doesn't make sense, and I cannot recall it ever succeeding.

On the other hand, I want to say up front that I like Ray Abbas a whole lot. He's a fine young man (God, I sound like a granny – but then, I AM a granny)-- kind-hearted and concerned about the right things.

I know this is the second time I've been critical of him here, and I feel badly about it, but he's got some issues he's going to have to contend with.

I generally feel that we're lucky to have two candidates as good as Ray and Della Volpe.

Ray will need a strong group of volunteers working with him to win this race. It just so happens that the best person to help organize those volunteers also was just elected Chair of the KCDP.

Also, since this is a non-partisan race, no Party officer is any more obligated to help one candidate over another. She could help Della Volpe if she wanted. Ray just asked first. That's pretty smart if you ask me.

No, a party officer is not obligated to help one candidate over another. However, it makes sense not to do so, at least before the qualifying deadline, and not knowing who the other candidates might be. Obligation is one thing, but what is prudent and wise is another. Smart decision? Hardly.

I met with Ray well before I decided to run for Chair of the Democratic Party. I really liked what he had to say and I agreed to be his volunteer coordinator. I keep my word and plan to continue to support him. As chair of the party, I will offer my support to any democratic candidate who asks for it. I will not support one candidate and not another. At this time, Ray is the only person who has asked.

It is a fair question and the honest answer is that it is very hard for the business community to operate with so many service providers in the area. I hear the concerns of the community. I am a member of the North Knoxville Business and Professionals Association and it is a topic that comes up frequently. Neighborhood associations spend a good portion of each meeting discussing the issue. I understand how homelessness can detract from property values, derail economic devolopment, increase criminal activity, etc. That is why I am so passionate about the work I do. It isn't because I don't have an appreciation for the problem. It's because I do.

My position at the Salvation Army allows me an opportunity to assist the chronically homeless find employment. I felt that my experience in employment and training programs could be an asset to those seeking a better way life. We have had successes and we've had failures and I live and die with each one. I took the position in late September of last year knowing that I would likely make one more run at City Council. I knew that I would have to spend time explaining the work I have chosen to do and I am more than willing to do so.

The problem of homelessness is a complex one and I look forward to working with all the stakeholders to arrive at a solution we can all be proud of.

Ray

So who is this other Dem running? I've just heard about Abbas and Dela Volpe so far? I don't have a pesonal problem with the homeless services in my neighborhood and think the VMC group has a good plan. My trouble with crime in the North Knox area has been not from homeless but from rogue renters, neighbors beating up other neighbors and generally unsavory people that landlords don't check out. The homeless I see usually pass through and don't say much except for a few panhandlers, that may not even be homeless.

It is a fair question and the honest answer is that it is very hard for the business community to operate with so many service providers in the area. I hear the concerns of the community. I am a member of the North Knoxville Business and Professionals Association and it is a topic that comes up frequently. Neighborhood associations spend a good portion of each meeting discussing the issue. I understand how homelessness can detract from property values, derail economic development, increase criminal activity, etc. That is why I am so passionate about the work I do. It isn't because I don't have an appreciation for the problem. It's because I do.
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RAY,
If it is a fair question, as you yourself admitted, please give us your answer to that question. Unless we should be satisfied with your comments about the question...."the honest answer is that it is very hard for the business community to operate with so many service providers in the area" Shouldn't you go on from there and say, "If elected I will do the following to correct the problems which faces the North Knoxville Business community as a result of such a heavy concentration of homeless shelters and service provides in such a small area. My solution to the problem is___________________." Here is where you need to fill in the blank, Ray. After all you are officially a candidate and you said you are ready to "hit the ground running." Please answer the question.

No one who knows you doubts you devotion to your chosen profession and we all respect you for that. I just wonder if we need any more folks on council who are directly associated with the "homeless provider industry" which has developed around this social phenomenon. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with anymore 501C3 councilman making decisions that affect my neighborhood.