February 6, 2010
Gubernatorial campaign cash: a visual
R. Neal organized the data into a usable format, and A.C. Kleinheider linked to it, and with their help I bring you these visualizations of the numbers reported this week by the seven "major"...Posted by joe lance on 6:33 AM
February 1, 2010
Candidates tout variety of finance figures
The day is finally here. It's the campaign finance reporting deadline for the 2009 year-end period, and flacks were busy all weekend (at minimum) coming up with just the right spin to accompany the...Posted by joe lance on 7:29 AM
January 24, 2010
Zach Wamp opens campaign headquarters
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — An estimated 250 supporters and onlookers crowded into a downtown building to celebrate the opening of the first of three statewide offices by the Zach Wamp for Governor campaign. Chattanooga Mayor...Posted by joe lance on 8:37 AM
January 17, 2010
Education forum follow-up
The Cookeville Times' Lynette Judd asked two questions of the seven gubernatorial candidates who spoke in Nashville on Thursday night. Question 1: What is your opinion on the “Race to the Top” funding that...Posted by joe lance on 9:57 AM
January 14, 2010
Which candidates were strongest in tonight's forum?
Granted, it wasn't a debate, so declaring a "winner" doesn't really make sense. But there will be an eventual winner come November, so: which candidates did you think did the best on substance, composure,...Posted by joe lance on 11:02 PM
Gubernatorial candidate forum tonight
The leading candidates* for governor will address the future of education and economic development in Tennessee in a forum at Belmont University that will be broadcast across the state via CBS television affiliates. In...Posted by joe lance on 5:57 PM
January 8, 2010
Candidates for governor to discuss education next week
Tom Humphrey posted the announcement: The first gubernatorial candidate forum featuring both Democrats and Republicans is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 14, at Belmont University in Nashville, according to a statement from the Tennessee State...Posted by joe lance on 7:47 AM
December 31, 2009
Don't Look Back
Here at the Ticket, we're not going to recap the year 2009 in politics. There are enough others doing that already, and there are enough reasons not to do it in the first place....Posted by joe lance on 2:40 PM
December 3, 2009
Ward Cammack withdraws from gubernatorial race
And then there were three. An e-mail contained the press release: Ward Cammack has discontinued his candidacy for Democratic governor of Tennessee. After careful consideration with his wife, Shelley, he will return to private...Posted by joe lance on 8:57 AM
December 2, 2009
Tanner out; Herron drops governor bid, runs for Congress
U.S. Rep. John Tanner announced suddenly that he will not be seeking reelection to the Eighth District congressional seat. State Senator Roy Herron, a Democrat from Dresden, had been running for governor; but in...Posted by joe lance on 6:27 AM
November 19, 2009
More on Kefauver Dinner and Candidates
As a follow-up to the wrap-up, here's Erik Schelzig's story. (HT: Tom Humphrey) Here is a profile of Memphis' Sen. Jim Kyle by Jackson Baker. (HT: A.C. Kleinheider) And then there was this little...Posted by joe lance on 12:50 PM
November 18, 2009
Local Democrats Party at Annual Kefauver Dinner
Since I live-tweeted the event, I didn't concentrate on taking the best notes for the blog. Besides, Matt Wilson's article captured the essentials, and Nordia Epps posted a brief summary for WDEF. About the...Posted by joe lance on 1:02 PM
November 16, 2009
Herron Wins Hamilton County Straw Poll
The tally: Sen. Roy Herron: 152 Sen. Jim Kyle: 79 Kim McMillan: 30 Mike McWherter: 25 Ward Cammack: 24 There was no total given from the podium for undecided votes. I asked party chairman...Posted by joe lance on 8:31 PM
November 15, 2009
Herron Wins Sullivan Straw Poll
Tennessee Senator Roy Herron added a second county straw poll victory to his list on Saturday, when he won 47 percent of votes cast at a Sullivan County Democratic Party event. From the Kingsport...Posted by joe lance on 10:50 PM
Coffee with the Candidate: Kim McMillan
I recently sat down for a brief interview with former legislator and governor's adviser Kim McMillan, who is running to replace her onetime boss, Gov. Phil Bredesen. (Due to an equipment user malfunction, this...Posted by joe lance on 9:09 PM
November 11, 2009
Did I Hear You Correctly?
