Black to attend Valor luncheon
Republican candidate for governor Diane Black will visit Chattanooga today to attend the Celebration of Valor Luncheon at the Chattanooga Convention Center, according to a campaign news release.
The luncheon event begins at 11 a.m. Retired U.S. Army Col. Jack Jacobs, a Medal of Honor recipient, author and military analyst, is the guest speaker.
District 28 hopefuls to attend forum
The five Democrats seeking to replace retiring state Rep. JoAnne Favors in House District 28 will be featured at a candidate forum June 26.
The neighborhood associations of the 28th District are sponsoring the event at Olivet Baptist Church Kingdom Center, 740 E. M.L. King Blvd., starting at 6 p.m., a news release states. The candidates - Jackie Anderson-Thomas, Dennis Clark, Yusuf Hakeem, Melody Shekari and Brandon Woodruff - each will be given time to talk about their platforms and visions for the seat.
Whoever wins the Aug. 2 primary election will face Republican Lemon C. Williams Jr. in the November general election.
Women voters publish guide
The League of Women Voters of Chattanooga has published a guide to help local voters make informed decisions in the Aug. 2 election, according to a news release.
The Vote411 voter guide includes all the candidates who face opposition in the county general election and candidates in the state House and Senate primary elections. Voters can compare candidates' positions, background information and qualifications in their own words, the release states.
The LWV Chattanooga 2018 Voter Guide can be found on the League's website. More information is at www.vote411.org, a nonpartisan "one-stop-shop" for election-related materials.
Group endorses Thongnopua
The national group Run for Something, which supports young, progressive candidates, has endorsed Joda Thongnopnua in the House District 30 race, a news release states.
Thongnopnua, a first-time candidate, is unopposed in the Democratic primary for the open seat. Republican incumbent Marc Gravitt is stepping down to seek the county register of deeds office.
Run for Something co-founder Ross Morales Rocketto said in the release that the group looks for "heart and hustle" in its endorsements.
"That's what defines viability to us," Rocketto said. "These are candidates who are going to work hard to run grassroots-, community-led campaigns. We are at a critical time in history and the momentum these candidates generate will have a lasting impact for years to come."
Thongnopnua said in the release he is "thrilled" at the endorsement.
"We're running a different kind of campaign that has rejected politics as usual, and this endorsement is another sign that it's paying off," he said. His goals include fully investing in public education, ensuring Tennesseans are paid a fair wage for good work, and that every one of his neighbors has access to quality, affordable health care.
Republicans Esther Helton, J. Michael Holloway and Jonathan Mason are seeking their party's nomination for the seat. The winner of the Aug. 2 GOP primary will face Thongnopnua in the November general election.
7 pick Mason for District 30
Seven former officers in the Young Republicans organization have endorsed Jonathan Mason in the GOP primary for the House District 30 seat.
Mason served as Young Republicans chairman from 2013-15, according to a news release. Now former officers Brian Chaney, Scott Maucere, Michelle Maucere, George Jackson, Elysia Jackson, Dalton Temple and Alexa Williams say Mason is the best choice to replace Marc Gravitt.
The group said Mason is "the only candidate that fought liberal Obama-era policies," and that he "will fight in Nashville to defend conservative principles that he has always championed.
"He will stand for a better education system for all Tennesseans. As a small business owner alongside his wife, Rachael, he will fight to pull back on burdensome laws that stifle small business growth."
"Jonathan Mason will fight for property rights, family values, and continue Tennessee on a strong path of fiscal conservative principles," the group's news release states.