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Hackworth, Ragan spar over jobs, schools, voter ID

Posted at 9:11 am October 29, 2012
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Jim Hackworth

Jim Hackworth

John Ragan

John Ragan

John Ragan and Jim Hackworth agree that jobs and education should be top priorities in the next legislative session in the Tennessee General Assembly.

For the most part, the agreement seems to end there. In recent forums, the candidates have clashed over voter identification laws, school vouchers, virtual and charter schools, and jobs and unemployment numbers.

The Tennessee Democratic and Republican parties and other supporters have taken an active role in the high-stakes battle, sending out press releases, letters, and glossy flyers bashing their opponents and praising their candidates.

The two men are running in one of a half-dozen key races in the Nov. 6 election. Both want to represent District 33 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. The district includes most of Anderson County.

The outcome will help decide whether Republicans gain a supermajority in the Tennessee House. If they do, they would be able to conduct business even if Democrats walk out.

Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican, is a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot who beat Hackworth, a four-term legislator and former Anderson County commissioner, in the November 2010 election.

In a League of Women Voters forum this month, Hackworth, a Clinton Democrat, criticized Ragan for casting the only vote against House Bill 1329 in April 2011. That bill allows a court to prohibit anyone convicted of child abuse or aggravated child abuse from contacting a victim if the convict doesn’t have parental rights.

Ragan, who is completing his first term, said he campaigned for a smaller government, and there are already laws in place that do what HB1329 did, including the Tennessee Crime Victims Bill of Rights and the Tennessee Sex Offender Treatment Board Act.

“That law did nothing,” he said of HB1329. “I refuse to compromise my principles.”

The candidates were asked how to reduce bullying and make schools safer.

Ragan said there is no excuse for bullying, and teachers and administrators are responsible for ensuring it doesn’t happen. But courts have said educators can’t use those efforts to deprive students of their freedom of speech or religion, he said.

A child with glasses will probably be called “four eyes,” and one with braces may be nicknamed “metal mouth,” Ragan said. Schools don’t have the right to interfere beyond ensuring rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution, he said.

“We have to safeguard our liberties,” Ragan said.

Hackworth criticized Ragan’s legislative actions on anti-bullying bills, suggesting he is trying to take those initiatives back in time.

“Bullying is wrong,” Hackworth said.

Ragan said he supports the use of school vouchers in failing school systems. The vouchers, which can be used for private school tuition, would likely be used in very limited circumstances, Ragan said. If a school system is failing, the money is being wasted anyway, he said.

“We need to give them a way to get out of that,” Ragan said.

Hackworth disagreed.

“Vouchers do more harm than good to a failing school system,” he said. “If the system has problems, then you fix it.”

He also said he opposed to taking away money from public schools for charter schools.

“It’s to weaken public education to weaken the current system,” Hackworth said.

The candidates were asked about the reported low performance rankings of the new Tennessee Virtual Academy, an online school run by K12 Inc. in Virginia. It’s managed in Tennessee by Union County Schools.

Ragan was less critical of the overall effort. He said Tennessee has ranked in the bottom 20 percent of student achievement nationally for decades, and some students need to take classes not available in their local systems.

“Do we want to penalize them?” he asked. “We’ve got to change the status quo.”

If the virtual academy doesn’t perform well, Ragan said, the contract could be given to someone else.

Hackworth said virtual schools have some merit. However, the current system, heavily criticized by Democrats, allots about 5 percent of the public funding to the Union County school system, and the rest of the money goes out-of-state, he said.

“It’s taking money from our school systems,” Hackworth said during an Oak Ridge Education Association forum last month.

Hackworth said the online academy should have started as a pilot program.

“The virtual school has been, so far, a total failure,” Hackworth said.

Ragan supported a new photo ID law for voters, saying photo IDs are required to board an airplane or cash a check. Republicans have said the legislation was meant to combat voter fraud.

But Hackworth said the intent of the new law is voter suppression.

“It’s all about keeping people from turning out,” Hackworth said.

The two candidates tangled over state contracts with out-of-state companies. Ragan said he would continue to allow them, while Hackworth said he believes jobs and business opportunities should first be offered to Tennessee companies.

