David Davis Tailgates With Volunteer Falcon Fans

David Davis, Republican Nominee for the United States Congress from the 1st District of Tennessee helped Volunteer Falcon fans get ready for their 22-12 victory over Daniel Boone High School.

Hawkins County Republican Women's Club Treasurer, Rachael Felgemacher and husband, Michael hosted the event at their home across the street from Falcon Field.

County Commissioner and Surgoinsville Mayor Haynes Cooper and Hawkins County Commissioner Danny Alvis helped the Congressman-to-be down a few pre-game hot dogs before watching the game.

Bob Corker Meets with Hawkins County Republicans

WARNING: If One of Every Twenty Who Reads This Fails to Vote, We Could Lose

That's right! Do the math. Politics is about numbers. What percentage of 20 votes is just one vote? FIVE PERCENT! So, please, please, as we near this November election, use your e-mail list, use you phone, mention it whenever you can. If only one of twenty of your Republican friends fails to vote, Bob Corker will be in trouble.

NEW WALL STREET JOURNAL POLL SHOWS CORKER BEATING FORD BY 5%

Tennesseans Rejecting Ford’s Liberal Washington Talker Record As Corker Increases Lead

Chattanooga, TN – A new poll released today by the Wall Street Journal, and conducted by the respected polling firm Zogby International, shows that Republican U.S. Senate nominee Bob Corker is in great position to win the seat of retiring Sen. Bill Frist. The Wall Street Journal poll shows Corker beating Memphis Congressman Harold Ford Jr. by 5%, 47.6% to 42.4%, an increase from a survey earlier this month.

“This poll just confirms what our internal polling has shown – that once Tennesseans learn about Congressman Ford’s record, the more they agree that he does not share our Tennessee values,” stated Corker Campaign Manager Ben Mitchell. “Tennesseans want their next Senator to be in the mold of Sens. Alexander, Thompson and Baker, and not in the mold of Sens. Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, and John Kerry.”

The Wall Street Journal poll was conducted September 19-25. A poll released by the Wall Street Journal earlier this month also showed Corker beating Ford.

Bob Corker, Republican Candidate for the United States Senate in Tennessee, is the former Mayor of Chattanooga. After a successful career as a businessman, he entered public service to offer conservative solutions and a businessman's focus on results. His achievements as Mayor, as a civic leader, and as former Commissioner of Finance and Administration make him uniquely qualified to chart a constructive course and represent Tennessee values in Washington.

The Bryson Bulletin

Bryson Unveils "Graduate Tennessee" Education Plan

Tennessee's graduation rankings have plummeted under the leadership of Gov. Bredesen. Jim Bryson has stated that it's his goal to graduate every Tennessee student from high school. This week Bryson unveiled his "Graduate Tennessee" education plan. The Commercial Appeal reported that Bryson's "Graduate Tennessee" plan would:

Create a community grants program totaling $100 million over four years for grants to local schools for their own programs to improve graduation rates. In return for flexibility in designing their own programs, the schools would be held accountable for improving graduation rates.

Create a teacher-retention pay program that would make bonus pay available to all school staff in high-performing schools.

Provide matching grants to school districts, funded from excess Tennessee Lottery proceeds, to pay for school renovations in districts that cannot afford them.

Expand charter school options. Currently, state law limits the type and number of charter schools -- public schools that receive state and local funding but that are exempt from many state education regulations.

Allow teachers to use payroll deduction to join the union of their choice.

Restructure the state Department of Education to serve more as a "resource for local school systems."

Create partnerships with business and community leaders to improve local schools, and create an advisory council of volunteer education leaders that would evaluate problems with graduation rates and recommend ways to improve.



Bryson Promotes Charter Schools

The Nashville City Paper covered Jim Bryson's recent visit to the Smithson Craighead Academy, a successful Nashville charter school. Expanding charter schools is part of Bryson's "Graduate Tennessee" education plan.



Commercial Appeal Calls on Bredesen to "Open His Books"

In an editorial, the Commercial Appeal called on Governor Bredesen to join Jim Bryson in releasing his full tax returns to the public:

Gov. Phil Bredesen has been around politics long enough to understand the importance of public perceptions.

When he decides to withhold information about his tax returns, it could create a perception that he's got something to hide.

Jim Bryson, Bredesen's opponent in the Nov. 7 election, has released all forms, schedules and worksheets related to his federal income taxes for the last four years.

Bredesen hasn't been willing to go that far, though. Bredesen released his 1040 forms for the 2002, 2003 and 2004 tax years and provided some basic information about his as yet un-filed 2005 tax return. But he refused to make available tax schedules that have details about his investments, business holdings and charitable giving.



