Warren Gooch
Alex Moseley, chairman of the Anderson County Republican Party, suggests the Democratic candidate for county mayor is a liberal politician.
But the candidate, Warren Gooch, says Moseley is trying to confuse voters.
Moseley sent out a letter last week saying that Gooch, an Oak Ridge lawyer, has helped raise money for Al Gore and donated to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and others.
“Mr. Gooch has supported these liberal politicians to the tune of more than $100,000,” Moseley wrote. “As we have learned in the past, if it votes like a liberal, and it donates like a liberal, it’s a liberal.”
Contacted for comment on Sunday, Gooch said he remains focused on issues that are important to Anderson County.
“It’s no surprise to anybody that I’ve contributed to political candidates and raised money for political candidates,” Gooch said.
But he said he has also contributed to Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee.
“It’s not about partisan politics,” Gooch said. “It’s about the county.”
Moseley said conservative and moderate Democrats are fleeing from Gooch’s campaign to support Republican Terry Frank.
Gooch pointed out that he was out delivering Republicans for Gooch signs Sunday evening.
Moseley also said Gooch “threw a party celebrating Barack Obama’s election.”
Gooch said he had a luncheon on Inauguration Day 2009 and invited people from Anderson County and the surrounding region.
“There’s an attempt going on here to cause confusion,” he said of Moseley’s letter.
Gooch and Frank are running for Anderson County mayor in the Aug. 2 election.
The winner will serve a special two-year term, filling the rest of the unexpired term of Anderson County Mayor Rex Lynch. He resigned in January 2011 after being indicted for sales tax fraud.
Former Anderson County Commissioner Myron Iwanski is serving as interim county mayor.
Early voting starts July 13.
Richard Dawson says
As I have driven around the county I have seen “Republicans for Warren Gooch” yard signs. I have not seen any “Democrats for Terry Frank ” signs. It’s refreshing to know there are a few “moderate Republicans” in the county.
T J says
Without the financial support of local liberals like Gooch, there would be no fascist in the White House. All national elections are won or lost at the local level.
Liberal economics, politics and education cannot be defended logically. Liberals(progressives, socialists) either ignore the questions, like Gooch, or resort to name calling.
A luncheon for friends is different from an inaguration party how?
Mr. dawson, please list the addresses of the two signs your Democrat party put out.
Gooch is a lawyer that specialized in suing doctors. One of the reasons for high health care costs.
I guess he feels he is uniquely qualified to administer Obama’s fascist, un-Constitutional health care plan at the county level.
John Q Publius says
Here is how difficult it is to determine whether Gooch has any conservative chops. Go to http://www.knoxnews.com and type Warren Gooch into the search bar. Let us just sample the story by Georgiana Vines on the “luncheon” which Warren claims is “confus[ing]” voters. Here it is, in pertinent part…
QUOTE
Crowds and individuals alike enjoyed the inauguration of President Barack Obama Tuesday in the Knoxville area, with two specific hosts offering their own ideas of celebration.
One was a lunch for 50 or so at the Flatwater Grill in Oak Ridge held by lawyer Warren Gooch and his wife, Judy. Those attending included judges, business people and lawyers, community activists and retirees.
Crowds and individuals alike enjoyed the inauguration of President Barack Obama Tuesday in the Knoxville area, with two specific hosts offering their own ideas of celebration.
One was a lunch for 50 or so at the Flatwater Grill in Oak Ridge held by lawyer Warren Gooch and his wife, Judy. Those attending included judges, business people and lawyers, community activists and retirees.
. . .
At the Oak Ridge event, it was a very partisan crowd watching events unfold on CNN, even cheering when former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, got on a plane to begin their journey to Texas.
Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were applauded after they were sworn in, and Obama’s speech drew some clapping. But the benediction by the Rev. Joseph Lowery, in which he prayed for the day when everyone does “justice and love(s) mercy say amen” had this group laughing and cheering.
J.D. Wallace, a former state commissioner of employment security in the 1970s, said he liked that Obama’s speech was brief and filled with themes from previous speeches. He also said he was glad the Gooches had the lunch.
“Seldom do Democrats (in East Tennessee) have a time together. We won’t be doing much on the state level,” he said, referring to the Republican domination in the Legislature.
“We got rid of Bush and Obama’s giving us some hope,” his wife, Joann, said.
Warren Gooch, usually suited up as a lawyer, was into the lightheartedness of the celebration, wearing blue pants decorated with donkeys.
“I love the pants,” Jo Hunter said.
“I’ve got shorts, too,” Gooch said.
END QUOTE (available here: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jan/21/locals-mark-day-with-parties/).
A man with donkey pants AND shorts is not a fence sitter. He is not a moderate. He is a hardcore partisan, the very word Georgiana Vines used to describe Warren’s “luncheon.” Alex Mosley is right. Own it.
Angi Agle says
And this has what, exactly, with one’s fitness to serve as County Mayor? Last time I checked, neither roads, schools, water lines, nor industrial recruiting had a party label. Good management knows no party.
One of Warren Gooch’s greatest strengths is his ability to listen, to identify common goals, and to work cooperatively with anyone (regardless of party) to achieve such goals. Terry Frank, on the other hand, is an expert in identifying any possible difference of opinion, and works hard to alienate anyone who doesn’t agree with her on every issue.
For me, the choice is clear.
Francisco Picon says
The genius who thinks healthcare costs have anything to do w/ malpractice suits or malpractice insurance clearly can’t do any math.
1. Insurance and lawsuits against medical professionals account for less than 3% of the cost of your healthcare. Sigh. The sad ignorance of those who’d like the status quo to continue, where regular Americans lose and the Republican party, which is wholly purchased by billionaires and the largest corporations, continue to pass tax cuts for the uppermost incomes while the rest of us toil.
Liberal economic policies can’t be defended? What a farce. Your right-wing, voodoo economics are what nearly destroyed the world’s economy.