This evening the Knox County Democrat Unity Dinner was held at Ramseys Restaurant it was actually a spaghetti supper.
A couple of sources have contacted me this evening immediately following the dinner to inform me that the Master of Ceremonies was none other than Hubert Smith. You remember Hubert Smith the former 3rd Vice Chairman of the Knox County Democrat Party that resigned because the Chairman Jim Gray had nixed the plans for a 2005 Truman Day Dinner, because he couldn’t secure a top notch speaker like former President Bill Clinton or “the screamer” Howard Dean. Gray is hoping to secure a similar speaker for the 2006 Truman Day Dinner.
According to my sources that were present at tonights “Unity Dinner” they stated that this dinner was planned in spite of Chairman Gray, they also indicate that Smith was very professional in leading tonights event.
The attendance at this evenings dinner apppeared to be in the neighborhood of 200 people. Representatives from Blount County, Anderson County, Grainger County, Union County, State Federation Womens Club and a representative of Congressman Lincoln Davis were in attendance.
Other notables present were Ellen Hamilton of the DNC, Kim Sasser Haynes representing Governor Bredesen, Mark Padgett, son of County Clerk Mike Padgett representing the nephew of indicted under house arrest former State Senator John Ford. Julia Tucker write-in candidate for City Council, County Clerk Mike Padgett, County Commissioner Tank Strickland, County Commissioner Billy Tindell, State Representative Harry Tindell, Former Sheriff Joe Fowler, Former Mayor Randy Tyree, Chancellor Darryl Fansler,State Representative candidate Schree Pettigrew,School Board Member Diane Dozier, Seventh District School Board Candidate Rex Stooksbury who is a longtime community activist in the Powell and Halls community.
Notables that were not in attendance Attorney General Randy Nichols, he had a previously scheduled DA conference, County Commissioner Diane Jordan, School Board Members Sam Anderson, Indya Kincannon, Robert Bratton, Karen Carson and Delainia Davis 1st Vice Chair of the Knox County Democrat Party. The incumbents and city council candidates were participating in a city council forum this evening.
Members of the media present were Retired Associate Editor of the Knoxville News-Sentinel Georgiana Vines that writes a column in the Saturday edition of the Knoxville News-Sentinel and Powell community print reporter Betty Bean.