I wasvwithin in a few feet, watched the entire scene unfold. Ms Kirkham was simply walking up and down the sidewalk with her sign and Mr Morgan acted very unprofessional. I saw the entire thing, could see both faces of the candidates. Mr Cantrell is spot on in his comment that there was no incident as described by Mr. Morgan.

I think what Rick was saying is that there was no incident as described by Mr. Morgan nor was there one started by Ms Kirkham. I was there right near Rick have replayed the event over in my mind numerous times and the picture painted in the WATE transcript is vastly different than what occurred. CRAZY stuff...simply nuts.

I have heard more than one report of her threatening someone. I guess the most memorable is her "You want to go outside? Come on big boy," to McFarland.

Link...

I believe David Morgan when he states that Kirkham said she would attack him if he mentioned her name. I believe the eye witness account that he heard it and that it was low and under her breath and would not have been head by anyone who was not right in the area. I also believe that Morgan over reacted. He should have known Teresa would deny everything and play the victim just as she has in every other incident she has been involved in. Morgan is an engineer and a manager and not the down in the trenches dirty politician Teresa is and should never have reacted to her attempted intimidation.

Morgan has asked that the security camera video be reviewed and that it will back him up.

Teresa Kirkham is stunningly incompetent and has placed a $15 million unfair tax burden on the people who have been hurt the most by the TVA ash disaster and she must be replaced. Regardless of David Morgan's naivete in Roane County politics, he can run the Assessor's office in a fair and competent manner. The bottom line for me is that we deserve someone who can manage that office rather than the top girl in the good old boy club. I see David Morgan as the only viable candidate in this race.

I have talked with one of the folks who posted here and they said that on further reflection the incident did occur but not in quite the way either Rick or Morgan portrayed it. That makes sense. She said that Teresa could well have said something that no one else was close enough to hear. With that in mind I think Morgan lost his cool and over reacted. He should never have let her get to him.

My perfect candidate is not in this race, but the decision to support Morgan is an easy one. If he hasn't done a good job in four years I'll support someone else. It's time to end the incompetency of that office.

At the highest level of politics, again not the most perfect level, candidates can be dropped by public opinion (voters) in a heartbeat. For instance, we all remember what happened when Palin was selected.

Candidates must stay on track. Clearly, Morgan had momentum going into this race and many were saying it is not the State Rep race to watch but rather the local race of Assessor to watch.

Most people do not read everything on this site, topix, or fb. In fact, it is word of mouth which delivers a story and we all recall the game of gossip whereby the story ends up totally inflated or off track by the time it reaches the last person.

My recommendation to both candidates is to hold true to your cause, your message, and drop the drama between the two. Regardless of who is elected, it is clear the other will fade into the sunset as it relates to the Assessor's office.

By the way, in the New York Times today, there is an article about the selection process for Romney's running mate. It is the 'process' and the holding true to the practice which I find interesting.

Link...

Nearly everyday, on my Nook, I read the NY Times, USA Today, and the Washington Post. I find the most interesting information is gained by the review of all three papers then a decision of my own v. a decision portrayed by a single media source. I believe all Candidates must consider their delivery, their message, and their drive to implement the 'plan' must be upheld in order to gain the confidence of the voters.

Go to the Wikipedia definition of Borderline Personality Disorder, scroll down to "Signs and symptoms."

There is simply too much drama surrounding the incumbent. Time for a change.

I say we should have a benefit boxing match and give them gloves and the proceeds goes to the United Way.

I got a call from the RCN this morning and was told by the reporter who has been covering this, that Mr. Morgan called him yesterday and told him that I was on Miss Kirkham's payroll, and had a sign in my yard. Not my words here, but the reporter who called to verify if it was true. So I invite anyone who wishes to drive by the courthouse between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and see who's sign I am holding up and who's shirt I have on. Oh, and I live in an apartment just on the hill above the courthouse. The company who I rent from has asked me not to even display a sign of the candidate I am working for in my front window. Sorry boys and girls. I do not have a yard to display a Kirkham sign.
But before I leave RoaneViews for good now, because this is WC's sight, and he wishes to attack my credibility over his animosity for Miss Kirkham, I invite everyone to go back and look how much this has changed back and forth since it happened. First, it was that she walked by him and said it. Then, it was recorded on the Channel 6 news by him that he saw her out of the corner of his eye, and tried to avoid her, but she followed him. And now, it is to where he was standing there with his campaign worker when she leaned in and said it. Well, what isn't being told here is that I was on the wall right behind his worker, along with others. I even heard miss Kirkham offer the young man water on a couple of occasions during the day.
So WC, you have really shown me what others have told me. This site is yours. This is your baby. What you say must be the truth, and therefore must stay. What I am wondering is this. If you yourself wanted to get this story right, how is it that you have not even been over to the courthouse the first time and asked others (some of who you might indeed call friends) what they saw or didn't see?
So you attack my credibility all you want on here. It's your sight, and you can control it however you wish. But, until it can be fair and balanced as advertised, I will just spend my time elsewhere. You see, I have heard 3 different accounts of how he said it went down. It was different both times in the paper, and even more different on TV. I have told it the same way when asked by reporters. Oh well, I am sure this post will be deleted before most have time to read it, but that is OK. All of your investigating never once brought you in person to the courthouse to speak with more people. You'd rather discredit me.
I say farewell to this site, boys and girls. I find it to be fair and balanced only when WC says it is now.

