Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam's campaign says he expects to raise $3.8 million, while U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga says he will come in at about $1.2 million.
Two other GOP candidates, Memphis prosecutor Bill Gibbons and state Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville, have not yet released fundraising totals

Money is not everything, of course. But having a lot of it (non-self financed, to boot) doesn't hurt one's chances in a competitive primary.

Thoughts?

Yes, I know; sorry about the title. LOLcats are so 2007. But I had to.

So perhaps it's fitting that the site's founders chose July 1, 2009 to celebrate its first birthday.

I continue to be amazed at--and, let's be honest, just a tad jealous of (even though that's odd, since it's possible I had some small role in it)--the success of this upstart experiment in citizen journalism. The fact that a group of young (excluding yours truly) writers can exhibit such a fine combination of passion and irreverence toward all things Chattanooga, and have it catch on with readers and "old media" competitors (for lack of a better term), not to mention attract a whole new crop of writers, is one of the most encouraging events of the past year.

Mazel Tov, c-star. This first year of "communal narcissism for the Scenic City" has been great, and here's to many more.

::raises glass::

Of all the rumored and formerly rumored candidates to officially decline, Watson comes closest to bringing a surprise.

That said, it has been apparent for a while that those in the Hamilton County legislative delegation and party leadership have decided to make way for former state party chair Robin Smith, who is expected to announce her intentions tomorrow.

Attorney Chuck Fleischmann and Bradley County Sheriff Tim Gobble, among others, are not so intent on giving Ms. Smith a free pass. And the third comment at Post Politics raises an interesting point. Many of us expected Robin Smith's announcement sometime in June, as she resigned May 30. The fact that she waited until after the campaign finance reporting deadline could signal a smart move. Let the other guys show their cards first.

This is the first time in quite a while that we will have had an open seat here in TN-3. U.S. Rep. Wamp has been a shoo-in every two years. This should be a fun one to watch, given the new media climate and other factors.

Over the next two weeks, this blog will see even lower levels of activity than has unfortunately become normal, as my family and I will enjoy a road trip to points west and back.

Maybe the Legislature will pass a budget and adjourn for the year while I'm gone. Then again, maybe not.

Consider this an open thread while I'm out.

At first glance, such a move would embody a natural progression that began with early voting. In this county, early voting usually involves three locations, and any voter can use any of the locations. Then, on Election Day, voters who did not use early voting must attend their prescribed precinct locations. With convenience voting, the come-one-come-all centers would simply be extended to the actual election day.

Even if we leave cost concerns aside for the moment, the idea has definite pros--and some potential cons. Personal experience at an early voting-only location on election days suggests that a lot of citizens would find it easier to just go to "where they voted last time," or to the Election Commission office, or to the mall. Then there is the matter of properly trained election workers, as mentioned in the article. We'll come back to this.

But on the other hand, what about turnout? In a perfect world, somewhere above 89% of registered voters would participate in elections. In such a world, convenience centers vs. precincts wouldn't matter. But we know the truth: in this year's municipal elections, fewer than one in five bothered to show up. Would changing to fewer locations affect the outcome in some races? I don't know the answer, but it is a question worth pondering.

And perhaps I'm nostalgic, but there is something so essentially patriotic about going to a town hall, church gym, or other community center on Election Day and seeing the familiar faces of voters and election workers alike. I could live without that, I suppose. But could everyone?

This idea will have to be given further thought.

Hat tip: Post Politics

Following the audit, the letter continues, Brock plans to step down from his post, in order for the new chairperson to recruit new party officers. The State Executive Committee would hold an election to fill this and any other resignations.

In a brief statement, Mr. Brock cited a desire to "clear up the rumors" that arose in recent weeks about past party spending, and to give the new chairman confidence that the accounts are free of any unknown pending expenditures.

I suppose it would have been slightly awkward for a member of the council to do so, but former Councilman Leamon Pierce also deserves our thanks for bringing the matter to light. The City Charter is unmistakable in its direction; and it's a shame that it took the council almost two decades to fully address the lack of oversight.

It will be interesting to see how the administration responds, given that the current mayor has installed an auditor within the executive branch. I encourage all involved to work together toward a smooth transition.

On the surface, this piece doesn't say much. So these men supported Wamp when he ran for the U.S. House. So they support someone other than Wamp now that Wamp is running for governor. The jobs are very different, and there is no guarantee that if one has performed well in one, he is automatically considered above all comers for the other.

But so much of politics is about loyalty, and in that respect it might be moderately significant that some of a candidate's usual friends aren't readily subsidizing his quest for a higher office. The paper seems to have tried to make a more sensational story out of it, is all.

On the other hand, I'm still chasing a rumor about what would amount to a real defection in this race, but I can't get anyone to correspond, let alone confirm. That suggests either that it's true, and still very hush-hush; or that I've been fed a line of bull.

We'll see.

Mr. Devaney told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that he will step down from his current job as U.S. Senator Bob Corker's State Director. (There's a nice opening for someone.) He told his fellow Republicans that his primary objectives are to increase the party's majority in the General Assembly and to help elect a Republican governor in 2010.