Earlier this fall, I met with Mike McWherter for an hour or so of discussion about the campaign for governor, and how he intends to address some of the challenges facing Tennesseans. As that...Posted by joe lance on 9:53 PM
November 7, 2009
East Meets West Meets Middle
A pair of Twitter updates from Tennessee gubernatorial candidates demonstrates that the pack's pre-holiday trips back and forth across the state are in full swing. Sen. Jim Kyle, of Memphis: Enjoyed meeting democrats in...Posted by joe lance on 9:01 AM
November 5, 2009
Straw Poll for Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates in Hamilton County
From Facebook: The Hamilton County Democratic Party will hold its annual Estes Kefauver Dinner on Monday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m. in the Choo Choo's Imperial Ballroom. Five Democratic gubernatorial candidates will be there,...Posted by joe lance on 12:44 PM
October 26, 2009
Let's Be Blount About Education
Tonight in Maryville, a group of concerned citizens hosted a candidate forum dedicated to the subject of improving education in Tennessee. Several of the men and women running to be our next governor were...Posted by joe lance on 10:47 PM
October 23, 2009
Chattanooga Tea Party to host Speaker Ramsey
The Chattanooga Tea Party group is meeting-up with Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey, a Republican candidate for Governor of Tennessee in 2010, today at 3 p.m. at the Country Place Restaurant on Shallowford Road....Posted by joe lance on 9:17 AM
October 21, 2009
How to win favor with the party during a primary
Political parties tend to adopt a neutral stance in primary races—unless, of course, there is a clear need to purge a wayward member and her heresy from the pure body of true believers. The...Posted by joe lance on 9:30 AM
Senator Roy Herron at SETPAC
Last Friday, state Sen. Roy Herron, a Democrat from Dresden who is running for governor, spoke to the Southeast Tennessee Political Action Committee. I was unable to cover the event, but Judy Frank was...Posted by joe lance on 7:54 AM
October 8, 2009
Coffee with the Candidate: Mike McWherter
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter is making a noticeable effort to involve bloggers and other non-traditional media types in getting his message out. (This is not an endorsement, but an observation, of which I...Posted by joe lance on 4:01 PM
October 1, 2009
Bill Haslam at SETPAC Part II
Below is my distillation of remarks given by Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam at the September 18, 2009 SETPAC luncheon, first in his general address (aka "stump speech") and afterward when he took questions from...Posted by joe lance on 11:10 PM
Family Name No Guarantee in Politics
…unless, perhaps, the name is "Kennedy." The Christian Science Monitor notes Beau Biden's (son of Vice President Joe Biden) likely U.S. Senate candidacy, and goes on to mention a few more "political dynasties in...Posted by joe lance on 10:15 AM
September 19, 2009
Ruckus in Rutherford Today
This kind of crept up on me: the "Grow Tennessee" event in Rutherford County is being held today on the MTSU campus, and all five major Democratic candidates for governor are expected to be...Posted by joe lance on 10:06 AM
A Real Campaign Blog?
