TN House District 18, the Media, the Money – Know the Facts, NOT What the Shopper Prints

Ole Betty Bean has a story in the Shopper News about State Rep candidate Steve Hall having campaign contributions from Governor Bill Haslam‘s family, the tenor of her story is that it is a negative thing. The District is West Knoxville and includes Sequoyah, Dean Hill, West Hills unlike the liberal Old North Knoxville area, Haslam is not a bad thing. In addition, to Hall Candidates James Corcoran and Bryan Dodson are in the August 4 Republican Primary, Early Voting continues through July 30.

Let’s examine all the facts, in studying all the campaign financial disclosures of Steve Hall’s opponent, Martin Daniel, let us not forget this story here, where Bean’s colleague Victor Ashe on May 9, 2016 gave Daniel $500.

Ashe’s wife Joan Ashe gave Daniel $500 on June 16, 2014 (2nd Quarter 2014 report, 10-9-2014)

Ashe gave $300 on October 8, 2014, $500 on June 30, 2015, $250 on October 5, 2015, $500 on May 9, 2016 (Pre General Financial 10-28-2014, 2016 Early Mid Year Supplemental 7-15-2015, Early Year End Supplemental 2-1-2016, Second Quarter 2016 7-11-2016) Total contributions are $1,500, Ashe has maxed out to Daniel.

Sharon Pryse (who ole Bean says follows the Haslam trail) gave Daniel $500 on June 16, 2014 (2nd Quarter 2014 10-9-2014)

Steve Bailey (son in law to Mr. Haslam) gave Daniel $400 on October 16, 2014 and $1,000 on September 21, 2015 (Pre General 10-28-2014, Early Year End Supplemental 2015 2-1-2016)

Mr. James Haslam (Father of Governor Bill and Chairman Jimmy Haslam) gave $1,500 on September 11, 2014 and $1,000 on October 13, 2015 (3rd quarter 2014 11-3-2014, Early Year End Supplemental 2015 2-1-2016)

Mrs. Natalie Haslam (Wife of Mr. James Haslam) gave $1,000 on September 11, 2014 (3rd quarter 2014 11-3-2014)

Randall Boyd (TN Economic Community Development Commissioner and one that normally contributes with similar candidates as the Haslam’s) gave $1,500  for the Primary and $1,500 for the General on May 25, 2016. (2nd quarter 2016 7-11-2016) 

Now, let’s look at a few of Daniel’s legislative “friends”

State Senator Richard Briggs (Cheerleader of Insure TN gave $250 on October 8, 2014 (Pre General 10-28-2016)

Rep. Mary Littleton gave $250 on January 12, 2015 (4th quarter 2014)

Rep. Tilman Goins gave $250 on September 19, 2014 and $250 on June 26, 2016 (3rd quarter 2014 11-3-2014, 2nd quarter 2016 7-11-2016)

Rep. Jeremy Durham gave $1,000 on December 2, 2014 (4th quarter 2014)

Durham PAC (Political Action Committee of Rep. Jeremy Durham) gave $500 on September 19, 2014 (3rd quarter 2014 11-3-2014)

Here is the website where you can search and locate all campaign finance disclosures for any state and judicial candidates. Every contributor listed in my story, I footnoted the disclosure(s) the contribution appears on. Bean, Sandra Clark, The Shopper and the parent company which also own the Knoxville News Sentinel has not disclosed that Former Mayor Victor Ashe who is a columnist and has written extensively about Daniel is a MAJOR contributor to Daniel.

Another Oddity

How ironic that Ashe and Citizens for Home Rule PAC are on the same side in supporting Daniel. Ashe as Mayor was the agressor on predatory annexations. Citizens for Home Rule was his opponent beating Ashe and the City of Knoxville in court EVERY TIME. Steve Hall as City Councilman voted against annexations when citizens opposed them, however, CHR-PAC appears to have exposed a chink in their Armour, joining with Ashe.