ETSU Educator

Says Seat Held

By Rep. Davis

Is 'Vulnerable'

By TOM YANCEY

Staff Writer

Rob Russell, an educator and Kingsport resident who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 1st Congressional District seat, spoke Tuesday evening to about 20 Greene County Democrats.

Party Chairman Jack West made the introduction, noting that Russell at one time taught at Tusculum College.

Russell said he taught for a year in a half in the Upward Bound program, which prepares high school students to be the first person in their family to attend college.

Russell, 38, noted that it has been 130 years since the 1st District was represented by a Democrat. "But in my 38 years, I've never seen a time that position was so vulnerable," he said.

The 1st Congressional District now is represented by U.S. Rep. David Davis, of Johnson City, a first-term Republican and veteran state legislator.

"People are ready for a change," Russell said.

Though his wife is an attorney, Russell said he is "not of the elite," but comes from "hardworking people."

His father was a vocational education professor at Walters State Community College in Morristown, where Russell grew up. He is a graduate of Morristown-Hamblen East High School, attended WSCC and is a graduate of East Tennessee State University and completed graduate school at UT-Knoxville, according to a flyer he handed out at the meeting.

Russell now heads the Writing and Communications Center at ETSU, which he called an administrative position.

"I see education as the answer to so many problems," including global competitiveness and jobs, he said.

Russell said he would like to see smaller class sizes in elementary and high schools, as in colleges, plus more investment in technology, and in "paying teachers what they deserve to earn."

He said most Americans believe that this nation is failing in the provision of health care for many because the U.S. health care system is expensive, bureaucratic and wasteful.

He said the United States is the only one of 31 industrial nations that do not consider health care "a basic right," yet the U.S. spends the most on health care, about 40 percent more than he said the second-place country, Switzerland, spends.

Besides education and health care, "the other issue is jobs," Russell said. He said he does not believe that East Tennessee takes enough advantage of what it has to offer -- hardworking people, great natural beauty and good colleges and universities -- when competing for companies that can offer jobs.

Russell said he opposes the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) promoted by President Bill Clinton, because he said the original safeguards that were to prevent the loss of U.S. jobs have been "stripped away."

Russell said he is also a musician, and will hold a fundraiser on Saturday at the Acoustic Coffee House on Walnut Street in Johnson City at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Nicholson Speaks

The Rev. Casey Nicholson, who is a candidate for the 5th State House of Representatives seat now held by Republican David Hawk, of Greeneville, spoke briefly.

Nicholson, an ordained Cumberland Presbyterian minister, said he has appointed his mother, Judy Nicholson, to serve as his campaign treasurer. He said he is ready to begin raising funds for the race, and is excited about running.

Two Elected At Meeting

Two vacant local party offices were filled at the start of the Greene County Democratic Party's meeting.

Party Chairman West asked for nominations to fill the post of treasurer, recently vacated by the death of Barbara Beckett. When no nominations were made, West himself nominated Delana Blanton, who said she was willing to serve. She was elected by unanimous voice vote.

West then asked for nominations for treasurer, a post vacated because Phil Fratino had been transferred out of town. Wayland Huff then nominated Blanche Johnson, a former Greene County commissioner, "if she will agree to serve."
Johnson agreed and was also elected unanimously.

The party also adopted new bylaws that had been explained at last month's meeting. That vote, also on a motion by Huff, was also unanimous.

Rev. Nicholson, who served on the bylaws committee, explained briefly that the bylaws divide the county into five districts, based on the areas served by the five high schools, with two persons to serve each district. He said the new districts and those who will serve them are an effort to provide more structure to the existing precinct system, which will continue.

West said that vacant precinct posts need to be filled before the district posts can be filled, however.

A survey by Johnson showed that only 10 of the county's 36 precincts were represented by those present at the meeting.