Mon
Aug 25 2008
12:38 pm
8th district Democrat Candidate Forum set
By: Gregg Lonas

The newly formed Democratic Resource Center will host a Democrat
Candidate Forum September 1st, 2008, 7:00 PM at the Gibbs Ruritan
Building located at 7827 Tazewell Pike.

County Commission Seat 8A will become vacant on September 2, 2008 and the Democratic Party of Knox County will hold a convention on September 4th, 2008 to nominate a candidate who will run for election in November to fill this vacancy.

All 8th district Democrats are invited to attend this forum prior to the convention. If you are interested in being nominated or just want to get involved this will be an excellent opportunity to discuss issues important to the 8th District.

Topics:
jbr's picture

Bob Wolfenbarger for county

Submitted by jbr on Mon, 2008/08/25 - 4:55pm.

Bob Wolfenbarger for county commission

Anonymous's picture

What?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 6:38am.

Bob doesn't live in the 8th district.

Bbeanster's picture

Gregg, are you Madeline's

Submitted by Bbeanster on Mon, 2008/08/25 - 5:23pm.

Gregg, are you Madeline's dad? I talked to her for awhile at the meeting-- what a great kid!

Gregg Lonas's picture

Gregg, are you Madeline's

Submitted by Gregg Lonas on Mon, 2008/08/25 - 10:21pm.

Yes and thank you. I am very proud of her.

Cortney Piper's picture

Glad to see you all are

Submitted by Cortney Piper on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 10:53am.

Glad to see you all are hosting this forum, Gregg.

Lisa Starbuck's picture

8th District

Submitted by Lisa Starbuck on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 11:22am.

I think it would be almost impossible for a Democrat to take the 8th District Commission seat. Maybe if the devil was running on the Republican ticket, but otherwise, not likely.

Anonymous's picture

The devil you say

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 8:04pm.

The devil would win.

Don Daugherty's picture

As Gregg mentioned, this is

Submitted by Don Daugherty (not verified) on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 12:11pm.

As Gregg mentioned, this is the first of many public events which will be sponsored by the Democratic Resource Center ("DRC"). We are hoping for and anticipate good attendance, especially since the forum takes place on the heels of the National Convention and on Labor Day, the traditional kick-off for the fall campaigns.

But aside from being the first event for the DRC, it is an important event to 8th District Democrats, Independents, and undecided voters as well. The November election will fill the 8th District vacancy until 2010.

There appears to be a common misconception about the strength of Democrats in the 8th District. While the district is historically known to be a fairly conservative one, my experience with it over the past 17 months (after I was elected Chair of the Democrats) is that there is a rising populist fervor among residents urging political change. Many of the most active Democrats in this county, and the most active and well-attended Democrat Club in this county, are in the 8th District. And while I appreciate that Democrats have yet to elect a Democratic Commissioner there, it should be recalled that Phil Bredesen won every precinct in the 8th in '06 by overwhelming margins, and that in the tight Senate race between Harold Ford, Jr. and Bob Corker in '06, Ford actually won the Ellistown precinct, the 6th largest precinct in the 8th (out of 12).

This is an opportunity to gain some ground on the GOP this year, and get a head start on what may be the most important election in Knox County's history in 2010, when every commission seat and every major county office is on the ballot (except for Law Director and Property Assessor).

Everyone interested in politics is invited.

Anonymous's picture

I hear Amy Vandergriff wants

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 1:00pm.

I hear Amy Vandergriff wants this job so bad she cant stand it.

Alan Summers's picture

8th district candidates

Submitted by Alan Summers (not verified) on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 1:19pm.

I want to attend this forum! I hope being a registered republican does not restrict my entrance, lol.
I want to vote for the best person for the empty seat, no matter the party they claim. The 8th district needs a voice that actually listens to the citizens, and does something. I do not think we have that now. At the last election we had I voted all over both parties, so maybe I don't hold myself true to any party.
After following the antics of some of our current commissioners it is even more critical that we get the representation that the 8th district deserves!

Alan Summers
(link...)

Don Daugherty's picture

Alan: While the forum is

Submitted by Don Daugherty (not verified) on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 2:09pm.

Alan:

While the forum is intended for Democratic candidates only, everyone is welcome, and I want to extend a personal invitation to you and any other Republicans in the 8th District to attend the forum and see what the Democratic candidates might have to offer.

As for the potential candidacy of Amy Vandergriff, who won a surprisingly easy victory against George Stooksbury in February only to go down in a lopsided defeat against Foster Arnett a few weeks ago, she is welcome to attend the forum, as is any other interested Democratic candidate. However, I'm very confident that Democrats in the 8th District and Democrats attending the Convention next Thursday will choose wisely and nominate the strongest possible candidate for this position. That would be a candidate who can go head-to-head and toe-to-toe with Bud Armstrong (the presumptive GOP nominee) on the issues, who can raise enough money to mount a credible campaign, who has the competence, experience, and integrity to effectively appeal to Democrats, Independents, and moderate Republicans.

One of the primary goals of the Democratic Resource Center over the next two years will be to effectively persuade Independents, undecideds, and moderate Republicans to give Democratic candidates a first and a second look. I know very well that a Democratic candidate in Knox County can appeal to a broader voter base if he or she exudes the same or greater qualifications for public service as the opposition, e.g., Finbarr Saunders winning in the 4th.

Anonymous's picture

How does one become

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 3:48pm.

How does one become registered as either Republican or Democrat in Tennessee? I thought we just picked a primary and voted.

Alan Summers's picture

register?

Submitted by Alan Summers (not verified) on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 4:15pm.

Well, now that I think about it, you are asked which party when you go up to the person at the table, if it is an election where you have to declare a party. If you have to declare, that sets your choices on the machine. Maybe your voter registration does not tie you to any party. That would be a good thing!

Rachel's picture

Tennessee has open

Submitted by Rachel on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 4:31pm.

Tennessee has open primaries; that is, you pick which one you want to vote in when you get to the polling place.

You do NOT register as a Democrat, Republican, etc.

I'm always suprised at voters who don't know that.

Lisa Starbuck's picture

Independent

Submitted by Lisa Starbuck on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 1:36pm.

I'm not a big party person either . . . I always vote for the candidate, not the party. Wish I could say the same about most of my 8th District neighbors, but I can't!

Anonymous's picture

I have seen you around

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 3:50pm.

I have seen you around before. Why dont you run? You seem to be a honest straight forward person. Which party would you pick to run as?

Lisa Starbuck's picture

County Commission

Submitted by Lisa Starbuck on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 9:25pm.

If I did run, I would run as a Republican because I would run to win. ;-)

However, I won't be running because I can't afford to run. To do the job right, it needs to be a full-time position and the salary is very low. I think that is why the only people who run are those who are employed by the county or have a VERY understanding employer, are independently wealthy, retired, or crooked. None of those fit my situation.

As it is, I devote at least 20-30 hours a month to civic activities. I don't believe my husband would stand for much more.

Anonymous's picture

maybe Courtney Piper should

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 9:08pm.

maybe Courtney Piper should move into the district and run.

Gregg Lonas's picture

We would be lucky to have

Submitted by Gregg Lonas on Tue, 2008/08/26 - 10:32pm.

We would be lucky to have Cortney in the 8th.

Lisa Starbuck's picture

Agreed

Submitted by Lisa Starbuck on Wed, 2008/08/27 - 1:31am.

I'd second that!

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