More Bredesen Scandals....

Bryson Calls on Bredesen to Investigate Questionable Loan

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported on Tuesday that Jim Bryson called on Governor Bredesen to immediately begin a full and independent investigation of Economic and Community Development head Matt Kisber for questionable loans from a lobbyist to a company on whose board Kisber sat. WKRN News 2 investigative reporter Trent Siebert broke the story:

Commissioner Matthew Kisber, when he was chairman of the powerful state House Ways and Means Committee, accepted more than $1 million in loans for a company on which he sat on the board of directors. The loan money came from a lobbyist doing business in front of Kisber's committee.

Bredesen spokesman Will Pinkston told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that Governor Bredesen "has every confidence" in Commissioner Kisber.

Harrison/Ford Meet & Greet

Representative Mike Harrison, a candidate for re-election to Tennessee's 9th House District including Hancock and most of Hawkins County, spoke to party faithful at a Meet & Greet session at GOP Headquarters.


Dale Ford, GOP Nominee for Tennessee's 6th State House District, including a portion of Hawkins County, is unopposed in the November General Election.

Both Harrison and Ford admonished the crowd at Hawkins GOP Headquarters to "leave no stone unturned" in getting out Republican voters for Bob Corker, Jim Bryson, and David Davis.

Attendees were also encouraged to vote "Yes" on the Tennessee Constitutional Amendment to define "marriage" in Tennessee as a union between one man and one woman. Failure to vote in this referendum is the same as a "No" vote since the amendment must past by a majority of those voting in the Gubernatorial election.

John Eidson Begins 3rd Term as 4th District County Commissioner

[Photograph to be supplied later]

Claude Parrott Continues Decades of Service as 6th District County Commissioner

7th District Commissioner Bob Palmer Begins Second Term

Charlie Thacker Returns to Service as 3rd District County Commissionier

5th District County Commissioner Gorman Lipe Begins Second Tern

Gary W. Hicks, Jr. Begins Service as 6th District County Commissioner

Ford Takes the Low Road: Chattanooga Times Free Press

Free Press Editorial
September 23, 2006

Rep. Ford takes the low road



With Tennessee and the United States very much needing to elect conservative Bob Corker to the United States Senate, his obviously frantic liberal opponent, Rep. Harold Ford Jr., regrettably has taken the low road in an attempt to damage Mr. Corker in what unfortunately seems to have become a very close race.



With Mr. Corker taking a strong position against the massive invasion of our country by illegals, Rep. Ford has tried to represent Mr. Corker as having hired illegal immigrants on a Memphis construction job. The truth, however, is that Mr. Corker’s company hired no illegals. But federal agents found four illegal immigrants working for a subcontractor on a Corker job. Federal agents said Mr. Corker’s company bent over backward to avoid hiring illegals. His firm was not charged with any wrongdoing. But Rep. Ford, in a TV ad, has tried to smear Mr. Corker.



Rep. Ford knows Mr. Corker opposes illegals. Rep. Ford’s voting record on the illegal invasion has not measured up to Mr. Corker’s tough stand.

But worse than that is the fact that Rep. Ford has stooped to a misleading smear attempt to advance his ambition. That’s not the only reason he should be rejected and Mr. Corker should be elected to the United States Senate.

Hawkins County Republican Women

The Hawkins County Republican Women hosted a veery successful reception to "meet and greet" candidates running for State Representative, Congress, U.S. Senate and local government. It was attended by around 200 visitors and politicians. The event was catered by the Republican women and dinner music was provided by Glenn Rasmussen at the home of Connie Reinman on Main Street.

At the September meeting Buck Barrett from the local American Legion spoke at the club meeting regarding sponsoring a student to attend the American Legion and Auxillary Girls and Boys State held each year at Middle Tennessee State University and Tennessee Tech. The club voted to sponsor a student to attend the event for one week of activities that will impress upon them the responsibilities of citizenship and to develop leadership and to bring to these young men and women a realization of the duties of the American citizen.

Nancy Heck is the president of the Hawkins County Republican Women. The club meets every second Thursday in the month at Charlie's Restaurant at noon. Any Republican woman is encouraged to attend and join the club.

Corker & Chattanooga's 911: the Facts!

