Maryville Daily Times

The 8th District State Senate race pits incumbent Sen. Raymond Finney against 20th District state Rep. Doug Overbey in the state Republican Primary. Since there is no Democrat running, the winner of the primary will win the seat in the November general election, barring a major write-in vote. The seat represents both Blount and Sevier counties. Jim Bishop of Sevier County is also on the ballot.

This is certainly big news to Ira (Doc) Lapides, who has qualified and been certified by the Tennessee Division of Elections to be on the November ballot as an Independent.

Texi has been missing since 7-6-08 from around the Boys & Girls Club. She is very slender and multi-colored. She is friendly but may be scared of people or other animals. She is an inside/outside cat. I have had her for 6 years and really miss her

Zoe is a black and white female (fixed) pit bull. She disappeared on 7-12-08 around the Boys & Girls Club. Zoe is extremely friendly but may be scared. She has scars on her ear and stomach from recent surgeries and she desperately needs her medications!!! Also, she is an inside dog so she will probably not be doing very well outside. $500 reward

So glad that so many showed up with thier big chested and big blog mouthes, all we heard for the last couple of years, they did not show up for this big ooooooooo ahhhhhhhhh no they can't do that they are all developers they are getting paid they are this they are that. well you had your chance to speak about the county plan by the planning commission to go by. and even mr neal wasn't there. Linda King had her meeting and even the nerve to comment on "truth" radio that it was a very important meeting and she wished that she could go but she had her meeting at the library and that it is funny how the planning commission knew that she had her meeting the same day and time as her's is planned a year ago. well Blount County does not revolve around Linda King, maybe the planning commission can make a call to Ms king to see if her calender is free for the next meeting???? Sad sad sad. "what you say" mr neal?

There are two races of interest in Blount County next month. The Meares-Duggan race is a no-brainer for progressives. But what about the Republican primary?

I plan to vote in it because, well, the Senator will not be a Democrat. So who is the best of this awful bunch? Who is the least worst Republican jerk?

Arguments I've heard for Finney: He's more transparent than most politicians and his support for the mountain-top removal ban shows him willing to spurn the wishes of local big developers and apply his religious beliefs to the environment.

For Overbey: He isn't a Christofascist extremist and is willing to work with Democrats in the Senate to pursue a more sane agenda - even if too conservative.

Negatives for Finney: He's an arch-right wing Christian fundamantalist extremist who wants to revive the Scopes law and institute the David Horowitz law at Maryville College. He's just a generally creepy religious nutcase.

Negatives for Overbey: He's a total opportunist doing the bidding of the Lamberts. He would never spurn his party on anything the way Finney did.

So who should a progressive support on August 7?

I lean toward Overbey. Finney and his ilk make non-Christians like me feel like second class citizens. That tends to override anything else he's done. But I don't say that as a compliment to Overbey. His "effective conservative leadership" slogans make me vomit. But at least I won't be embarrassed to have my home town associated with my Senator.

What do you think?

MDT Poll for 07/16/08: Who will you vote for in the Circuit Court judge race?

Meares: 57.1%
Duggan: 42.9%

Number of votes cast: 3135

Conclusion: interest in this race is high, and informed voters prefer Meares.

Meares supporters shouldn't let up, though. If fair-minded Democrats and independents get out to the polls and vote, Meares wins. The key is getting them to the polls.

P.S. Expect heavy turnout among Republican insiders and faithful because of the Finney v. Overbey primary...

(Click image to enlarge...)

Early voting for the August 7th state primary and county general elections starts tomorrow, July 18th and continues through August 2nd. There are three early voting locations. Any registered voter can vote at any location. First time voters who registered by mail should bring your voter registration card or photo ID. The locations and hours are:

Election Commission Office
383 Court Street
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Everett Gym
3185 Everett High Road
Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
No Saturday voting

Pellissippi State Technical Community College
1010 Middlesettlements Road
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
No Saturday voting

Sample ballots:

County local and Democratic state primary

County local and Republican state primary