“The best bargain for the voter is the lowest bid,” Ragan said.

“We need to take care of Tennesseans and Anderson County (residents),” Hackworth said.

Ragan said he had helped cut taxes and reduced the state budget.

Hackworth said job creation is down under Ragan, claiming last year’s numbers were the lowest in a decade in Anderson County.

“Are you better off now than you were two years ago?” Hackworth asked. “The answer is no.”

But Ragan said the unemployment rate rose while Hackworth was in office, and Tennessee students ranked near the bottom in academic achievement.

“Our state deserves better,” he said.

Last year, TCAP and ACT scores rose across the state, Ragan said.

Early voting for the Nov. 6 election ends Thursday.

Filed Under: 2012 Election, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, bullying, charter schools, District 33, Jim Hackworth, John Ragan, League of Women Voters, Nov. 6 election, Oak Ridge Education Association, school vouchers, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee House of Representatives, Tennessee Virtual Academy, virtual schools, voter ID

Top Republicans show support for Ragan

Posted at 1:56 pm October 19, 2012
By John Huotari 4 Comments

John Ragan

John Ragan

Perhaps illustrating the importance of the race, top state and national Republicans are showing their support for Rep. John Ragan, an Oak Ridge resident and GOP candidate seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives.

A first-term legislator, Ragan is opposed in the Nov. 6 election by Democrat Jim Hackworth, a Clinton Democrat who used to hold the seat but lost to Ragan in the 2010 election.

Democrats and Republicans have both said the race in Tennessee’s 33rd District, which includes much of Anderson County, is one of a half-dozen key contests in the state.

On Friday, the Tennessee House Republican Caucus announced that U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander will be in Clinton and Anderson County on Tuesday to support Ragan. Alexander will be joined by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican whose district includes Oak Ridge; Tennessee Sen. Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican; and Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank.

“They will be meeting with Anderson County citizens and discussing plans for economic growth, the importance of fiscal responsibility, and the need to re-elect conservative state Rep. John Ragan,” a press release said.

They will meet at Hoskins Drug Store in Clinton from 2-3 p.m. Tuesday. Hoskins Drug Store is located at 111N. Main St. in Clinton.

Also this week, Republicans announced that top Tennessee officials had unanimously endorsed Ragan. The endorsements came from three top Republicans, Gov. Bill Haslam, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, and Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell.

“Having strong leaders in the state legislature is incredibly important, and I can always count on John Ragan’s consistent conservative approach to tough issues,” Haslam said. “John has a true servant’s heart, and works hard on behalf of Anderson County every day.”

Ramsey said Ragan has worked closely with senators to create a better environment for business and served as a “voice of reform” on the House Education Committee. Harwell said Ragan’s wide range of military and business experience make him a vital part of the Republican team in Nashville.

The outcome of the contest between Ragan and Hackworth could help decide whether Republicans pick up a supermajority in the Tennessee House. That would allow them to conduct legislative business without Democratic support, and they could pass legislation even if Democrats walk out of session.

In June, a Republican campaign aide said Republicans now have 64 representatives in the 99-member Tennessee House of Representatives. They would have a supermajority if they pick up three seats, giving them 67 total members, said Holt Whitt, a member of the Republican Caucus field staff in Nashville.

Early voting for the Nov. 6 election began Wednesday and ends Nov. 1.

Filed Under: 2012 Election, Government Tagged With: Bill Haslam, Democrat, Jim Hackworth, John Ragan, Lamar Alexander, Republican, Tennessee House of Representatives

Letter: Return Hackworth to Tennessee House for superior leadership

Posted at 8:59 am October 11, 2012
By Oak Ridge Today Letters Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

Rep. John Ragan is campaigning against former representative Jim Hackworth to return to the Tennessee Legislature as “a proven leader” in the Tennessee House of Representatives. We think that this characterization of Rep. Ragan’s performance is grossly overstated, especially when compared with the record of Jim Hackworth in the same job.

