Wow.
Endorsed by Randy Pedigo. William Phillips, Brian Hornback and Bruce Williams.

.. Don did raise a good point about Hubert asking for a 'contribution' for an event on public property, AND the absurdity of discussing something as complex as the TYP in a 30-second sound bite.

(But then again- has Don been to any of the TYP plan meetings and spoken up?)

But his argument about "just talking to his supporters" fell flat, since it was covered on CTV and a local TV affiliate.

I don't live in the 2nd district so I don't have a dog in this fight, but I thought DD's comments on the farces of Hubert's dog and pony show were dead-on. I listened to his radio show on sunday where he touted over and over again the 'great success' when in actuality if you look at the photos you'll see there were VERY FEW people in attendance. There were maybe 4 or 5 supporters per candidate and that was it. And who was the girl in the short-shorts doing jumping jacks? I'm not saying that I minded, however it was a far cry from the 'debate' that I was expecting. typically at debates, supporters aren't even allowed to wear pins, buttons, etc. And in this they were charging candidates for a booth and giving away door prizes for those with the most supporters? This was a far cry from professionalism all the way around. However, if I was just guessing, I'd say Hubert has no business license, pays no business taxes and sticks the money from the candidates right in his pocket. As mentioned in the article, there was no cost associated with holding the 'forum' in a public building, and it was given free press by several media outlets, in addition to the 'sponsors' like Witt and Ballard, he was also charging the candidates. I am not sure what type of violation this is, other than just being shady as hell, but I would be interested in the ethics committee would look into it. Of course they have no power or authority whatsoever, but maybe it would bring this situation to light, and deter predators like Hubert Smith from preying on future candidates.

I understand that a number of folks on this site may not care for my candidacy for Commission, in view of the fact that I'm running against an incumbent Democrat. But while it is perfectly fair game for you to attack me, it would not be fair at all for you to attack my friends and supporters. If someone will allow their name to be associated with mine and my campaign, I am proud to list them as my supporters. In fact, several of these individuals told me to think twice about listing their names, fearing it would cost me votes. In the end, it was my call.

Randy Pedigo has a long relationship with my office, Ball & Scott, and particularly Tom Scott, a well-respected former president of the local/state bar and recent Chair of the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility. That's good enough for me. "William" Phillips is an attorney with whom I worked for several years. "Bill" Phillips is the father-in-law of a current colleague of mine. To be certain, neither is the former local school board member. Brian Hornback is one of at least two former Knox County GOP chairs who support my campaign and, as much as any, demonstrate its bi-partisanship. Bruce Williams is a very early supporter and contributor of mine, and I am very thankful for his friendship and support. Greg Lambert was kind enough to offer his name as a supporter and frankly exhibited quite a bit of class in deferring to my discretion about including his name, which I was honored to do.

The list is not at all intended to show that Democrats are divided. And the race is not, as some have viewed it, an "intra-party" fight. It will, I believe, be ultimately decided by independent-minded voters who have no firm allegiance to either party.

Nor did I intend to "do battle" with Hubert. I wanted to point out what I thought was a legitimate issue.

I think the question that is raised by these financial supporters is simply "what are your positions on which local issues that have garnered your support from Brian, Bruce, Ivan and Lumpy?"

Can you/would you explain?

Don, thanks for weighing in here.

Will you now give us an address, in which you actually live, in the second district?

This is really just a simple and basic question for voters in this area.

While your list of supporters is long, less than 20% (may be way less) actually live here. This begs the question, who will you be answering to if elected?

And since your support seems to be outside the district, why didn't you just run for a countywide seat?

Refresh my memory...didn't Amy Broyles run as an Independent against Democrat Billy Tindell in the last election? Does that mean Amy ended her "love affair" with the Democratic Party as you suggest Don Daugherty has? You suggest that Don's running as an Independent has caused a "split" in the Democratic party. Did you make the same assertion when Amy ran as an Independent?

Any Knox County Democrat worth his salt knows that our party has always been "split" I refer you to Will Rogers famous quote: "I don't belong to any organized party, I'm a Democrat."

