There’s some chatter in the Knox County Commission Fourth District race about who is or who is not bonafide. If a candidate is on the ballot who is NOT bonafide, I know it. Because as Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committeeman District 6, i have all voting records. However, in Knox County only one challenge was filed.
Interesting that when Richard Jacobs was not a bonafide candidate for Trustee in 2022, Gary Loe did not challenge Jacobs. Watch it here.
One of the charges against Garrett Holt was his attendance at a campaign kickoff for Seema Singh in replacing State Rep. Gloria Johnson. Singh is in fact a bonafide Republican. She has voted in 4 of the last 4 state federal Republican primaries.
NOW, the Tennessee Republican Party bylaws were followed. I am the Second Congressional District SEC member on the State Executive Committee bylaws subcommittee.
A removal from the ballot or a waiver can be granted with a majority of (in this case) the 4 SEC members (District 6 & 7), the State Chairman and if necessary the SEC Political Committee.
In this case there was one vote for removal and 4 votes against removal from the ballot.
The reason for my vote not to remove Garrett Holt (I do not speak for anyone BUT myself) from the ballot is the Knox County Republican Party’s (including the West Knox Republican Club and others) past support of Garrett Holt as detailed below.
On March 6, 2021 at the Knox County Republican Party Reorganization Convention, Party Chairman Randy Pace introduced 2021 City Council candidate Garrett Holt and others as Republican candidates here.
Following the March 6, 2021 Knox County Republican Party Reorganization Convention and through the November 2021 City of Knoxville General Election, Chairman Daniel Herrera and the County Executive Committee supported Holt, Jim Klonaris, Nick Ciparro, Kim Smith and Elizabeth Murphy as the Republican slate of candidates for Knoxville City Council.
On October 11, 2021 the Knox County Republican Party held a Rally where chief bonafide complainer Gary Loe introduced Garrett Holt and the others under the Knox County Republican Party banner, here.
Gary Loe (the chief bonafide challenger) as President of West Knox Republican Club gave a significant monetary contribution to Holt in his 2021 campaign on behalf of the Club.
David Williams (bonafide challenger) gave a monetary contribution to Holt in his previous campaign.
In Holt’s 2021 City Council campaign used WIND Consulting’s Erik Wiater (consultant) and Chrissy Stephens as Treasurer….. the same Treasurer as SEC Member Kent Morrell.
In the 2021 campaign Holt received donations of $7,200 from GOP’ers Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond, former County Commissioner Scott Davis, State Rep. Justin Lafferty, former SEC Member Kirk Huddleston, former GOP Chairman Lynn Tarpy, State Senator Becky Duncan Massey, Lt. Governor Randy McNally, State Senator Dr. Richard Briggs, County Commissioner Larsen Jay, former SEC Member James Corcoran, former State Rep. Martin Daniel, the Volunteer Republican Women Club, County Commissioner Kyle Ward, former State Rep. candidate Jesse Nelson, the West Knox Republican Club (whose President was at the time of the contribution and is at the time of the RESOLUTION Gary Loe (the bonafide challenger), the Halls Republican Club, State Rep. Elaine Davis, former County Commission candidate Devin Driscoll, former Republican City Council candidate Jim Klonaris and County Commission Vice Chair Gina Oster.
In his 2021 campaign Holt received $8,739.34 of in-kind donations from Scruffy Little City PAC which many Knox County GOP backers helped fund.
Knox County Republican Party paid for mailer(s) in the General Election supporting Holt as a Republican Candidate.
To close out his 2021 Knoxville City Council race, Holt gave his remaining $206.46 to Republican County Commissioner Gina Oster on 1/14/2022.
On March 9, 2023 County Commission candidate Garrett Holt appointed a campaign Treasurer. From March 9 until June 30, 2023 Holt raised $50,305 of which $5,525 were from GOPers.
This Knox County 4th district in 2022 lost a close School Board election to a Democrat. The Democrats have one candidate for Commission in 2024.
The Republicans have two candidates in Garrett Holt and Liz Tombras for the March 5, 2024 Republican Primary.
A competitive primary between Holt and Tombras will have the STRONGEST Republican on the August 1, 2024 ballot to take on the Democrat.
Holt has been knocking on doors since October 2023. Holt had a successful kickoff at Scrambled Jakes in the district in the fall of 2023.
Hope these FACTS help you understand my vote.
