Daily Dose for February 21, 2006

Daily Dose

Bredesen to Return Donations -- Governor Bredesen has said that he will return $22,300 in contributions given since 2001 by people now caught up in an investigation into public corruption in Cocke County. That includes the personal contributions of Harold Eugene Grooms, Kenneth Frazier and in the name of a Cocke County business called H-1 Auto Parts. Campaign spokesman Will Pinkston said the only funds that are being returned are donations made by individuals who have "fallen under the shadow" of the Rose Thorn probe. Individuals who made donations at fund-raisers hosted by Grooms or other members of his family who have not been implicated in the probe will not have their money returned. More from the Tennessean and Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Cotton Resigns -- William Cotton, a Hamilton Co. Commissioner indicted in Operation Tennessee Waltz resigned that post yesterday following a guilty verdit in his public corruption trial. A replacement will be named by the Commission on March 9. Democrat Warren Mackey and Republican Brian Caldwell have filed for the race. Mackey is expected to be named as the replacement under the consideration that the district is primarly composed of Democrats. Stuart James, chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, encouraged the move and asked African Americans who question the prosecution of predominately black lawmakers to stay involved in their community. James said, "For those of you in our community who criticize those who question the motivation, I ask you to walk a mile in those peoples' shoes and try to gain an understanding of how they feel, and why they believe that the prosecution of African-Americans is suspect. Until we understand those who question the Tennessee Waltz based on race, we cannot find solutions to the divide that is between us."

GOP Optimistic About House Take-Over -- Democrats now maintain a 53-46 advantage in the House, but TN GOP Leader Bob Davis says Republicans are optimistic about picking up enough seats to win control of the State House. Davis said the state party will target Democratic districts in Upper East Tennessee, including the seat held by Rep. Nathan Vaughn (D- Kingsport), which he said leans Republican. He said there also are some districts in West Tennessee where he is confident a Republican could topple a Democrat, but he would not name specific races. Democrats have vowed to challenge Sen. Don McLeary of Humboldt after he switch parties to the Republicans. Ed Cromer, a veteran political observer for the Tennessee Journal, says he expects strong challenges to two Republicans senators in districts drawn to lean Democratic: Sen. Mae Beavers (R-Mount Juliet) and Sen. Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro). Bob Tuke, chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, said he expects the party will raise and contribute about $1 million for state legislative races this year.

Restaurant Smoking Ban Bill Before Legislature -- Two bills that would ban smoking in Nashville restaurants is before the state legislature. One bill would give the authority to the Metro Council to ban smoking in restaurants that that derive more than 40 percent of their annual revenue from food sales. The other bill would simply prohibit smoking in all the state's restaurants by January 1, 2007. The Metro bill is expected to be killed in the House Agriculture committee and both the tobacco and restaurant lobbys are expected to fight both bills.

18 Year Old Running for Blount Co. Commission -- The Knoxville News-Sentinel reports on 18-year old Ted Boyatt who is running for County Commission in Blount County. The election is May 2, four days after Boyatt's junior prom. Boyatt's racein Seat A in District 5 is against the longtime chairman of the Blount Co. Commission.

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