Could we worry a little less about party affiliations and donor lists and bit more about the issues facing residents of the Second District?

Yes, Amy ran as an independent against Billy Tindell after the state Supreme Court ruled that he (and the others) were serving in violation of Knox County's term limits law. She said she was afraid that if he stayed, he'd be ousted and that the Republican-dominated commission would replace him with a Republican who might not be the choice of the district.
Was she right, or what?
The people supporting Daughtery made a big deal of questioning her loyalty at the time, and now they're supporting Don.
As far as the issues are concerned, Amy lives here and has actually been dealing with our issues for years now, which is why people like Ronnie Collins, president of the Alice Bell-Spring Hill Neighborhood Association, are backing her.
Ronnie Collins versus Hornback and Pedigo..... hmmmmmmm.

Notice how none of these criticisms are about the actualy issues. The most base political attacks one can make are on character and motive, and they are always a sure sign of a campaign that knows it's in trouble.

Ms. Harmon, Ms. Broyles, Ms. Beanster and others have clearly shown they cannot fight a campaign about issues, mainly because Ms. Broyles has accomplished little during her time on commission. It is sad to see these otherwise fine women resort to name-calling, questioning Don's residence and purporting all kinds of rumors about he and his supporters around the community. You all should be better than that, Ms. Broyles campaign should be better than that.

Don did not split the democratic party, they have a group of people doing a fine job of that without his help. Don has financially supported the party for years, as have a number of his supporters who are also being attacked by the Broyles-Harmon squad. The KCDP should be careful how it handles itself here, seing as many good democrats are supporting Don.

Finally, let us remember that Ms. Broyles has not been the saintly figure her supporters try to make her out to be. She endorsed 3 know Republicans for City Council (all of whom lost). She has supported taxing authority for the School Board, called the Knox County Debt "Healthy" and has proven to be one of the most divisive members of the Knox COunty Commission. Ms. Broyles is no saint, her supporters are running a smear campaign and Knox County Deserves BETTER!

Don, can you answer these ISSUE questions?

You recommend campus-style housing for the homeless and have suggested Knox County purchase the former Baptist Hospital property and renovate it to use as public housing.

(link...)

Can you tell us how much the property would cost the taxpayers of Knox County (to purchase and renovate) and what would that do to the current county debt?

Why would we want that choice river front property used for housing and taken off the tax rolls?

And if County Commission and Knox County were to agree to a campus model, where would it likely be located, if not the Baptist site? Would you work hard to keep it out of the second district (or would your loyalty be to your financial supporters)?

It's also passing strange that a bunch of guys from outside the 2nd District are so desperate to get rid of the only woman on County Commission. They're looking like a bunch of bullies in the process. Take the picture from the Focus that Daugherty is using on his Web site of himself, Jim Jennings, Randy Nichols and Ace Miller lined up for a grip and grin. Anybody been to campaign school? You really think that's the way to run against a woman?
These are beefy, burly guys getting ready to try to stomp a woman, Looks bad, boys. So does ridiculing Amy for selling Girl Scout cookies. What you got against Girl Scouts?

Look at this thread– a bunch of pissed off women who don't always agree on things seem pretty much of one mind. Is that what y'all are going for?

p.s: Rachel, yours seems like a simple question, doesn't it?

whether Mr. Daugherty actually lives in the district that he is running to represent as well.

Seems to me you should be barred from running for any seat in a district where you do not actually LIVE, as in have residence that you sleep in, prepare food in, eat in, and mow the yard and have all your stuff in including the piles of old stuff in the garage that you keep meaning to clean out someday and have a yard sale for.

Amy Broyles may not be saintly, but I know that she cares about the district. And I know that because she lives in the district that she is personally aware of what goes on here. I like that she listens to what me and others in the district have to say when we run into her at the grocery store in the district.

