In case it comes up

I am doing Hal Hill this morning at 8 on 98.7 FM WNOX Knoxville. Knowing the history of how this races interviews have gone, I am putting up a repost of some issues that have come up in past interviews so their is no confusion or misrepresentation of facts as there has been in the past.

UPDATE: Sure enough it all came up.

Just got off doing a pack of interviews for TV and Radio. While I like to talk issues, the shows have often devolved. The shows got to some big issues but a lot of them devolved into personal philosophy and history.

While I and my other competitors have always tried to be honest about ourselves and our goals, one candidate has not been honest about his history or philosophy.

Sorry Ron but here is where I set the record straight with actual proof.

Ron Leadbetter is saying now he has always opposes red light cameras. Here is his original statement on Red light cameras from the Farragut press.

"Leadbetter said...... .... “Where there’s a dangerous intersection where the figures show that the red-light cameras can solve the problem; if that’s what the people in that district want to do, I have no problem with it.”

On today's radio show Ron said he has always opposed toll roads but when pressed on past statements made during the League of Women voters debate in the last election he flip flopped on the issue saying he had no problem with them either.

Ron said he supports tort reform...... but later said he wanted absolutely no limits on punitive damages and said he thinks huge payouts (like the woman who burned herself with hot coffee) have no effect on doctor insurance or med mal insurance costs.

On my own record in the legislature, Ron has repeatedly stated that he would publicly apologize for misleading people if I had passed more then one bill. I have told him and shown him proof of the legislation I have passed. To date, he still has issued no apology.

Similar to Al Gore and the Internet, Ron has repeatedly claimed he came up with the idea of merchandise licensing for college universities while at working for UT.

I think we can look to the University of Tennessee and their own web page on the issue and their own links to the history of product licensing for University memorabilia.

"CLC is the nation's leading collegiate licensing and marketing representative. Formed in 1981, CLC assists collegiate licensors in protecting and controlling the use of their logos through trademark licensing"

In 1981, while working for Golden Eagle Enterprises in Selma, Alabama, CLC founder and chairman Bill Battle signed the legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant to a licensing agreement. In the process of developing a licensing program for Coach Bryant, Battle discovered that The University of Alabama did not have a licensing program. Alabama soon signed on as CLC’s first university client. Eight other schools quickly followed, and in 1983, Battle bought out the rights to the licensing business and moved the newly formed Collegiate Licensing Company to Atlanta.

Ron says he supports the second amendment completely but later on specific questioning went on to mention how he favors more and new restrictions on the second amendment and carry permit holders. I guess that is why the NRA gave him a bad score in the last election cycle and probably will again.

Ron said he knows nothing about about being tossed out of court for introducing perjured testimony during the Memphis case. He repeatedly claimed I was making it all up.

I guess Judge Mills was lying about him when he said......

Leadbetter held a lower position than Mizell at the General Counsel’s Office, and he had no experience as chief legal officer or first assistant to the chief. He had no experience working with the governing board of a multi-campus public university, and his academic credentials did not match Mizell’s academic achievements. Furthermore, he had been removed from responsibility for the Memphis litigation following a series of mishaps that included inadequate preparation and the presentation of perjured testimony.

Hat tip Terry Frank

I'm am not so presumptuous as to believe as I should run opposed. I like competition. I believe the process of elections often has been under-served by a lack of competition. Competition forces candidates to be more in tune, more responsive to the voters, not the special interests or lobbyists or insiders. Each of us running for the 7th district believes we are more qualified for the seat and our campaigns are about proving it. I don't like to single out or "go negative" on an opponent unless attacked first. It's not my style and never has been in the past. However, Mr. Leadbetter has been so negative and aggressive in his misrepresentation that I felt I must address his misstatements of truth. If they continue or if he chooses to own up to it is his choice. I will continue to work diligently to show voters of the 7th district why I am the best candidate to fight for their values and beliefs in Nashville.