Republicans try every which way but can't get rid of Gloria Johnson | Ashe

Democrats across Knox County are laughing and applauding over the failure of Republicans to field any candidate against Gloria Johnson for state representative this year.

Not only did GOP legislators fail this session to enact a law prohibiting anyone running for two offices at the same time, but the House GOP campaign committee – which recruits candidates – came up empty-handed in finding someone to oppose Johnson.

This may amount to political malpractice.

It was only a year ago that the House GOP failed by one vote to expel Johnson, and now they cannot even rustle up anyone to run against her.

Even if Johnson, 61, loses her U.S. Senate campaign to Republican incumbent Marsha Blackburn, 71, she will be back in Nashville in January fighting school vouchers and any significant initiatives favored by Gov. Bill Lee and the House GOP leadership.

Meanwhile, all Knox GOP House candidates face Democratic opposition in November, with some Democratic candidates more credible than others.

Johnson can now spend her full time challenging Blackburn. A recent Beacon poll for Tennessee showed Johnson 16 points behind Blackburn.

I don’t know of any serious observer of Tennessee politics who thinks Blackburn will lose, but Johnson will take the battle to her directly much more than former Gov. Phil Bredesen did in 2018.

Blackburn sends out regular emails calling her fundraising situation “dire,” when the truth is Blackburn has more than $7.5 million to Johnson’s $2 million. Blackburn isn’t credible in saying she is “losing sleep” over the money Johnson has raised.

Johnson needs enough to cover television, which she does not yet have.

U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, who like Blackburn seldom misses an opportunity to tell us how poorly President Joe Biden is performing, was at the recent White House state dinner for the Prime Minister of Japan. Hagerty, who was ambassador to Japan under former president Donald Trump, attended along with Nashville Democratic donor Bill Freeman.

It is certainly appropriate for Hagerty to be included in such a dinner. What is interesting is that Hagerty’s office did not say a word about his attendance, which would be of interest to Tennesseans. If it had been at Trump’s invitation, Hagerty would have highlighted it across Tennessee.

The ribbon-cutting at the Baker School of Public Policy on April 12 was a grand event that drew many well-known people and longtime supporters.

The late Sen. Howard Baker’s children, Cissy and Darek, were present along with many Baker relatives. Baker’s widow, former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas, 91, now lives back in Kansas and was unable to attend.

Attending either the ribbon cutting or later the gala dinner, or both, at the Press Room were former governors Bill Haslam and Lamar Alexander, University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd, UT-Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman, former ambassador A B Culvahouse, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon, state Sen. Richard Briggs, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters, Municipal Judge Tyler Caviness, Democratic legislative candidate Bryan Goldberg, former state Rep. Jim Hudson, former Congressman Jimmy Duncan, writer Keel Hunt, and Tom Ingram.

Baker School Dean Marianne Wanamaker was host at both occasions. The Baker School has a bright future with her leadership.

This very bipartisan group heard Baker’s famous quotation of “the other guy might be right.” That sentiment certainly is needed in today’s political environment.

Justice Knox had an overflow crowd of more than 1,100 on April 9 at the Civic Coliseum with Mayors Glenn Jacobs and Kincannon in attendance. The emphasis was on homelessness and housing.

They plan to meet again May 20 in the evening, according to material distributed. The interfaith advocacy group has raised more than $93,000 from 250 individuals in 2023.

The city’s housing stability office is creating a five-year plan to address homelessness. One of the goals is “functional zero homelessness,” which means that the number of people experiencing homelessness is fewer than the number of people using the community’s resources.

It will be interesting to see how local state lawmakers respond to these goals when asked. To the degree state legislation may be needed, that may be a high hill to climb given the current legislature, unless voters make changes.

Birthdays

May 2: Christopher Battle is 63. Sam Burchett is 34. Randy Burleson is 58. UT professor and former county commissioner Mark Harmon is 67.

May 3: Ilse Anderson is 65. Orlando G. Diaz is 65. Dr. Walter Fain is 78. Catherine Gettys is 76. Attorney David Lewen is 48. Arthur Long is 72. Attorney Steve Sharp is 67. Contractor Fred Trainer Jr. is 54. Attorney Mark Williams is 65.

May 4: Al Harb is 72. Anabel Lino is 39. Jared Smith is 42.

May 5: County Commissioner Charles Busler is 75. Justin Davis is 42. Ron Dearolf is 93. KUB’s Susan Edwards is 57. Hakeem Hensley is 32. Samuel L. Stapleton is 73.

May 6: Attorney David Noel is 79.

May 7: Steven Larimer is 66. Blanche Nicoll is 36. Frank Rothermel is 72. Kelley L. Tafazzoli is 42.

May 8: Caroline Cooley is 73. Former state Rep. Ryan Haynes is 39. David Keith is 70. Bob McClellan is 58. Former deputy to the mayor Gene Patterson is 70. Grant E. Rosenberg, who works for Mayor Kincannon, is 44. Javiette V. Samuel is 51. David Williamson is 82.

Victor Ashe is a former Knoxville mayor and former ambassador to Poland. He is a columnist for Shopper News. 

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Republicans try every which way but can't get rid of Gloria Johnson