"firemen and policemen" how about firefighters and police officers,

from knoxnews.com ...

Two years ago, the comparison was Lane Kiffin.

Now, Democrat Gloria Johnson is getting compared to another former Tennessee football coach UT fans would like to forget, Derek Dooley, in a series of new negative ads and videos paid for by the Tennessee Republican Party.

Knoxville Democratic House candidate Gloria Johnson compared to Derek Dooley in attack ads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Dave Gorman

November 1, 2016

Update on SPEAK Candidate Forum in House District 13

Statement from Dave Gorman, President of SPEAK

Knoxville, Tenn. - SPEAK (Students, Parents, Educators Across Knox County), a collaborative effort to strengthen public schools in Knox County, sought to hold a candidate forum this week for the voters of House District 13 to hear directly from the candidates where they stand on important education issues.

Public education is one of the most crucial issues in this election for the residents of Knox County and both candidates in House District 13 have made this issue an integral part of their campaigns through campaign advertisements. As an organization that works for positive educational change in Knox County through awareness, advocacy, and empowerment, SPEAK believes that the voters in this district should have the opportunity to ask questions and hear the candidates’ stances in person.

Over the past weekend, we provided both candidates with potential dates for the forum but Candidate Smith was unable to clear his schedule or provide other availability. We regret that, to date, these candidates have not appeared together in public to discuss their positions on educational issues.

Dave Gorman is the President of SPEAK. SPEAK is a collaborative effort of parents, students, teachers, and other community members working for positive educational change in Knox County through awareness, advocacy, and empowerment. We support the strengthening of public schools through the active involvement of all stakeholders. For more information on SPEAK, please visit our website: (link...)

As a veteran reporter in this town who has covered many of these "debates," I have seen first hand how these are a waste of time.

The people who show up already know who they are voting for. It makes more sense to just go knock on the doors of the undecided voter.

Let me clarify, discussions with the candidates on Hallerin, or WATE or WBIR, make way more sense. Those debates/discussions reach thousands of people, are much more neutral, and allow the candidates quality use of their time.

Eddie Smith has declined every single joint forum offered to him, not just SPEAK. His strategy is to rely on an avalanche of negative ads paid for by "outside" money while claiming credible deniability.
It worked two years ago.

The ads I see keep calling Gloria a Liberal. Its like they are trying to make sure I vote for her. (I did)