Mark Harmon for County Commissioner

We Won

2006-08-04T17:48:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to the voters for their trust, the volunteers for their help, the donors for their support. We won. The final numbers were:

Mark Harmon: 1,882 (54.24%)
David Collins: 1,588 (45.76%)

Paul Witt, campaign manager, and I celebrated with other candidates at Shonos in Market Square. Friday, September 1st, I'll be sworn in as County Commissioner, District 2, Seat A.

Despite rumors to the contrary, the job does not include access to the bat signal.

The Silly Season

2006-07-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

You can tell we are getting close to the election. One false local ad claims the term-limited really aren't, and some court somewhere has ruled them eligible to serve. None has. My opponent even has taken to quoting, out of context, an item praising him (that he quotes) and lambasting him for being part of the lawsuit to toss term limits (that he ignores).

Busy Times, Indeed

2006-07-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

The campaign is going incredibly well. We've had multiple block-walking days with many helpers. Campaign advertising is reaching voters, and early voters enthusiastically are welcoming our message.

Good Events, Busy Days

2006-07-01T04:14:00.000-07:00

The past few days have been quite busy. I took time out from block walking for a meeting regarding a North Hills Neighborhood Watch, a Democracy for Knoxville Film Screening and Candidate Night, and a Meet the Candidates Democratic Picnic in Tyson Park. The momentum and good will that has been building since Truman Day (that's Becky and me at Truman Day) really was noticeable and quite strong.

An Endorsement, actually two

2006-06-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

Mark Harmon, Amy Broyles endorsed in Knox County Commission
race by group supporting grassroots candidates and
progressive policies

Two Knox County Commission candidates have been
endorsed by a statewide group promoting progressive
candidates, and those two candidates are running in
the same North Knox district but for separate seats.

Democracy for Tennessee is a group promoting
grassroots candidates who are frugal with tax money
and who stand up to the powerful on behalf of
working-class families.

DFT this week endorsed Amy Broyles in her
independent write-in challenge to 36-year incumbent
Billy Tindell in Seat 2B. A few days earlier DFT
endorsed Democratic challenger Mark Harmon in his
campaign to unseat incumbent Republican David Collins
in Seat 2A.

Both Collins and Tindell faced term limits until
they successfully sued to toss out both the county
charter and the term limits in it.

Broyles and Harmon both were pleased with the DFT
endorsement. They have been advocating area voters
use a paper ballot in the upcoming election so those
voters can "Check Mark [Harmon] and Write In Amy
[Broyles] to enforce term limits."

DFT is being very selective in its endorsements,
offering only a dozen that the group calls its
"Tennessee Twelve." Eight of the twelve have been
announced. So far the only endorsed Knox County
candidates have been Harmon and Broyles.

The county general election is Thursday, August
3rd. Early voting will be from July 14 though the
29th at the usual locations.

www.democracyfortennessee.com

Write In Amy

2006-06-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

I was pleased to be on hand at Edgewood Park as Amy Broyles announced her write-in challenge to Billy Tindell. As you may know, both commissioners from this district sued to wipe out the county charter so both could avoid term limits. Now Amy and I are the team to "Wipe the Slate Clean." Pictured are the announcement, me with Jim Andrews and Emily Singer, a sleeping Avery (Amy's youngest), and me giving a ride to Amy's daughter Aidyn.

The public anger about term limits (and how David Collins, Billy Tindell, and others avoided them) is the lead story in today's Knoxville News-Sentinel. To quote from the article by Scott Barker:

"They have called. They have written. And, boy, are they mad. 'They' are the residents of Knox County, and they haven't been shy about registering their complaints about the charter fiasco that threatens to scuttle ordinances and torpedo term limits."

A Future So Bright You Have to Wear Shades

2006-06-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

Knox County incumbents are stumbling all over each other to re-install an incumbent protection racket. The lastest ploy is the ruling that tosses out the County Charter as a way to eliminate the term limits that voters put in the charter. The public is becoming aware of this ploy, and doesn't like how casually the incumbents (including my opponent) are tossing aside the public desire for term limits. I hear the discontent as I walk up to voters' homes. In short, for challengers who can state a clear message the future is indeed quite bright.

Walking the Walk

2006-06-06T20:40:00.000-07:00

I have been walking many streets, and also encountering voters at community and campaign events. There is genuine anger that so many of our current commissioners do not respect the will of the voters on term limits--and even are willing to try to toss out the county charter just to allow themselves more than two terms.

Truman Day Photo Gallery

2006-05-23T07:56:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

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.

A Busy Two Weeks

2006-04-24T13:03:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy two weeks of listening to members of our community. I dropped in on the Knoxville Youth Summit, then attended neighborhood meetings in Alice Bell / Spring Hill and North Hills. Both dealt with traffic issues. I also attended a candidate forum hosted by the Oakwood Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association. It was held in their clubhouse next to Christenberry School.

I also dropped in on an event promoting the "swap" of lower food taxes in exchange for raising our cigarette tax closer to the national average. Then I sat in on a session of the Election Commission, hosted DTV, and spent much of Saturday helping all those good folks who set up and worked the Plant Sale for the North Hills Garden Club. Becky and I also went to Earthfest, and the following day were proud to be part of a Celebration of World Children's Day in Edgewood Park. Photos from the Plant Sale and Children's Day are attached.

Spring

2006-04-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

Becky's garden is in bloom. The campaign also is growing well. I also dropped in on a neighborhood Easter Egg Roll, took Levi to an Ice Bear win in the SPHL Championship.