During his term in office, Jim Hackworth championed the strong anti-bullying law that Caitlin Nolan, a local Oak Ridger, sponsored. During John Ragan’s term, he actively opposed a new bill designed to strengthen Caitlin’s original bill. Successful opposition would have resulted in severely weakening protection against bullies. We need much better vision than this from our leaders! Rep. Ragan’s explanation for his vote, saying that he was voting on the principle that it is an unnecessary law is poor in this case.

Rep. Ragan claims leadership in bringing new jobs into Anderson County. He has indeed brought in 249 new jobs during 2011 (23rd in the state). Anderson County averaged 1062 new jobs per year during Rep. Hackworth’s eight years of service, placing Anderson County regularly in the top 10 in the state. We don’t see convincing evidence that Rep. Ragan himself has been effective in job creation!

Rep. Ragan has voted for a number of bills in the House of Representatives that are patently self serving: SB1915, Increases Contribution Limits to Campaigns; HB1555 State House Redistricting; and SB1514 State Senate Redistricting. These bills do not advance the public interest and will lead to poorer government. We do not see this type of support as an example of leadership representing everyone in District 33.

We urge the voters of District 33 to return Jim Hackworth to the Tennessee House of Representatives in order to have the benefits of superior leadership!

Dorothy and Robert Hightower

Oak Ridge

Filed Under: 2012 Election, Letters Tagged With: District 33, Jim Hackworth, John Ragan, leadership, Tennessee House of Representatives

Oak Ridge Chamber hosts candidate forums Oct. 9, 15

Posted at 1:55 pm October 7, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

An Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce task force is having two forums during the next two weeks for candidates for local offices.

The first forum on Tuesday morning will feature candidates for Oak Ridge Board of Education and Oak Ridge City Council. It starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 9 a.m. in the Joyce Conference Room at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

The second forum starts at 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 15. Candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives Districts 32 and 33 have been invited to take part.

The forums are sponsored by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Pro-Growth Advocacy Task Force.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 2012 Election, Education, Government Tagged With: candidate forums, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge City Council, Pro-Growth Advocacy Task Force, Tennessee House of Representatives

Candidate forum for Tennessee, U.S. House on Thursday

Posted at 11:35 am October 2, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Eight state and federal legislative candidates have been invited to take part in a Thursday evening forum at Oak Ridge High School.

The candidates could include the three running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee’s 3rd District: Republican Chuck Fleischmann, who is the incumbent; Democrat Mary M. Headrick, a physician; and Independent Matthew Deniston, a U.S. Army veteran. The district includes Oak Ridge.

They could also include the two candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives in the 33rd District: Republican John D. Ragan, the incumbent, and Democrat Jim Hackworth, who is trying to take back his old seat. The district includes much of Anderson County.

Also invited are candidates for the Tennessee House of Representatives in the 32rd District: Republican Kent Calfee, a former Roane County commissioner; Democrat Jack W. McNew; and Independent Allen R. Cole. The district includes Roane County and part of Loudon County.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 2012 Election, Government Tagged With: Allen R. Cole, candidate forum, Chuck Fleischmann, Jack W. McNew, Jim Hackworth, John D. Ragan, Kent Calfee, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Mary M. Headrick, Matthew Deniston, Tennessee House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives

Oak Ridge educators host candidate forum Wednesday

Posted at 1:33 pm September 16, 2012
By John Huotari 3 Comments

The Oak Ridge Education Association will host a public forum for five Tennessee House of Representatives candidates on Wednesday.

Three of the candidates—Democrat Jack McNew, Independent Allen Cole, and Republican Kent Calfee— are seeking seats in Tennessee’s District 32. That district includes Roane County and part of Loudon County. The seat has been held for one term by Lenoir City Republican Julia Hurley, who lost to Calfee in the Aug. 2 primary.