The Mike McWherter for Governor campaign has launched a blog. "Big deal," you say: candidates have been "blogging" for years now. But this one is a bit out of the ordinary. It will feature...Posted by joe lance on 9:52 AM
September 18, 2009
Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam Visits SETPAC
Republican gubernatorial candidate and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam was the guest speaker at last Friday's Southeast Tennessee Political Action Committee (SETPAC) luncheon. He spent part of the morning organizing his ground forces in neighboring...Posted by joe lance on 12:12 PM
September 17, 2009
Herron Back Again
State Sen. Roy Herron, one of the Democrats running for governor in 2010, announces a new Web site. What do you think of the overhaul? Additional candidate sites are listed here and here....Posted by joe lance on 12:48 PM
September 6, 2009
'Isolated' Megasite Flap Highlights West Tennessee Importance in Governor Race
U.S. Rep. and GOP gubernatorial candidate Zach Wamp executed another defensive maneuver in the ongoing battle of words regarding the Haywood County industrial site that the Congressman recently labeled as "isolated." His opinion piece...Posted by joe lance on 12:11 PM
August 31, 2009
Ward Cammack at SETPAC
On Friday, August 21, members and guests of the Southeast Tennessee Political Action Committee heard from Ward Cammack, a Nashville businessman who is running in the 2010 election for Governor of Tennessee. In addition...Posted by joe lance on 10:25 PM
An Endorsement in the Race for Tennessee Governor
Betsy "Aunt B." Phillips has decided on her gubernatorial candidate. Trouble is, it's not anyone that's currently running....Posted by joe lance on 9:19 PM
August 30, 2009
West Tennessee Lawmakers Rebut Wamp Remark
Senator Lowe Finney and Represenative Craig Fitzhugh, of Districts 27 and 82 in their respective houses of the Legislature, co-wrote a guest editorial in today's Jackson Sun that takes U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp to...Posted by joe lance on 10:41 AM
Democratic Party Hopefuls Campaign for Governor
Vibinc caught up with Sen. Jim Kyle at a Memphis meetup, and compares the latest candidate to some of the others. Dru's Vues has pictures of all five major Democratic Party gubernatorial candidates as...Posted by joe lance on 9:06 AM
August 29, 2009
Republican Candidates for Governor at Cool Springs Forum
Truman Bean has an executive summary of the four major GOP gubernatorial candidates after they appeared at a Republican Women's group meeting in Williamson County. The forum was moderated by conservative Middle Tennessee radio...Posted by joe lance on 1:49 PM
August 19, 2009
Basil Has No Cabbage
Tom Humphrey kindly let us know last week about a gubernatorial campaign finance database created by his employer, the Knoxville News Sentinel. Humphrey says it is easier to use than is the mechanism at...Posted by joe lance on 6:17 AM
August 17, 2009
Kim McMillan Releases A Video, Announces Contest to Name It
The lucky winner will receive two tickets to the Tennessee Democratic Party's Jackson Day Dinner in Nashville on August 29. (Don't worry: I won't spoil the contest for you, even though I could come...Posted by joe lance on 5:19 PM
Sizing Up the Democratic Candidates for Governor
John Little of Stay on the Go hopes the next governor of Tennessee will be a Democrat, despite the voters' penchant for switching every eight years. To that end, he gives the current slate...Posted by joe lance on 8:04 AM
Drink Liberally with Jim Kyle
Memphis friends who want to get to know state Senator and gubernatorial candidate Jim Kyle over an adult beverage can do just that, on August 26. Steve Steffens has the details....Posted by joe lance on 7:58 AM
August 13, 2009
Interview with Kim McMillan
"South Knox" blogger Randy Neal has an exclusive with the gubernatorial candidate from Clarksville. Next we asked her thoughts on why Tennessee ranks so poorly in education and what we can do about it....Posted by joe lance on 10:24 PM
August 5, 2009
Social Media Scorecard: Candidates for Governor of Tennessee
The proof of the pudding is in the election night results, but regardless, it's fun to analyze campaigns from the proverbial armchair (or, heck, recliner) using silly filters, like "how well Campaign X uses...Posted by joe lance on 11:21 PM
August 3, 2009
McWherter Would Aim for Continued Industry Recruitment as Governor
Last Friday morning, a couple dozen supporters and curious onlookers gathered in the Miller & Martin law firm's Chattanooga office for coffee and handshakes with Mike McWherter, who is running for governor in 2010...Posted by joe lance on 9:37 AM
July 24, 2009
Addenda: Candidates for Governor of Tennessee
There is at least one more site to include in your critique, and I wish to apologize for omitting this candidate yesterday: Joe Kirkpatrick is a Republican seeking his party's nomination along with Messrs....Posted by joe lance on 1:24 PM
July 23, 2009
Which Candidate for Governor Has the Best Web Site?