Over the past few days, you may have been asked about a misleading advertisement that Congressman Ford’s friends have put on television attacking Bob Corker’s record as Mayor. The advertisement talks about the number of abandoned 911 calls during 2005. As you are talking to people, these talking points should be helpful in setting the record straight:

Congressman Ford is attacking Bob Corker's record of success to hide his ineffective record in Washington over the past 10 years. The time period that the advertisement addresses is the full year of 2005. Bob only served as Mayor of Chattanooga until April 18, 2005. For the majority of the time the advertisement covers, Bob was not Mayor and not able to influence the city’s 911 operation.

The truth is that the public record clearly shows that during Mayor Bob Corker's administration new positions were added to staff the 911 call center.

During Bob Corker’s administration there were more police officers on the streets of Chattanooga than at any other time in the city's history.

As a result of his intense focus on crime reduction and the work of the men and women of the Chattanooga police department, violent crime was reduced by 51% when Bob was mayor.


And this from the Nashville City Paper…



Nashville City Paper
September 15, 2006

Attack ad about 911 calls is disingenuous

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The truth about the game of modern politics is on display for all to see in Tennessee right now. The state's U.S. Senate race once again has Tennessee at the epicenter of national politics.

Not since former Vice President Al Gore ran for the presidency in 2000 and Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. co-chaired the Kerry for President campaign in 2004 has Tennessee seen so much national attention.

Of course, for Democrats, Ford may be the key to winning back the U.S. Senate majority this year. And that is why television advertising here to aid his campaign by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is so disturbing.

National Democrats and Ford's campaign have accused his Republican opponent, former Chattanooga mayor Bob Corker, of running a city government inattentive to the emergency services needs of its residents.

Ford and national Democrats have attacked Corker for some 31,000 allegedly "unanswered" 911 calls in Chattanooga in 2005.

Our newspaper's reporting today shows the Metro Nashville had years where a comparable or greater number of calls here went unanswered during the period where Corker was in office, between 2001 and 2005. During that time frame, Democratic Mayor Bill Purcell was of course Nashville's mayor.

In addition, referring to the Chattanooga 911 calls as "unanswered" is not entirely accurate. Chattanooga Police and other emergency workers statewide actually term the calls "abandoned" 911 calls, meaning the caller could have also hung up prematurely.

In other words, the Democratic advertising campaign calling Corker out on the supposedly unanswered 911 calls in Chattanooga is not telling the entire story. Other cities in Tennessee have the same issue within the same statistical boundaries. Pinning the problem on Chattanooga and Corker alone is disingenuous.

It is quite clear that Ford - a good-looking, glib and well-polished politician - very badly wants to be Tennessee's next U.S. Senator. Tennessee voters should take a very long, hard look at his campaign and ask if attacks like these are really representative of Tennessee's values.

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Ferrell and Faulk Attend Alexander Picnic

Hawkins County's Ann Ferrell and Mike Faulk were in attendence at Sen. Lamar Alexander's Picnic held at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tennessee prior to the UT v. Florida football game on Saturday, September 16, 2006.

Bryson Bulletin

This email may also be viewed at: http://www.brysonforgovernor.com/emails/e090806.htm






Bredesen reverses rhetoric but takes no action on illegal immigrants who commit crime

Seventy days after declaring that state law enforcement should have no role in fighting problems caused by illegal immigration, Governor Phil Bredesen Tuesday applauded Davidson County officials who are addressing crimes committed by illegal immigrants.

However, Sen. Bryson and a majority of the State Senate passed legislation in April to require state law enforcement to turn over to federal authorities illegal immigrants who commit crime. Bredesen publicly attacked the bill and helped kill it in the House.

Sheriff Daron Hall is to be commended for stepping up to solve Davidson County’s serious public safety issues with violent crime committed by illegal immigrants. But the problem is statewide and Bredesen fought hard to stop Senate Bill 2426, which would have removed criminal illegal immigrants from Tennessee.

Just 10 days ago, Democrat Party Chairman Bob Tuke admitted publicly that he too worked with pro-illegal immigrant groups to kill the legislation.

Supporting documentation:

June 27, 2006
Bredesen was against the bill during the legislative session and remained opposed Monday, saying he doesn’t “think the THP ought to be doing the federal government’s work.”
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=50650

May 1, 2006
“The governor doesn’t think it makes sense to deputize the police force to deal with federal laws,” [Bredesen campaign spokesman Will] Pinkston said.
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section=9&screen=news&news_id=49511

April 4, 2006
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for the state or we ought to be spending a lot of our money having the Highway Patrol expanded to go out and look for illegal immigrants or something,” Bredesen said last week, adding that he thinks immigration is a national issue.
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section=9&screen=news&news_id=48916



Bredesen Refused to Sign Resolution Banning Gay Marriage....

