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For anyone interested in the Hamilton County May 2 primary elections, I have a brief rundown (with picks) in this week's Pulse. It's by no means as extensive as Baker's Shelby coverage, but it will give you the basics.
Posted by: joe | April 27, 2006 09:11 AM
It should be noted that most candidates in the 1st Congressional District have yet file their campaign disclosures. Its true that Venable showed $83,000 on hand, but he also reported $50,000 in campaign debt. Meanwhile, $25,200 of the $30,000 raised by Davis came from the Gregory family of King Pharmaceutical fame. Hardly a show of grassroots support.
Posted by: frank | April 27, 2006 09:58 AM
Joe, thanks for mentioning your Pulse column. I read that yesterday and forgot to link to it today. I'll do that now. Thanks.
Frank, Good points. I rely on people like you to tell me what's going on on the grassroots over there in the 1st Congressional District - I did try to be clear that it was grassroots folks on the web...
Posted by: Adam Groves | April 27, 2006 11:16 AM
While some random folks have yet to file, most people think this race is basically between the two guys Adam mentioned.
Davis is the leading vote-getter from the race 10 years ago and has much of Jim Holcombe's following on board. In the '96 race, those two candidates basically split the religious right. Davis seems to have an edge at securing that vote this time around, especially with Senator Rusty Crowe and former Senator Holcombe (placed second in '96) backing him. Davis put $400,000 of his own money into the race last time and possesses the means to boost his own war chest a bit if he so chooses.
It is too early to tell how the grassroots situation or "ground game" as I like to call it will take shape.
Another person to look at is Richard Roberts of Greeneville. He has zero name recognition but has secured the support of Scott Niswonger, who plans to throw some serious financing behind him. I just wonder how the Sundquist ties and past Democratic fundraisers will come into play with those two.
Other aspects to remember are that Davis still has funds in his legislative account and that having the Gregory political machine on board has never hurt anyone.
Posted by: bristolken | April 27, 2006 03:54 PM
Perhaps some have not filed because they are under the $5,000.00 limit.
Posted by: mickey white | April 27, 2006 05:34 PM
Daily Dose for April 27, 2006
Daily Dose
1st District Update -- Sullivan Co. Mayor Richard Venable seems to be pulling away in fundraising in the First Congressional District. Venable reported $83,000 on hand for the race, $33,000 of it raised from individual contributors. Venable's closet competitor Rep. David Davis reported $30,000 on hand. Venable's fundraising team consists of CTA Resources and Caryn Eggeraat of SCM Associates, two DC-based consulting firms. Eggeraat is also currently serving as a fundraising consultant on Ed Bryant's U.S. Senate campaign. Davis, however, already has some grassroots support in the blogosphere - an unoffical blog has popped up called Davis Download.
Bredesen Begs Republicans Not to Flex Muscles -- Governor Bredesen sent out a plea to Republican lawmakers not to kill his CoverTN health care program in order to flex political muscle. Bredesen told a group of small business leaders in Mt. Juliet he remains optimistic the body will pass Cover Tennessee proposals in the end after “a lot of posturing.” Senate Majority Leader Ron Ramsey said Republicans have “no agenda to kill the program,” only an “agenda to get our questions answered...If he calls wanting questions answered posturing, we’re probably going to be doing some posturing." Several Republican lawmakers have lined up in criticism of the CoverTN program, an umbrella for five health care reform issues proposed by the Governor.
Black Caucus Forms Website in Memory of Black Lawmakers -- Members of the Tennessee Black Caucus helped launch a website that will focus on the state's history of black lawmakers. Members of the Tennessee Black Caucus yesterday took turns reading an 1887 speech by Rep. Samuel A. McElwee, a former legislator on the site, in support of his legislation to prevent and punish mob violence. Rep. Sampson W. Keeble was the first black lawmaker to serve in the state General Assembly when he was elected to represent Davidson County in 1873.
Memphis Lawmaker: Sale of Utility District Failed Because District 29 Unfilled -- A bill requiring voter approval in a referendum before Memphis Light, Gas and Water could be sold failed by one vote in the state Senate Wednesday. Rep. Lois Deberry says that one vote could have been made up had the Shelby Co. Commission appointed someone to fill the seat of ousted Sen. Ophelia Ford. According to reports the bill may have failed because the City of Memphis lobbied against it. According to a Commercial Appeal poll, most people in Shelby Co. oppose the sale of the utility company even though Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton has suggested it as an idea on how the city could raise money.
Knox Co. Charter Debate Continues -- The debate over the Knox Co. charter continues in Chancellor John Weaver's court. In the most recent lawsuit, lawyer Herb Moncier argues that Knox Co. Law Director Mike Moyers has not protected the people of Knox Co.'s interest by insisting on implimenting a referendum passed in 1994 by the people of that county that limits officers of the county to two terms. Prior to a Supreme Court ruling several weeks ago, the state Attorney General said such referendums were unconstitutional. Moncier urged the Court to stop the May 2 vote in Knox Co. so ineligible incumbents can be removed from the ballot, but that seems unlikely because state law prohibits changing the ballot within 30 days of an election. Moncier's lawsuit seeks to oust constitutional officers, such as Knox Co. Sheriff Tim Hutchison from the ballot, even though the Court had previously ruled the state Supreme Court ruling only applies to County Commissioners.
Lobbyists Still Slow to Register -- A lobbyist for the City of Chattanooga was slow to register with the state for that job. Even though you must register within five days of being hired as a lobbyist, Duane Smith did not register until April 14, even though Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield says Smith was hired in October. Another lobbyist who was slow to register was Oak Ridge lobbyist Bill Nolan - who says he "messed up" by not registering with the state as Oak Ridge's lobbyist, because he thought the city was forwarding his papers for him.
Local Races from Alt Weeklys -- Jackson Baker has a breakdown of the local races in Memphis and Joe Lance has a breakdown of Chattanooga in the Pulse. Betty Bean takes a look at the TV and radio adds in the local races in Knoxville. Also in the Knoxville, the MetroPulse calls the lawsuit pushed by several County Commissioners to remain on the ballot "specious."
Don't blame it on Ford not being in the senate ... where was Jim Kyle???
Posted by: Larry | April 27, 2006 08:58 AM