Christmas Party!

The Chairman was notified today that the Hawkins County Gas Company will no longer allow their facility to be used for political gatherings. This information came after we had announced it in the paper and had made many phone calls. We have decided to have the party at the Peking Chinese Restaurant at 6:00 p.m. December 4, 2006. Please bring an unwrapped gift for a child. Also I, along with other members of the executive committee, have agreed to replace Mike's position with Chuck Holt for the remainder of the term. This will be announced at the Christmas party. I apologize for any inconvenience.

Mike Faulk Resigns as First Vice-Chairman

I received this letter from Mike Faulk:




November 20, 2006




Dear Cecile:

With mixed emotions I tender my resignation as First Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party in Hawkins County, Tennessee.

I am grateful to the members of the party who saw fit during the last four years to allow me to serve them as a party officer. To have served with you and the other officers has been my honor.

In spite of a rough year for Republicans across the country, local results have been pretty darn good. The GOP held the same number of courthouse offices, state offices, and federal offices. I'm happy to have assisted you in achieving those results.

Republican candidates in Hawkins County benefited from more meetings and forums than ever before held. The 2006 Lincoln Day Dinner had a record crowd. The headquarters was open and staffed more months than any previous election. And we moved the local party into the 21st century with the new party website which has been visited hundreds and hundreds of times by interested citizens, voters and candidates. Thank you and members of the party for letting me be a part of it all.

My whole adult life I've tried with varying degrees of success to follow principles taught by mom and dad. One such principle was: "finish what you start". This resignation violates that principle. But there is a second principle that causes me to violate the first. I took an oath to follow the Constitution and By-laws of the Local Republican Party. So long as I am an officer of the party, under those rules I'm duty bound to remain neutral in Republican primary races - no matter what a candidate does or says.

In the most recent U. S. Senate race, at one time or another, the supporters of each of the three candidates thought I was promoting one of the other candidates. The fact of the matter is I attended each candidates events, I gave each a little money, and I did what I could to provide the assistance each asked; but, none of the three will find a single solitary soul who'll say I tried to persuade them to vote for anyone of the three. And, I told each one I'd go to bat for the winner. That's just exactly what I did.


It was 36 years ago that our friend, Bill Jenkins, as the only Republican since Reconstruction, served as Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Literally hundreds and thousands of hours and dollars have been spent by Republicans volunteers all across our state to regain control over one or both of the houses of the Tennessee General Assembly. We regained control of the Senate chamber two years ago and held that majority this election.

Regretfully, selfishly, and disrespectfully, one of our own forgot his roots, forgot who sent him to Nashville, and gave the Lt. Governorship to our competitors. While there's too much partisanship at all levels of government, the one time and place for partisanship is in the selection of the leader of the Senate - the Lt. Governor -the person first in line should something happen to the Governor.

Given these events within our own party in the State Senate since this most recent election day, I can no longer maintain neutrality in a race to come.


The time is here, unfortunately this soon after the 2006 election, to begin the planning for 2008 elections. Therefore, I resign my post as First Vice-Chairman effective upon the selection of my successor.

Your friend,



Mike Faulk

Let Sen. Williams Know What You Think!

From today's Knoxville News Sentinel:

State Senate may split evenly
Shift in power could result if speaker pro tempore leaves Republican fold_BY TOM HUMPHREY

By tomhumphrey3@aol.com
November 10, 2006


NASHVILLE - Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Williams said Thursday that he is considering a change in political affiliation from Republican to Independent, a move that would split the state Senate evenly between Republicans and Democrats.
"If I have to be Independent to do what's best for this state and my constituents, I'll do it," Williams said.

The comments come with Senate Majority Leader Ron Ramsey hoping to become the first Republican lieutenant governor and Senate speaker since the Reconstruction era.

Williams was one of two Republican senators who sided with Democrats after the 2004 elections to re-elect Democratic Lt. Gov. John Wilder to his 18th two-year term in the office.

He said he has not yet decided whether to support Wilder or Ramsey when senators fill the office with an election after the Legislature convenes in January, though he has talked with both men and has been "under a lot of pressure" from others.

