Truman Day Photo Gallery

A great event. Shots include: Mark with Ken Irvine and Sharon Cawood. Campaign Treasurer Bill Snyder with Norn Featherstone. Becky at the campaign table. I gave the biography of Harry Truman to the assembled audience of 860 East Tennesse Democrats.

Lonsdale Community and Environment

The evening of May 11th I attended an important community meeting in Lonsdale. It concerned Gerdau Ameristeel's plan to expand production significantly, but with claims it could stay under pollution control limits. Several community residents spoke of their concerns about asthma, manganese exposure, soot on homes and vegetation, and lead in both the air and soil. I mentioned that existing lead exposure limits consistently have been lowered as new scientific research finds problems with exposure, especially in children. I noted the caps recently would have been lowered even futher had not the Bush Administration ignored its own advisory panel, and then stacked the board with (according to the Union of Concerned Scientists) a couple of members with ties to the lead industry.

Pre and Post Primary

Thursday, April 27th, I attended an important presentation to the Fountain City Town Hall. We had a good workshop on how to make our neighborhoods more pedestrian and bicycle friendly, not to mention more attractive as well.

I also had a chance to drop in on Fairmont-Emoriland for the Open Gardens, see the entries in UT's Free Range Video Contest, visit with representatives of Knox County Education Association, and take Becky and Levi to the Fulton High School production of Once Upon a Mattress.

The primary on May 2nd had a little bit of everything--rain, wind, sun. Through it all I spent the day outside Inskip Elementary. Becky was at Belle Morris. Though turnout was low, it still was a good day. The Democratic write-in candidates needing 5% or more to get on the ballot did so--often with much room to spare. I was pleased to receive the party's nomination for District 2, Seat A. The race for seat 2B featured two great candidates, Jonathan Wimmer and Amy Broyles. Amy received the most write-in votes to replace the term-limited Billy Tindell and she likely will be chosen the nominee. Jonathan has a bright future, perhaps as a city council candidate in the near future.

Saturday, May 6th, I joined with supporters of the Lisa Ross Center in a one-mile March for Healthy Babies.