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January 06, 2006
Russian Christmas Overtures
I think it might be humorous if Bill Young built a hotel at the corner of Renaissance Park and still named it “The Coolidge.”
State elections kick off today! Watch for news on who picks up papers. I won't waste time copying news here that you can get earlier elsewhere, but I'll be compiling data on the ballot preview pages and jabbering on about different races here on the front page.
Joe, what are these "papers" that get "picked up" and what is happening now? Would-be candidates must qualify by finding at least 25 people (for State House seats; it may vary by position) to sign a petition. There are also financial filing forms and other materials. If someone asks you to sign his or her qualifying petition, here are a couple of things to remember.
1) Signing the petition does not equal a vote for that person. You don't have to have your mind made up; all you need to choose is greater (or less) choice.
2) Be reasonably sure that you are a qualified registered voter in the district being sought. They really do check. Weeding through names that don't actually help wastes time and money.
Somewhere marginally close to 100% of the time, candidates have no problem meeting the signature minimum, because they gather signatures at a political party function. For all I know, all the candidates sign each other's forms. I'm an independent sort, so when I dipped a toe into the electoral waters two cycles ago, I knocked on doors, met a cross-section of people, and asked for their approval to run. Either method works in the end.
News of the Tennessee Highway Patrol continues its disappointing trend.
Elections , Government , Miscellaneous | By joe lance | 12:55 PM