"I'm just trying to evaluate who would be best for the state," Williams said. "It's not a personal thing and I'm not trying to cut a deal with anybody. I'm just trying to step back and get a breath of fresh air."

Sen. Tim Burchett, R-Knoxville, who joined Williams in voting for Wilder previously, said Wednesday that "I gave my word" to support Wilder on the earlier occasion. Burchett said he has not made such a promise for the next speaker's election.

"I'm generally independent, but I think my allegiance is to the Republican Party," said Burchett. "I haven't publicly, or any other way, made any commitments. I'm not going to be threatened or pressured. I'll just vote my conscience when the time comes."

Burchett said he had talked with Williams on Wednesday and "he knows the pitfalls."

Sen. Don McLeary of Jackson switched parties earlier this year from Democrat to Republican, giving the GOP 18 seats for much of the 2006 legislative session. But McLeary lost his bid for re-election Tuesday to Democrat Lowe Finney, leaving Republicans with a 17-16 majority - the same they held after the 2004 elections.

Should Williams, of Maynardville, become independent, the Senate would have 16 Republicans, 16 Democrats and one independent.

"I really think our government works best when we don't have one party in total control," Williams said.

Williams said he "heard that (the Republican) party is thinking of taking action against me if I do not vote the way they want me to vote."

A change in bylaws adopted by the state Republican Executive Committee in 2005 authorizes party officials to work against Republican candidates in primary elections if the candidate in question has voted for a Democrat in a legislative election. Another rule authorizes the party to forbid anyone running in a primary election if the individual is deemed not a "bona fide Republican."

"I think that would be precedent-setting: To say, 'If you don't vote the way we want, we throw you out,' " Williams said. "That's not a democracy."

He also said state Republican Chairman Bob Davis had been quoted as saying Williams "needed to do some soul-searching."

"That really bothered me," Williams said. "I think I've always been independent-thinking and search my soul rather than awaiting a directive from the chairman of the party."

Williams will be up for re-election in 2008. His district covers Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson and Union counties.

Davis said he has "not said anything publicly or privately to Mike Williams of any kind of threatening nature" and "no one in this party has said that any action will be taken against Mike Williams if he doesn't vote a particular way."

"I believe Mike will do the right thing."

Ramsey said that voting to support one's own party members for leadership positions "is the one vote where allegiance is expected. After that, you can go your own way in voting (on issues)."

"I think Mike knows in his heart that voting for me would be the right thing to do," he said, adding that a Republican vote for Wilder would be comparable to U.S. Sen.-elect Bob Corker "going up to Washington and voting for Harry Reid."

Ramsey said he told Williams during "a very cordial and open discussion" that "he would come out being a hero" by supporting the Republican candidate. The earlier vote for Wilder, he said, could be understood given Wilder's past alliance with Republicans.

"Last time and this time are two different worlds," Ramsey said. "If he does not vote for me this time, there will be a lot of Republicans across the state who will be very upset. I think that's understandable. It's just common sense."

Ramsey said Williams did not mention the possibility of becoming an independent during their discussion.

State Democratic Chairman Bob Tuke said a day earlier that Democrats have "effective control of the Senate" despite the official 17-16 GOP majority.

"Mike (Williams) and others will often vote with the Democrats because they look past partisanship," said Tuke.

Please call, write, e-mail, or fax Sen. Williams and suggest to him that voting for Ron Ramsey is both "best for Tennessee" and the "loyal" thing for a Republican to do. Here is his contact information:

District Address

P.O. Box 176
5224 Maynardville Highway
Maynardville, TN 37807
Phone (865) 992-6254

Nashville Address

4 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243-0204
Phone (615) 741-2061
Fax (615) 253-0286

Staff Contact: Dorris Barnes and Skip Cauthorn, Executive Asst. for Policy and Research

Internet E-Mail Address
Sen. Mike Williams
"sen.micheal.williams@legislature.state.tn.us"

Unofficial Hawkins County Elections Results

UNOFFICIAL HAWKINS COUNTY, TENNESSEE Erly, Abs, & ElecDay iVo
RUN DATE:11/08/06 GENERAL ELECTION
RUN TIME:12:07 AM NOVEMBER 7, 2006