I wish there was a like button for some of these comments. I was also there, standing basically between the 2 candidates and all I will say on here is truth is truth. -Brian

Please, forgive me but I'm ticked! I wish last Friday had not occurred yet I will verify the story grew with Mr. Morgan as hours went by. I was there, I saw what Rick saw, and I am sure there are other witnesses from this forum were there. No need for added support on what I saw, just making a comment.

Both Rick and I have been charged with 'on Teresa's payroll, campaigners for Teresa', and being critiqued for what we saw, by Mr. Morgan. My story and Rick's story are about as similar as could be and I don't have Rick's email and/or phone number so there has been zero collaboration between the two of us against Mr. Morgan.

Let's face it, I saw it, Rick saw what happened, Mr. Hall was there in split time and prior to the police (as I recall) yet if Mr. Morgan needs to prove who he called first, let's look at his cell records. That will solve that problem. I saw Hall standing in anticipation of an 'event', snapping pictures, and my mind continues to replay Mr. Hall present prior to the police. I cannot swear who arrived first yet Mr. Hall was there within mere minutes; what seemed to be almost as quick as when Mr. Morgan announced he was calling 911. The Courthouse tapes should show that as well.

If Mr. Morgan wants to prove to the world that he was the one acting a fool and irrationally, let Mr. Morgan waste the courthouse time and obtain the Courthouse videos which will show Mr. Morgan ranting while everyone else stood around in total amazement, including Teresa. It will also show that Teresa was simply walking up and down the sidewalk, something she had done all day.

Mr. Rick Cantrell and I tried to get David to "STOP" yet he refused and continued to beg for people to side with him in what he apparently heard, something people sitting or standing within a 5 foot distance did not hear despite his near begging for a witness to step up to his claim.

So be it, David Morgan has again helped to make Roane County a laughing stock by continuing a conversation with the media about his opponent, which is fine. It is his race.

Where this dirty dog get washed is right here when two innocent and credible people are being charged with a false story produced by Mr. Morgan to save his ever loving you know what. Both Mr. Cantrell and I kept asking David to reconsider his actions and he simply was wildly outraged. Courthouse tapes will show that as well.

Give it up! Mr. Morgan has damaged his own campaign enough by simply continuing the story and bringing in two new faces, that is two individuals who tried to calm his radical actions. Implying to people that Mr. Cantrell and I are in some type of campaign relationship with Ms. Kirkham. But, NO, he had to make a foolish point about something which is costing him votes; something which no one witnessed. What we did witness was a man who looked like an umpire just threw him out of the game; all that ranting, arms flying around, screaming at the top of his lungs asking anyone and everyone, "did you hear that, I've just been threatened, I'm not taking that, I'm calling 911..."

And, now trying to imply there is some magical relationship between all candidates who are gathering around a specific area near the old Courthouse. Has it ever occurred to anyone that the specified area has been a place of freedom, a place to enjoy voters of all parties, and the t-party (as they seem to have their own deal going), a place where opponents have been conversing in agreement that dirty politics needs to stop and that ALL constituents need to be heard; a place where friendships continue and friendships are being made. In fact, when Mr. Morgan arrived, he went directly to the corner discussed, entered the tent, and all this just before all the you know what hit the flipping fan.

What happened falls into the category of, "it was one of those moments whereby one must say, you had to be there to believe what you were seeing."

Am I irritated, you bet. Am I going to stand out in front of the Courthouse and scream, yell, call the police, and beg for witnesses, no.

Mr. Morgan, before ever mentioning my name in some form of validated defense, why don't you get your facts straight first.

I would so laugh if the third person won this race....I would laugh for days...this is so comical! If you don't want chicken crap on your feet stay of the pen! If you ever saw a fight, there are 500 people who saw it but 250 diffrent versions. This is election is turning into a Comedy Skit!!!!

Let's let this thread die and move on. Neither of the candidates looks very good as a result of this one. I'll put it down to the stress of a campaign this time.

Army, the one thing you don't want is for the other guy still alive and in the race to win. Voters had that choice last time and took incompetent over crazy. I voted for Kirkham last time, I just didn't know how incompetent she was.