Democratic candidates face off

Candidates for the Democrat nominations squared off Friday night at the Warren County Democratic Party rally with themes of quality education, industry and affordable health care at the forefront. ‘We need to start listening to the difference makers,’ said State Senate candidate Eric Stewart, talking about how to improve the educational standards in Tennessee. ‘The difference makers are our teachers and it is an educated workforce which will keep Tennessee attractive to business.’ As an insurance agent, Stewart says he sees the dilemma faced by elderly citizens of the state. ‘Everyday we have seniors choosing between medicine and food,’ Stewart said. ‘The Greatest Generation as we call them has earned the right for affordable health care.’ Incumbent State Senator Steve Roller, appointed to complete the term upon the retirement of long-time 14th District Senator Jerry Cooper last year, said times have been tough this year during his freshman term in the legislature. ‘I walked in on a tough year,’ Roller said, noting the state has been burning the midnight oil trying to balance the budget given income shortfalls. ‘But, I will never be for a tax increase until we plug the loopholes.’ Roller pointed to Wal-Mart and Toys R Us as at least two companies who he believes wrongfully enjoy certain tax breaks which should be closed. Roller noted he would like to see more progress in the educational system. ‘We need to work with our Pre-K program because it levels the playing field for our children,’ Roller said, noting he will also work hard to help secure funding to complete the $120 million completion of Woodbury Highway. Senatorial candidate Jim Woodard of Tullahoma, who formerly lived in Warren County before moving away in 1984, said as a small business owner he understands the challenges faced by businesses and knows that the state must work together to achieve its goals. ‘I am a consensus builder,’ Woodard said, noting the entire district has the same problems as well as opportunities. Candidates for U.S. Senate took on the national issues. ‘I will bring our troops back home and use the money we’re spending in Iraq for our infrastructure,’ said Mike Padgett of Knox County who has been to 78 counties so far. Kenneth Eaton said he will bring business sense to the office currently held by Lamar Alexander. ‘Politicians have screwed up enough, so we need to put someone in there with some business sense,’ Eaton said, saying he can defeat Alexander in November. John Greeter, who will take on incumbent Judd Matheny for the 47th District Representative seat, said this is finally his time. ‘I’ve always been interested in politics,’ Greeter said, noting he still believes that prayer works. State Representative Charles Curtiss of the 43rd District, who faces no opposition again, said he first won office in 1994 after losing an election just four years before, showing that in politics it pays to keep trying. ‘I was out laying brick for your new high school at Hickory Creek when I.V. Hillis told me he wasn’t running again,’ Curtiss said, noting he told Hillis he would pray about it before running. ‘That year I got 76 percent of the vote in White County where I’m from and this will be the fifth time I’ve run unopposed. The thing is, I still just get 76 percent of the vote unopposed so I think that means there’s 24 percent of the people out there that don’t like me.’