VOTES PERCENT

PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 26) . . . . . 26 100.00
REGISTERED VOTERS - TOTAL . . . . . 34,475
BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL. . . . . . . 13,296
VOTER TURNOUT - TOTAL . . . . . . 38.57

GOVERNOR
VOTE FOR 1
PHIL BREDESEN (DEM) . . . . . . . 7,910 60.88
JIM BRYSON (REP) . . . . . . . . 4,815 37.06
GEORGE BANKS (IND) . . . . . . . 58 .45
DAVID GATCHELL (IND). . . . . . . 16 .12
MARIVUANA STOUT LEINOFF (IND). . . . 13 .10
CHARLES E. SMITH (IND) . . . . . . 23 .18
HOWARD M. SWITZER (IND). . . . . . 12 .09
CARL "Twofeathers" WHITAKER (IND) . . 141 1.09
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .03
Total . . . . . . . . . 12,992
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 304

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT #1
VOTE FOR 1
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,827 88.69
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,381 11.31
Total . . . . . . . . . 12,208
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 1
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,087

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT #2
VOTE FOR 1
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,711 84.19
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,823 15.81
Total . . . . . . . . . 11,534
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,762

US SENATE
VOTE FOR 1
HAROLD FORD, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 5,286 40.45
BOB CORKER (REP) . . . . . . . . 7,571 57.94
ED CHOATE (IND) . . . . . . . . 84 .64
DAVID GATCHELL (IND). . . . . . . 42 .32
EMORY "Bo" HEYWARD (IND) . . . . . 30 .23
GARY KEPLINGER (IND). . . . . . . 30 .23
CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH LUGO (IND). . . . 21 .16
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .03
Total . . . . . . . . . 13,068
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 228

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
VOTE FOR 1
RICK TRENT (DEM) . . . . . . . . 5,280 41.51
DAVID DAVIS (REP). . . . . . . . 7,258 57.06
MICHAEL PEAVLER (IND) . . . . . . 49 .39
JAMES W. REEVES (IND) . . . . . . 58 .46
MAHMOOD (MICHAEL) SABRI (IND). . . . 21 .17
ROBERT N. SMITH (IND) . . . . . . 48 .38
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 6 .05
Total . . . . . . . . . 12,720
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 576

TN HOUSE OF REP 6TH REP DIST
VOTE FOR 1
DALE FORD (REP) . . . . . . . . 540 97.47
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 14 2.53
Total . . . . . . . . . 554
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 413

TN HOUSE OF REP 9TH REP DIST
VOTE FOR 1
LEWIS HOPKINS, JR. (DEM) . . . . . 3,713 34.20
MIKE HARRISON (REP) . . . . . . . 7,134 65.70
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 11 .10
Total . . . . . . . . . 10,858
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 1
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,470

ROGERSVILLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
VOTE FOR 1
JOYCE A. SIMON. . . . . . . . . 802 99.63
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 3 .37
Total . . . . . . . . . 805
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 477

MAYOR BULLS GAP INSIDE
VOTE FOR 1
ROBIN HORNER . . . . . . . . . 75 49.34
IMA JUSTIS . . . . . . . . . . 45 29.61
WILLIAM A. (BILL) MARSHALL. . . . . 32 21.05
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0
Total . . . . . . . . . 152
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 6

MAYOR SURGOINSVILLE INSIDE
VOTE FOR 1
HANES COOPER . . . . . . . . . 200 29.20
LARRY L. DYKES. . . . . . . . . 57 8.32
JOHNNY GREER . . . . . . . . . 428 62.48
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0
Total . . . . . . . . . 685
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 15

ALDERMAN MT. CARMEL
VOTE FOR 3
RICHARD GABRIEL . . . . . . . . 1,078 31.81
TRESA MAWK . . . . . . . . . . 1,200 35.41
THOMAS WHEELER. . . . . . . . . 1,092 32.22
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 19 .56
Total . . . . . . . . . 3,389
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,534

ALDERMAN SURGOINSVILLE
VOTE FOR 3
MERRELL GRAHAM. . . . . . . . . 540 29.22
ROBIN HOFFMAN . . . . . . . . . 226 12.23
TIM HOSS. . . . . . . . . . . 487 26.35
BOBBY L. JARNAGIN. . . . . . . . 356 19.26
CHARLES OTIS LAWSON . . . . . . . 239 12.93
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0
Total . . . . . . . . . 1,848
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 252