The other two candidates—Clinton Democrat Jim Hackworth and Oak Ridge Republican John R. Ragan—are battling to represent District 33, which includes most of Anderson County.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 2012 Election, Education, Government Tagged With: Allen Cole, candidate forum, Jack McNew, Jim Hackworth, John R. Ragan, Kent Calfee, League of Women Voters, Oak Ridge Education Association, Tennessee House of Representatives

Education could be key battleground in Tennessee House race

Posted at 10:06 pm July 6, 2012
By John Huotari 6 Comments

Jim Hackworth TEA Endorsement

Clinton High School English teacher DeWayne Emert, left, announces that a Tennessee Education Association organization has endorsed Democrat Jim Hackworth, center, in his campaign for the state House of Representatives. Also pictured is Ryan Mackay, Tennessee Democratic Party deputy field director.

CLINTON — Education could be one of the key battlegrounds in Anderson County’s hotly contested race for Tennessee House of Representatives.

This week, Democratic candidate Jim Hackworth said teachers are unhappy with changes made during the past few years and are “tired of being treated like second-class citizens.

“They want someone who will listen to them and ask them what they think to improve education,” said Hackworth, a former four-term legislator who is trying to take back his old seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 2012 Election, Education, Government Tagged With: Jim Hackworth, Rep. John Ragan, Tennessee Education Association, Tennessee House of Representatives

Tennessee House candidates allege legal violations, desperate attacks

Posted at 1:27 pm July 5, 2012
By John Huotari 15 Comments

Jim Hackworth and Ryan Mackay

Former Tennessee legislator Jim Hackworth, a Clinton Democrat, left, and Ryan Mackay, Tennessee Democratic Party deputy field director, question whether Rep. John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican, is following state law for campaign websites and literature.

Former Tennessee legislator Jim Hackworth this week accused his campaign opponent, Rep. John Ragan, of violating state ethics and finance laws, but Ragan said Hackworth was engaging in “desperate attacks.”

On Monday, Hackworth said Ragan’s campaign website violated state ethics and finance laws because it included his official office phone number and state e-mail address. By Tuesday morning, Ragan had removed that contact information, although he said including it was not illegal and he had removed it as a courtesy to Hackworth, a constituent.

That didn’t seem to satisfy Hackworth.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 2012 Election, Government Tagged With: Jim Hackworth, John Ragan, Tennessee House of Representatives

Anderson County Democrats battling for mayor, House seats

Posted at 3:40 pm June 25, 2012
By John Huotari 7 Comments

Anderson County Democratic Party

Anderson County Democrats, including former party chair Richard Dawson, standing at center, celebrate the grand opening of their headquarters on South Illinois Avenue on Thursday. (Photos courtesy of John and Mary Norris)

Anderson County Democrats have a “better-than-average” chance of taking back the county mayor and state House seats in the August and November elections, a party official said Monday.

In particular, Democrats believe they can beat first-term legislator John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican, said Richard Dawson, Tennessee Democratic Party executive committee member in Senate District 5.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 2012 Election, Government Tagged With: Anderson County Democratic Party, Anderson County mayor, Tennessee House of Representatives

Anderson County race key to Republican House majority

Posted at 2:50 pm June 13, 2012
By John Huotari 2 Comments

John Ragan Campaign Kickoff

Tennessee Rep. John Ragan, right, talks to Andrew Kern, left, of Lenoir City, and Ken Wood, of Tellico Village, during a campaign kickoff ceremony Wednesday.

The state House district that includes Oak Ridge and most of Anderson County could be key to Republican plans to maintain a majority this fall–and possibly even gain a supermajority.

“This is one of those races that is going to make or break that supermajority,” said Holt Whitt, a member of the Republican Caucus field staff in Nashville.

Whitt is helping Rep. John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican, prepare for the Nov. 6 election, and he attended a Wednesday morning campaign kickoff ceremony for Ragan.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 2012 Election, Government Tagged With: Rep. John Ragan, Republican majority, supermajority, Tennessee House of Representatives

Ragan kicks off Tennessee House campaign

Posted at 4:19 pm June 12, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Tennessee Rep. John Ragan will kick off his 2012 campaign for the state House of Representatives during a Wednesday morning ceremony in Oak Ridge.

The ceremony starts at 11 a.m. at Ragan’s campaign headquarters at 103 Jefferson Ave.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 2012 Election Tagged With: Rep. John Ragan, Tennessee House of Representatives

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Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

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AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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