Warning issued of election scam
Tennessee and other states are warning voters to beware of a possible scam that may be collecting personal information under the guise of registering voters.
The questionable calls were reported by Democracy Works, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group whose TurboVote app will deliver customized information and reminders on elections to users.
The organization reported to federal law enforcement that someone purporting to be from TurboVote was calling people and offering to register them to vote over the phone. That’s not legal.
Secretary of State Tre Hargett said in a news release that no such calls have been reported in Tennessee, but anyone who receives such a call should report it to his office.
Brandon Naylor with Democracy Works said Friday he didn’t know if any calls had been reported in Tennessee, Georgia or Alabama but praised state election officials for trying to get the word out.
“They are acting out of an abundance of caution, which we appreciate,” Naylor said. “It must be understood that just because secretaries of state are issuing a warning does not mean a scam has been reported.”
He also emphasized that people should never give out personal information over the telephone.
In Tennessee, people can register to vote online at GoVoteTn.com, by mail or in person at their county election commission. The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 6 election is Tuesday.
Voters can download the GoVoteTN app from the App Store or Google Play to find early voting and Election Day polling locations, view and mark sample ballots and more.
Phillips ad up on TV
The Democrat running to unseat Republican Scott DesJarlais in Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District is airing her first television ad, her campaign said in a news release.
The 30-second spot, released Thursday, describes Mariah Phillips as a teacher and mother of five from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It focuses on her life experience growing up in a working-class family and how she saw her students facing many of the same challenges her family faced.
“We moved a lot when I was a kid, the rent would go up, and we’d have to get out, and go stay with my grandparents. Every day I have kids in my classroom who are right where I was, unsure about the future, thinking about the next move or even the next meal, instead of school,” Phillips says in the ad. Watch it at https://vimeo.com/292994471.
DesJarlais, a South Pittsburg physician, is seeking his fifth term and is a strong supporter of President Donald Trump.
Fleischmann supports Trump’s trade deal
U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said he supports the president’s reworked trade deal with Canada and Mexico announced last week that modernizes the North American Free Trade Agreement:
“I have long been an outspoken advocate for free trade and I believe that a multilateral trade deal will bring the most prosperity to our farmers, workers, and business owners,” Fleischmann said in a news release.
“In my representation of a district that relies heavily on goods and services contingent on our trade relations with Canada and Mexico, I am pleased President Trump was able to bring all parties to the table. I look forward to carefully analyzing this agreement and speaking with East Tennesseans to discuss how the proposed changes will further incentivize the foreign investment that is so lucrative to our local economy.”
JFK Club to hear from winning candidates on Oct. 16
The JFK Club will meet Oct. 16 at The Feed Co. Table and Tavern, 201 W. Main St. from 12-1 p.m.
The speakers are David Sharpe, who won the District 6 Hamilton County Commission seat, Jenny Hill, who won the Hamilton County School Board District 6 seat and Katherlyn Geter who won the District 5 County Commission seat. They will tell us about their campaign and why they think they won.
The price for the meal will be $15.
Those who intend to attend are asked to send an email to 51jelmore@gmail.com, indicate name, names of guests and whether you are a vegetarian.
Iyou have questions, please call Jane Elmore at 423-827-4049 or Larry Miller at 423-424-9493.