Here's your chance to laud, deride, or shrug at Tennessee's gubernatorial candidates' respective online presences. It's just for fun, but I'm interested in why you rate them the way you do. What is the...Posted by joe lance on 1:33 PM
July 20, 2009
Today's Post Is Brought to You by the Letter 'C'
The Politico (via Post Politics) reports: Eight days after admitting to an extramarital affair, Sen. John Ensign gave $5,000 to the Tennessee gubernatorial campaign of Rep. [Zach] Wamp - a fellow Republican who lives...Posted by joe lance on 8:47 PM
Candidates for Governor Raise Millions
Well, one candidate has raised millions. A couple of others have raised a bit over a million each. And then there are the Democrats. Several candidates in the race to be the next governor...Posted by joe lance on 7:44 AM
July 7, 2009
How Important Is Online Fundraising?
A press release by Democratic gubernatorial candidate and state Senator Roy Herron today made an interesting claim: "HERRON ON-LINE FUNDRAISING 4TH HOTTEST IN NATION." First of all, I didn't know there was a national...Posted by joe lance on 11:15 PM
June 30, 2009
I can Haslam gubernors manshun?
Kleinheider provides the link to a rather lopsided (and yet incomplete) set of fundraising numbers in the GOP primary race for Tennessee Governor 2010. Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam's campaign says he expects to raise...Posted by joe lance on 11:14 PM
May 31, 2009
Haslam Counts Decosimo, Probasco Among Supporters
The Times Free Press ran a story on Saturday about two prominent political moneymen, Scottie Probasco and Joseph Decosimo, being listed as supporting Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam's gubernatorial bid, when for years they've been...Posted by joe lance on 9:17 PM
April 27, 2009
Berke declines to run for higher office
Senator Andy Berke, whose 10th District covers Marion and part of Hamilton Counties, today announced that he is not running for Governor of Tennessee, nor for the 3rd District U.S. House seat in Congress,...Posted by joe lance on 10:51 PM
April 24, 2009
Mike McWherter to enter Tennessee governor race
See Andy Sher's report at the Chattanooga Times Free Press. See also: The Nashville Post...Posted by joe lance on 12:05 AM
April 8, 2009
A new Democratic candidate for governor
The Nashville Post is reporting that Sen. Roy Herron, a Democrat from the northwest part of the state, has indicated that he will enter the gubernatorial race. We know a good blogger who lives...Posted by joe lance on 8:52 AM
March 22, 2009
Who's running for governor in 2010? (Updated)
Well, we know that Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam (R) is, and Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (R) is, and former House Majority Leader Kim McMillan (D) is, and Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons (R)...Posted by joe lance on 11:43 PM
October 4, 2006
In Case You Missed the Gov Debate Last Night
A couple of guys named Adam have synopses, and links to more: Adam Groves A.C. Kleinheider...Posted by joe lance on 12:56 PM
September 22, 2006
The Last Day of Summer
That strangely calming electric sensation in the air is probably a combination of today's New Moon and tomorrow's Autumnal Equinox. (Disclaimer: I'm not a licensed astrologer.) Seriously, though, it seems as if even the...Posted by joe lance on 8:20 AM
September 16, 2006
If you don't vote for Bryson, you vote against God
The blogger formerly known as South Knox Bubba noticed the same thing I did on Gene Patterson's blog. (By the way, what's gotten into these blogging TV journalists?) While I was sure all along...Posted by joe lance on 9:23 AM
July 26, 2006
For Your Voting Consideration - The Civic Forum endorsements
There’s no need for a long introduction here—let’s just get right to the point. Each elected office* that will appear on ballots in at least one precinct in Hamilton County on August 3 is...Posted by joe lance on 7:34 AM
July 21, 2006
Albertini Arrested for Public Intoxication
UPDATE 3: No Silence Here corrects the earlier KNS misprint and tells us that Albertini was indeed found guilty of the public intoxication charge. Read comments from John Farmer below, too: he's not the...Posted by joe lance on 1:53 PM
June 28, 2006
Inevita-Phil-ity - And when your choices aren’t your own
Nominee by Decree Governor Phil Bredesen has managed his way through more than one seemingly intractable situation during his term. That figures, as he’s reportedly a highly skilled manager. He might have seen the...Posted by joe lance on 10:50 AM