I looked at the photo to which you refer in your posting and I don't really see "beefy, burly guys getting ready to stomp a woman." What I DO see is our Attorney General who has a pretty good record of standing up for the rights of woman as it pertains to our judicial system. I see Jim Jennings who is anything but a "woman hater." Jim has offered his support to a number of female candidates over the years. As you well know he supported Cortney Piper, Brenda Palmer and Ellen Adcock in recent elections. And, of course, Ace Miller whom I have known for a gazillion years and can assure you is not a "woman hater" by any stretch of the imagination.

Also, I have never heard anyone of these four men "ridiculing Amy for selling Girl Scout Cookies." Come on, Betty, you are better than that. You know these men don't have anything against the Girl Scouts. In fact, if Amy had gotten in touch with them I'm sure they would have purchased some of her cookies.

Could we please, please focus on the issues rather than continue with all this name calling ("woman haters" "beefy, burly guys ready to stomp a woman" "what you got against the Girl Scouts?"). What do any of those comments have to do with the issues facing the second district?

And, as for Don Daugherty taking no interest in the Second District I'm not sure that is an accurate statement either. Don personally allocated funds from his law firm towards helping Inskip Elementary School build a new playground for the kids....$10,000.00. He donated $15,000.00 to the Emerald Avenue Youth Foundation in support of the fine programs being offered there. He donated $10,000.00 to Golden Gloves (even though it is located in Park City; just slightly outside the Second District) for the purpose of starting a Jr. Golden Gloves program. All good organizations which do good work in the community.

Don has made clear to his supporters that he will donate his county commission salary and his 202 funds to a volunteer committee made up of residents from the Second District. This citizens committee will be given sole discretion over how the funds are spent. He feels that the residents of the Second District know better than anyone how this money should be spent to benefit our community.

Amy started this little debate by whining about Don Daugherty running a negative campaign against her. Not true. He is simply stating the differences between his position on various issues and Amy's position. I would still like to see the two of them debate the issues in an open forum so we could move forward regarding the issues rather than continuing with all this sniping and backbiting.

You folks are acting as if those who do not support Amy's campaign are somehow anti-Second District. Nothing could be further from the truth. We just happen to be supporting her opposition. Isn't that how our political system is supposed to work? That doesn't make us anti-Girl Scout, anti-Democrat or women haters, does it?

And, as far as receiving campaign contributions from outside the district is concerned I refer you to a quote from Amy's own website from her previous campaign in which she states:

"Over
250 people contributed to this campaign and over 215 of them gave $100 or less. Over 70 of them
reside in the Second District." That would mean, in her last campaign, Amy accepted 180 contributions from outside the second district. The very thing she is now vilifying Don Daugherty for doing.

Can we please move on?

Citizenx, you covered some ground in that long post, but you missed (deflected?) the most key and basic question,

Where does Don Daugherty live?

It really is a simple question. He can toss money around and hope votes will follow but why is he even running in this district if he does not live here?

And I would love for there to be a debate between these two candidates.

I'd say thanks for your interest in the 2nd District race, Whooshe65, if I thought you cared, but since you're a one-trick pony interested only in keeping housing for the homeless out of other parts of KC, I'll pass up the opportunity.

OK, first of all, I have heard derogative girl scout cookie comments from one of the grin and grippers. I was getting worked over about my vote, which I'm casting this morning. Betty had this exactly right.

2nd, a little late on this but it took a while. Of the first 74 supporters for Don in the ad, 13 live in and are eligible to vote in the 2nd District. Just saying - are his supporters from other areas supporting for their own interest? I think so, as an 8th district voter explained to me that Don would vote for things that would benefit the 8th District.

Third, when Amy stated what was happening with tactics, why is that whining? Sounds a little woman hater right there.

Last, I'll ask it again: Where will Don and his Fiance live? Where does he live now

When I read these posts I am reminded of the Tea Party zealots who are still asking to see a "true" copy of Obama's birth certificate. You ladies seem obsessed with seeing Don Daugherty's "true" address. Never mind the FACT that there is no residency requirement for this district race. Legally it simply is not an issue. I have never been to Don's house nor to Amy's but I'm sure they live somewhere within Knox County which is the only legal requirement they need to meet.