What a Week

2006-04-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

This past week I attended two pot lucks--this time in Historic Old North and Fairmont/Emoriland. This time the cookies were cranberry oatmeal. Again, the cookies and the Three-S message were popular. Of course, you probably heard about the Tennessee Supreme Court ruling upholding term limits. The dust has yet to settle on this one, but in the long run the important things remain the same. I will be on the ballot in May and August-- and I still seek the opportunity to do public service, and fight for our schools and against sprawl.

Knox County Commission meeting

2006-03-28T05:56:00.000-08:00

Once again Knox County Commission delayed a vote on the parking garage situation, this time by at least another 60 days. Separate letters and reports have come in from various sources, but the committee has yet to get its act together (appears to be another sheriff-not-cooperating problem). I criticized this pattern earlier at the Alice Bell Spring Hill neighborhood association meeting in front of my opponent. Apparently he took the clue yesterday, and questioned the sheriff's representative and was one of five voting against delay. A step forward, but now if we only had a commissioner who led rather than followed on this issue...

Knoxville Marathon

2006-03-26T13:16:00.000-08:00

It was a cold and clear Sunday morning, perfect for a run. I joined the folks in Fourth & Gill. Applause, cowbells, tambourines and folks in funny hats greeted the Knoxville Marathon runners as they passed. I walked part of the route and once again got a nice welcome from all the event viewers on their porches and on the sidewalk (Photos courtesy Carla).

Two Neighborhood Gatherings

2006-03-22T10:44:00.000-08:00

Monday night, March 20th, Mark dropped in on the Alice Bell / Spring Hill Neighborhood Association. Crime and traffic were the major concerns. Mark joined the conversation on traffic calming and what is happening in other neighborhoods. Mark's 3 "s" issues--Schools (better support), Sprawl (work against it), and Sheriff (hold accountable) were very popular.

Tuesday night, March 21st, Mark visited the Fourth & Gill neighborhood potluck. The "Three S" message once again was popular, but the real hit items were Becky's oatmeal raisin cookies [still warm out of the oven].

Ice Bears Hockey

2006-03-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

A break from campaigning, March 17th. Congratulations to the Knoxville Ice Bears, Southern Professional Hockey League regular season champs for the second straight year.

Fountain City Town Hall

2006-03-18T07:21:00.000-08:00

Fountain City Town Hall had a very good gathering on Monday, March 13, 2006, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 5337 Jacksboro Pike (just up the street from Central High). Town Hall member Mark Campen (who is also with the Isaak Walton League) addressed First Creek pollution. The pollutants include sediments, oil, and litter. I asked about how curbside recycling might help. Campen said that's possible, but better recycling is a good thing on its own merits. There will be a volunteer clean-up along First Creek on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, meeting at 10 am at the Broadway Shopping Center.

Web Site, News Sentinel misses the story

2006-03-09T19:36:00.000-08:00

As of Thursday, March 9th, this was the entire web site of my opponent. Yet, somehow this merited attention in the News Sentinel of March 8th, and www.electmarkharmon.com did not. The author of the article is Michael Silence, silence@knews.com. You may want to let him know that his failure to call the challenger or find his site was poor journalism.

Forum on Disability Issues

2006-03-08T17:26:00.000-08:00

Mark Harmon spoke out on several issues at the Town Hall Forum: “Your Voice, Your Vote!” on Wednesday, March 8th from 5 to 6:30 pm at the City County Building's Large Assembly Room. (Look for the replay on Comcast cable access). The forum was presented by the Knox County Vote! Campaign in collaboration with the City of Knoxville's Mayor’s Council on Disability Issues and Sponsored by the Tennessee Disability Coalition http://www.tndisability.org. Mark encouraged the County to do better in listing county jobs with UT's offices handling disability services. He also spoke out for free public transit rides to early voting sites for persons with disabilities.

Remember, as the conference organizers have said, your voice is important; your vote is crucial. As Justin Dart, well-known advocate for the disability rights movement said, “Vote as if your life depends on it; because it DOES!”

For information, and reasonable accommodations Including requests for ASL Interpreters, Contact Cynthia Andresen (865) 539-7249 Or Pat Carson (865) 215-2952.

Mike Padgett's Chili Supper

2006-02-24T15:02:00.000-08:00

Knox County Democrats could be found in high spirits and good numbers Thursday, Feb. 23rd at Central High School, 5321 Jacksboro Pike. It was the 17th annual chili supper for Knox County Clerk Mike Padgett. Governor Bredesen was there, and so was future U. S. Senator Harold Ford. Mark is seen with Commissioner Diane Jordan, labor leader Harold Woods, Knox County Democratic Party Chair Jim Gray, and School Board member Indya Kincannon. Becky took the photos.

Introduction

2006-02-22T19:11:00.000-08:00

Every campaign answers two questions: who are you, and why are you running? So let me first introduce myself. I was raised in a working-class family that my mother once described as “not poor, just broke.” It was a good home where we learned the values of education, persistence, and a good sense of humor.

As best anyone can tell, I was only the second person in three family generations to attend college. I fell even further in love with learning. So it’s no surprise my career eventually led me to UT where I am an associate professor and teach courses in journalism and broadcasting.

It was here in Knoxville that I met my wife Becky. We literally bumped into each other at church. We now have a home in North Hills. Both of us divide our time between jobs and community projects, and we’re both active in our church.
I have become a Big Brother to a great kid. I’m also a research mentor in the McNair Scholars Program; it matches talented young people with professors to lead the students through a research project. For four years I volunteered time at Knoxville College to coach a speech and debate team, often paying some travel expenses out of my own pocket.
I am motivated strongly by the value of opening doors for the next generation, creating an educational environment where children can grow into innovative and optimistic young adults.

You Found It!

2006-02-02T17:04:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the web log for the campaign of Mark Harmon for County Commissioner (Knoxville, Knox County, District 2a).