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported on Gov. Phil Bredesen's refusal to sign a resolution authorizing a statewide ban on gay marriage. The resolution, supported by Jim Bryson in the State Senate, set up a statewide vote in the upcoming Nov. 7 general election on amending the state constitution to specifically declare that marriage is between one man and one woman. As reported in the News Sentinel, Jim has addressed the Governor's unwillingness to sign the resolution on the campaign trail:

"We need a governor who believes that marriage is between one man and one woman," Bryson told a crowd of about 70 people in a campaign speech during his 95-county bus tour of the state. "We have a governor who wouldn't sign a resolution letting people vote on the marriage amendment that establishes that principle."



Commercial Appeal Calls for Resignation of Indicted Democrat State Senator, Bredesen Remains Silent....

The Memphis Commercial Appeal called for the resignation of indicted State Sen. Jerry Cooper (D-Morrison) on Monday. Cooper has been charged with bank fraud, mail fraud and fraud conspiracy. From the Commercial Appeal:
Cooper resigned last week as chairman of the Senate's Commerce, Labor and Agriculture Committee, but he didn't go far enough. He should resign from the Senate, for his own sake and the sake of his constituents.

As he and his lawyers deal with his case, that would be a distraction from Cooper's duties as a senator. Also, because the charges involve an alleged abuse of power, his credibility and effectiveness as a legislator have been badly compromised.

As Governor, Jim Bryson will hold elected officials to a higher standard. A Bryson administration will not include commissioners and other high level appointees who have used public office for personal gain.



Bryson Finding Strong Support Among Minorities....

Jim Bryson BIG statewide bus tour of all 95 counties in Tennessee stopped in Shelby County over the weekend, where Jim picked up support from religious leaders within the African-American community. From the Knoxville News Sentinel:
Republican gubernatorial nominee Jim Bryson is looking for support in some unlikely quarters. At a campaign event in the parking lot of a Piggly Wiggly supermarket last week, Bryson appealed to Memphis' black voters, emphasizing his plans to reopen TennCare rolls for the chronically ill and to reduce the state's sales tax on food.

[***]

Bryson thanked the Rev. Dwight Montgomery, president of the Memphis chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, for "having the courage to step up" and support him. Montgomery, who said he is putting together a coalition of black religious leaders to support Bryson, said TennCare cuts are the main reason for his endorsement.

Incumbent Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, last year cut 170,000 people from TennCare and reduced benefits to thousands more to arrest spiraling costs.





New Video at the website:

See Jim on illegal immigrants and TennCare

__________

New Audio at the website:

Hear Jim on Bredesen’s opposition to using state law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants who commit crime






www.brysonforgovernor.com








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Hawkins County Republican Party Announces Officers

Chairman: Cecile Testerman (423) 921-8040
1st Vice: Mike Faulk
2nd Vice: Glenda Davis
Secretary: Carolyn Stewart
Treasurer: Lois Mayes
Chaplain: Boyd Goodson
Parliamentarian: Jim Larkins

TAAO Awards Dinner

Don Cinnamon was recently awarded Assessor of the Year at the TAAO Awards meeting.

Meet & Greet with Republican Nominee Governor Jim Bryson

A large crowd gathered at the Republican headquarters August 8th to greet Republican nominee for Governor Jim Bryson who came rolling into town on a statewide bus tour. Travelling with Jim was our newly elected Republican nominee for congress David Davis. Bryson and David both spoke to the crowd along with State Representative Mike Harrison and newly elected State Representative Dale Ford.

Jim Bryson GOP Nominee for Governor

Mike Harrison GOP Nominee for 3rd term as 9th District Representative Tennessee House

Dale Ford GOP Nominee for 6th Tennessee House District

Bob Corker is GOP Nominee for U. S. Senate

David Davis is GOP Nominee for U. S. Congress

Phil Barrett elected 3rd District Commissioner

Charlie Newton Re-elected 7th District Commissioner

J. Carmel Maddox Re-elected as 7th District Commissioner

Shane Bailey Elected 6th District Commissioner

Bill Henderson Re-elected Again as 5th District Commissioner

Boyd Goodson Re-elected Again as 5th District Commissioner

Hanes Cooper Re-elected 4th District Commissioner

Danny Alvis re-elected 3rd District Commissioner

Dwight Carter Re-elected First District Commissioner

Re-elected Defender of the Public is Greg Eichelman

Chancellor Frierson Re-elected

Tom Wright is new Circuit Court Judge

Virgil Mallett Re-elected Hawkins County Commissioner

John Wilson is Re-elected Again as Circuit Court Judge

John Dugger is New Judge of Criminal Court