You stated: "I have heard personally (and read)the ridicule re Girl Scout Cookies. I have also heard Daugherty supporters belittle Amy's health problems and suggest she's 'running because she needs health insurance.' I haven't heard or read either of those things but, since you brought it up, Amy says she and her husband are partners in a hardwood flooring business which may or may not provide insurance for its employees or family members. Perhaps the insurance offered through the county IS one of the reasons she wants to keep her commission seat. You brought it up so maybe you could answer that question. It is my understanding that the Broyles/Parkey flooring business "went under" a couple of years ago leaving the family uninsured. If that is the case I can see why holding onto her commissioners insurance could be factor in her running for re-election. I'm not criticizing Amy for providing insurance for herself and her family....we all need insurance. I'm just saying it appears that her insurance benefits are provided through her job as a commissioner rather than through her hardwood flooring business. Is that an accurate statement or not?

Regarding Becky's comments about a debate between these two candidates I say go for it. The sooner the better.

Again, these are manufactured issues. Don has already addressed these questions in several newspaper articles. Ms. Harmon and Ms. Beanster know this, but they also know Ms. Broyles is in trouble and need a non-issue to hang their hat on.

I also find it repulsive that Ms. Beanster would play the gender card and attack Don's supporters. Jim Jennings and Randy Nichols are two of the finest men in Knox County. Jim has given tons of his time and money to help underserved communities-like Lonsdale-where he grew up. He's helped found and fund football leagues, boxing tournaments and other community activites that have benefited our children. As for Randy, he has been an extrordinary advocate for victims in Knox County. He has served with dignity and respect, two attributes Ms. Beanster clearly lacks.

Again, you ladies need to let it go. You've show on here to be bitter, hateful and willing to attack anyone for political gain. Ms. Broyles is clearly in trouble, her campaign is headed down and she's sent her hit squad out to burn any opposition.

On a final note, if I were Don, I wouldn't put my address on this website. As volitile as Ms. Broyles'supporters have shown themselves to be, there's no telling what they might do.

Citizen X and Knoxpolitico are anonymous for a reason, Tamara. and they are ignoring your post for a reason, too.

I'm truly stunned by some of the comments posted, here. First, I do live in the second district and I have lived in the second district for 7 years and I am supporting Amy.

I want to address two major concerns that I have seen come from SEVERAL local and state candidates over the course of the last 4 years. First is the issue of "salary." Serving in public office, even officially as part-time, such as our county commissioners, city council members, and state house and senate members, is often a full-time job. One candidate that I recently helped get elected to office has stated as such to me. Paying our elected officials is fair and the right thing to do. It also sets a level of accountability between the elected official and the public because you are receiving compensation from the tax base of your constituents. The fact that a candidate is in a position to "donate" a salary away really should never be brought into the conversation (yes that includes people like Governor Bredesen who did the same thing). All this does is put their opponent in having to defend taking what is legally and justifiably fair compensation for their service. Secondly, this piece of individual candidates' campaign platforms discourages lower-income, blue collar candidates from even trying to run for office and as a result we end up with essentially one type of candidate: upper middle class (with many of the same other types of demographics to follow including such candidates skewing to be white and male). If an elected official chooses to make personal contributions to charity, to other political organizations, ect, then that is their choice and they will receive tax benefits for doing it. Additionally there is no way for any candidate to not accept a salary. They are paid and then they make personal decisions of what to do with that money. But, waving a salary around and talking about how you don't need the salary as an elected official is really distracting and unethical as a candidate for public office.

Secondly, we provide health insurance to all of our public employees and elected officials (who are employees of the public). It is what is right, fair, and equitable. We do not discriminate on which candidates may or may not run for office based on whether they're unemployed, single and work without health insurance benefits, or married and work or have a spouse without health insurance benefits. We do not require candidates to have health insurance to run for office. I am glad for any candidate who is financially fortunate enough to be able to donate all of their salary and who does not need the health insurance benefits. But, these are questions that no candidate should have to answer or qualify or defend themselves against.