The runner-up in the close election, Oscar Brock, currently serves as the party's treasurer, which is also an elected position. When asked if he would continue in that role, Brock told TennesseeTicket that while he "[does] not have any immediate plans to resign the position," he will "discuss [his] future role on the state executive committee with Chairman Devaney" to ensure the two former rivals "are completely comfortable working together in those closely related capacities."

Mr. Brock also sent a congratulatory letter to the new chairman, which you can read after the jump.

I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to you, Mr. Chairman. You ran an excellent campaign, you worked your heart out, and the results are clear evidence of your work ethic and conviction to elect Republicans. Well done!

Eric Swafford, a current and future leader for Republicans across Tennessee, deserves much praise for his courage to offer himself up to be the leader of our party.

You've accepted a heavy burden as you lead us into the 2010 election cycle. You know better than any the importance in having majorities in both houses as we head into redistricting. There is no Republican in Tennessee that is wishing you more success over the next 18 months than I. We eagerly await election results on November 2, 2010, showing solid Republican gains in the State House and regaining control of the governor's mansion.

You'll perform excellently. I know that you'll make us all proud that this day, May 30, 2009, you became our chairman.

Godspeed, Mr. Chairman, and good luck.

Oscar Brock

State Executive Committee Member

District 10

House Democratic Leader Gary Odom told a party caucus meeting today that, after a round of discussions, he now recommends that Democrats go along with passage of HB845, which adds two Republicans to the State Election Commission. That will give the GOP control of the commission, which otherwise would remain with a 3-2 Democrat majority until 2011.

Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris had declared that, if Democrats continue to hold up approval of the bill, Senate Republicans will hold up passage of a bill to continue the existence of the Election Commission itself. The commission, as things stand now, will "sunset" on July 1 unless the Legislature votes to renew it.

As I'm sure you're aware, the State Election Commission appoints the members of all ninety-five county election commissions. You might also know that a long-standing state law provides the following: that whichever political party controls the Legislature determines the majority on each of these elections-overseeing bodies.

To wit, the Hamilton County Election Commission, like its Nashville parent body, comprised 3 Democrats and 2 Republicans for years, until the 2008 elections gave both houses of the General Assembly to the Republicans. Earlier this year, the members changed, and now there are 3 Republicans and 2 Democrats. Thanks to the Tennessean's Colby Sledge, I have learned that the state commission was more or less bound to be intact until 2011--that is, if no one pulled the plug on it altogether.

Here's a question: Why are election commissions defined in partisan terms anyway? I get that it matters when one or the other party controls the actual legislative bodies, and, to a slightly lesser degree, the administration; and I understand that there's a good chance that anyone interested in being a commissioner would likely have a personal party preference; but to spell out "there shall be one more of these than of those if these are in power in the House" and so forth seems wholly unnecessary in terms of selecting good, honest men and women to fill the role.

The Republicans, for their part, are seeming just a little too eager to grab the electoral reins. Maybe they are hedging their bets against a possible loss in the 2010 elections. In that case, waiting until 2011 would do them no good. Maybe they're just tired of waiting.

It's all a little disturbing, though. Do them no good? What "good"? Why should either (no, make that any) political party expect an advantage to come out of the election commission?

And what if Democrats regain the lead, if not in 2010, then a few years later? Will two more members have to be added so that the spoils of war don't, well, spoil? This tug-of-war could go on for a long time, and get ever more ridiculous along the way.

As stated earlier, there are good (or at least arguable) reasons for certain elected positions to carry with them the backing of a political party that in turn represents a certain set of ideals. But remember: the goal of a political party is to win elections (even more so, as we are constantly reminded, than to forward said ideals). Is that who we want wrestling over the controls of democracy?

Perhaps it is time to revisit the basic function of the election commission, and to restore its austere task to a place far above partisan gamesmanship.

We are proud of our brave men and women who have sacrificed life and limb to keep us free; and we are, surely, glad to live in a nation founded on such principles as liberty and justice. And, heck, it's nice to have a Monday off. But is today really a "happy" day?

If you've never been to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, the day Rolling Thunder puts thousands of rumbling motorcycles in a continuous stream around the National Mall, you should make a point of doing so. The other war memorials, and the Arlington National Cemetery, and your local national cemetery, are all worthy subjects of a visit as well. But for me, there's something especially poignant about the Vietnam Memorial's wall.

My father served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war, although he did not see combat. A conscientious objector, he nevertheless responded to the call of duty, and volunteered for "Operation Whitecoat," wherein GI's were subjected to medical experiments. (Whether the biological-weapons research was purely defensive, or at least partly offensive, is an interesting discussion, but of no consequence concerning the bravery of the program's members.)

The very fact that it has taken killing, maiming, bombing, "collateral damage," atomic weapons, covert coups d'etat, flag-covered coffins shipping into Dover, legless vets wheeling through the mire at Walter Reed, and all the rest, to preserve these United States, should bring a jolt of sobriety to even the most carefree among us. Death of human beings at the hands of other human beings is never glorious, even if the courage of those who faced similarly grim circumstances while carrying out their duties is eminently laudable. Shift the context the slightest bit, and "bravery and honor" become "murder and genocide."