ALDERMAN BULLS GAP INSIDE
VOTE FOR 4
CHARLES (CHUCK) JOHNSON. . . . . . 114 21.31
CHARLES H. ROARK . . . . . . . . 89 16.64
JIMMY SEXTON . . . . . . . . . 108 20.19
RICKEY "Pete" SHIPLEY . . . . . . 121 22.62
SUSAN WILLIAMS. . . . . . . . . 97 18.13
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 6 1.12
Total . . . . . . . . . 535
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 97

"Please Stay In Line": Corker Political Director Emily Booker

This e-mail just in from Bob Corker for U. S. Senate Campaign Political Director Emily Booker:

Voting is heavy across the state, which we think bodes well for Bob Corker.


We’re hearing reports from various parts of the state of long lines at several polling places. If you encounter a line (and please tell your friends the same), please stay in line to vote no matter how long it takes. Every vote today matters, and every vote for Bob Corker is a very, very important vote.


Thanks for all your help and support. We’ll continue to keep you posted.





Emily Booker
Political Director
Bob Corker for Senate
(615) 250-8169
www.bobcorkerforsenate.com

Hawkins County GOP: Early Morning Problems in Hawkins County Now Under Control and Corrected: Go Vote!

Hawkins County GOP: Early Morning Problems in Hawkins County Now Under Control and Corrected: Go Vote!

Early Morning Problems in Hawkins County Now Under Control and Corrected: Go Vote!

The Kingsport Times News is reporting voting machine problems in some Hawkins County precincts.

At noon Mt. Carmel precinct had 4 of 5 machines operating and reported a technician was in route.

Carters Valley had machine malfunctions early and voted about 30 paper ballots until coming fully on line at about 9:00 a.m.

Turnout is reported steady even in light of early morning rain. Broken clouds and some sun appeared about 10:00 a.m. Weather Channel doppler radar shows east-bound showers between Crossville and Knoxville.

Election Commission staff members report the machine problems have been or are being corrected and should others arise, short, simple paper ballots are available. This should not effect lines or voting times. It may slow the reporting of results once the polls close after 8:00 p.m. this evening.

The early morning issues do not appear to have disenfranchised any prospective voter.

Fair Weather Republicans?

It's supposed to rain tomorrow - Election Day. Bob Corker is ahead in nearly all credible polls; but, the only poll that counts is the one taken after the voting closes tomorrow night. His success depends on whether you are a fair weather Republican.

Vote in the rain - Corker wins and the GOP holds the U. S. Senate; stay home in the dry and it will rain Republican tears on Wednesday. Are you a fair weather Republican?

Please brave the rain tomorrow and vote!

E-mail from Corker Political Director Emily Booker

---- Emily Booker writes:

Thanks to your efforts, we have momentum with Election Day around the corner. A fourth independent poll released this week shows Bob Corker leading with 50% or more of the vote. The new Mason-Dixon Poll, commissioned by the Chattanooga Times Free Press and the Memphis Commercial Appeal, shows Corker leading with 50% of the vote and Ford sinking to 38%.



The poll was taken November 1-3 and has a 4 point margin of error. In early October, the same poll showed that the race was a dead heat with Corker leading 45 to Ford's 43.



While we are extremely pleased with this momentum, we must not rest or take anything for granted. Please continue your efforts to turn out every single vote you can for Bob Corker so that on Wednesday morning we will wake knowing we have elected a Senator who will make Tennesseans proud!

Local Politicos Attend Laura Bush Event

Hawkins County Middle School student Roxanna Burton attended the Bob Corker function at Meadowview October 31st. She was presented with pictures of the "First Family Pets" by First Lady Laura Bush. She also secured the First Lady's autograph. TRW employee, Lora Mease (pictured with First Lady), also attended with Cecile Testerman who is Bob Corker's Hawkins County Campaign Coordinator, Faye Holbert of Sevierville, Mollie Pope, Lois Mayes, Betty Sandidge and Linda Kimbro. There was also many other Hawkins County Republicans in attendance.