It seems to me that if the Authors of that passage meant what you said above, than they would included that in the language.

My guess is they didn't want the passage to say that so they did not include it in the Language.

Other than what I have said above, I guess you should take this issue up with the New Knox County Law Director, and see if he wants to interpret the Charter, if you so choose.

You ladies seem obsessed with seeing Don Daugherty's "true" address. Never mind the FACT that there is no residency requirement for this district race. Legally it simply is not an issue.

There's legal requirements. Then there's the issue of whether someone who lives outside the district really understands and shares the district's issues and concerns.

It's really a simple question - does Daugherty live in the district? (I don't want his actual address; just a yes or no answer.)

Oh, and I have corollary. If he DOES live outside the district, why isn't he running for the seat in his home district?

Or a barf bag.

One thing that everyone seems to overlook is that the provision contains three requirements - a candidate must be 18 years old, have lived in the district for at least a year and be registered to vote in the district. Only the one-year residency requirement is waived for the year following redistricting. The candidate still must be 18 and still must be registered to vote in the district.

The catch in this situation is that state law requires you to be registered at your residence (a fact Elaine Davis learned the hard way).

In other words, a candidate can't live in the 9th District, say, and run for a seat in the 2nd. He must be registered in the 2nd and state law mandates he must live where he is registered -- in the 2nd. Otherwise, his registration would be invalid and he would not be qualified to hold the office.

Scott Barker
KNS

"Don personally allocated funds from his law firm towards helping Inskip Elementary School build a new playground for the kids....$10,000.00. He donated $15,000.00 to the Emerald Avenue Youth Foundation in support of the fine programs being offered there. He donated $10,000.00 to Golden Gloves (even though it is located in Park City; just slightly outside the Second District) for the purpose of starting a Jr. Golden Gloves program. All good organizations which do good work in the community."

The law firm for which Mr. Daugherty works is neither "his" nor did he "personally" allocate any of these funds. The largesse is courtesy of the firm, and it strikes me as more than coincidental that this burst of extraordinary philanthropy happens to coincide with Mr. Daugherty's candidacy.

Larry Van Guilder

Time to step in, but only briefly, and only to clarify a few important points:

My opponent continues to intentionally misrepresent my positions regarding the county debt, as well as the school board and taxing authority. Furthermore, I do not whine; I do stand up for myself when I am misrepresented, just as I stand up for my district.

As for my family’s business, it is still going strong. Like most small family businesses, we had some lean times during the recession. However, due to my husband’s work ethic and reputation for excellence, we managed to pull through when other flooring businesses did not. I have never filed for bankruptcy, nor has the family business. Several years ago my husband filed for personal bankruptcy as the end result of a very personal crisis involving a close family member (not me). It is an absolute shame that any person would try to use this matter for political advantage. My family is off limits. Period.

As for health insurance, I did have insurance before my election to Commission. Due to some rather severe pre-existing conditions, the only coverage I could get was TennCare – and I was grateful to have it. I have been accused of waiting for County insurance before scheduling the brain surgery I had back in 2008. I actually had that surgery before the County insurance picked me up. I would also like to point out that on the County’s insurance I now pay more – much more – for coverage, but am happy to do so. The County’s carrier will cover me, it is better coverage, and I am grateful to have it. However, I would serve in this office whether it came with insurance benefits or not.

I am willing to participate in a debate, provided it is sponsored by the League of Women Voters. I participated in the Candidate Forum, and did not pay a penny to do so.

I am grateful for the support I have in this race, and I am looking forward to Election Day. Mostly, I am looking forward to returning full time to the work I love, serving my neighbors in the Second District, and working hard to make Knox County the best place it can possibly be.

**This was in response to someone that is posting libelous/slanderous comments and I thank the moderator that this is not tolerated here and are removed.**

Why is that even important? It has absolutely nothing to do with "issues" or Amy's ability to represent the second district.

Glad you are on board Don.

Do you mind giving us the address of where you live?

It is all a way of deflecting from the fact that Don does not live in the second district and he does not want us to continue to ask for a legitimate address.