So, yeah, I'm making potato salad to go with the cookout feast. We might even go buy something that's on sale. But if you think it's all frisbee and barbecue, sunblock and beer, think again. Remember why we as a nation set aside this day for commemoration. And by no means wish me a "happy" Memorial Day, unless you're four.

See also:
Chattarati
The Public Interest
Blue Collar Muse
Newscoma
Glen Dean and Serr8d
David Oatney

Full story at Chattarati.

See also: Abena Williams' report for WDEF.

If the GOP can hold on to its lead in the state Senate, and pick up "just a couple seats" in the House, the party will control the redrawing of district lines for all 132 General Assembly and nine U.S. Congressional districts following the 2010 census. This is a huge goal.

Obviously, the Democrats are going to do everything possible to prevent the above from happening. The margins in both houses of the Legislature are slim, and the right gubernatorial candidate on either side could, one would think, help a few down-ticket races in his or her party's favor.

I asked a couple of Democratic Party members for a reaction to the weekend's news, including how the change in GOP leadership could affect state elections in 2010.

Sean Braisted, a Young Democrats activist and blogger in Nashville, writes that it is "hard to gauge the level of impact the state party has on local elections. I think the respective caucuses have more impact on the state legislative elections. What will be interesting to see is whether [Robin Smith] takes Bill Hobbs with her. If so, that could have an impact on their web presence." (Hobbs, meanwhile, tells Post Politics that he plans to stay with the state party organization.)

Jeff Brown, who was recently elected Chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, says that he doesn't "think that Ms. Smith's stepping down will have much of an impact on the 2010 elections. From recent statements I've read by the potential candidates, it sounds like more of the same." Brown elaborated, "I only hope that the next chairman will seek a more congenial and civil level of debate than what we have seen in the past, rather than the petty rhetoric that all too often drives people away from politics, regardless of party."

In terms of the gubernatorial contest, Brown says that "[t]here is no doubt that the race for Governor will increase interest and turnout in general for the elections. While that may well influence House and Senate elections, it is really too early to tell whether that would favor one party or another."

Oscar Brock's letter to his fellow Republicans goes on to state that "[t]he destiny of the Tennessee Republican Party and the future for the people of Tennessee are in our hands. We cannot afford to let this opportunity slip through our fingers.... Together we must talk about personal values and job growth and health care and education. Together we can talk about fiscal responsibility, low taxes, and smaller government."

Back to Jeff Brown: "I believe that most Tenneseans are interested in hearing about detailed solutions to complex issues such as fixing the economy, overhauling healthcare, becoming energy independent, and having an honest day's work for an honest day's pay really mean something....We plan on taking our ideas to the people in all 95 counties in an unprecedented scale of grassroots organization, and let them tell us what's most important to them, what issues they want to see addressed."

Whatever your party, whichever your cause, 2010 will indeed be a landmark election year in Tennessee. We might as well start paying attention now.

From the Chattanoogan:

Professionally, for almost 20 years, I have had the privilege of supporting Republican values by supporting strong Republican leaders here in Tennessee and in Washington. I have worked to ensure that our values are carried to victory at the ballot box and implemented as policy after the election is over. From my time with the Tennessee Republican Party and three members of United States Senate, including Senator Bob Corker, to my work in the national media and running a business - my experience is broad and varied.

When I worked for Senator Fred Thompson, I learned a great deal about leadership and what it meant to stand on principle and never waiver from your core convictions. Fred taught me that our Republican ideals are not a random set of good ideas, but a closely knit set of principles that weave the fabric of our nation.

I'll have more information about the three candidates (and any others) over the next couple of weeks.

Oscar H. Brock, Treasurer of the Tennessee Republican Party, today announced his intention to seek the chairmanship of the Party following the resignation of current Chairman Robin Smith.

Pledging to the members of the State Executive Committee a determination to carry forward and expand the winning policies of 2008, Brock begins his bid with commitments from more than 25 of the 34 votes required to win election as chairman. "Over the past two years, our party has defied the national trend by staying true to our conservative principles," Brock said. "I intend to carry our party's winning message to every corner of Tennessee with a pledge to build on the victories of 2008."

Brock was elected Treasurer of the Tennessee Republican Party in December of 2008. He has served as the State Executive Committeeman for the 10th State Senatorial District since 2002. In announcing his candidacy, Brock noted, "As an elected member and officer of the Committee, I am best suited to direct the resources of the Tennessee Republican Party to achieve our goals: growing our legislative majorities and returning the office of the Governor to Republican control."

The son of former United States Senator Bill Brock, Oscar Brock has served at all levels of the Republican Party, helping turn the Hamilton County GOP into one of the premier county party organizations in the state. Brock graduated from Stanford University in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1986 and earned his masters in business administration at Vanderbilt University 1996. He has built a successful commercial real estate business in the Chattanooga area. Brock and his wife Meg have been married eighteen years and have two children.

According to Post Politics, Brock will face Rep. Eric Swafford in the contest.