VOLuntarilyConservative

Since I have taken a beating for primary endorsements, I will repeat the following reasoning for doing so:

Many pundits on the Republican side are lax to make endorsements in primaries because it makes good political sense to stay neutral until the general election. That being said and admitting that to be true, it will be the policy of this site to endorse candidates at all stages of the election process because it is as important that we choose the right candidate in the primary as in the general election.

Below is a list of candidates that are officially being endorsed by VOLuntarilyConservative. Some of the races are not included because there is simply no preference at this time or because there is no anticipated opposition. That does not mean that an endorsement will not be made in the future after more information is gathered. In fact, if you are a candidate for office and would like to be endorsed for office, I certainly encourage you to contact this site and plead your case. (As a federal judge once told me, lawyers often don't get what they want because they fail to ask for it. That is also the case here.)

These endorsements are directly related to the May elections, for which early voting ended on Thursday, April 27th. Term-limited candidates have not been endorsed, as it is the belief that they could not serve even if they receive the greatest number of votes. The decisions as to which candidate to endorse were made based on personal knowledge, website content (blog, campaign sites, and otherwise), and responses to questionnaires, including the Knoxville News-Sentinel's Voter Guide.

So, without further adieu, VOLuntarilyConservative endorses the following candidates for office:


Knox County Commissioner, 9th District, Seat B - David Kiger
District Attorney General, 4th Judicial District - Joe Baker
Knox County Clerk - Kelvin Moxley

A few words about these candidates, if you will indulge me. I really had a hard time with the 9th District endorsement after incumbent Paul Pinkston dropped the dime on Kiger's financial woes. However, it was Kiger's honesty, acceptance of responsibility, and loyalty to his employees that erased any questions about him. Yesterday evening, the VOLConWife and I went to vote at our South Knoxville polling place and were pleased to find Mr. Kiger campaigning there (100 feet from the door, of course). I was able to talk to him at length about the elections, and I have no problem in endorsing him after doing so.

In addition, the DA's race in Sevier, Cocke, Grainger, and Jefferson Counties between Joe Baker and Jim Dunn has been hard fought, as well. I met both men at the Grainger County Lincoln Day Dinner, and I was amazed at the contrasts between them. One is younger, one older. One went to Georgetown University, the other to Nashville Law School. One was a Air Force JAG officer, the other a police officer. Both men have really strong qualities, for sure. It just depends on what you are looking for in a candidate, though. In Joe Baker's composition, I see a great deal of Rob Huddleston's composition - not too old (yet), several fascinating career stops, a fantastic education. Not endorsing Joe Baker would be a great deal like not endorsing myself.

Candidates who have previously picked up endorsements from VOLuntarilyConservative include the following:

Knox County Mayor - Steve Hall
Circuit Court Judge - Judge Bill Swann
Chancellor, Division Three - Mike Moyers
Criminal Court Judge, Division Two - Judge Ray L. Jenkins
General Sessions Court Judge, Division Four - Andrew Jackson, IV
Circuit Court Clerk - Cathy Quist
Criminal & Fourth Circuit Court Clerk - Martha Philips
Register of Deeds - Steve Hall
Knox County Commissioner, 3rd District, Seat A - Tony Norman
Knox County Commissioner, 4th District, Seat A - Mike Alford
Knox County Commissioner, 5th District, Seat B - Kyle Phillips
Knox County Commissioner, 6th District, Seat B - Greg "Lumpy" Lambert
Knox County Commissioner, 7th District, Seat A - R. Larry Smith
Knox County Commissioner, 8th District, Seat A - Phil Ballard
Knox County Commissioner, 8th District, Seat B - Gary Sellers