A Better Alternative
Mark Harmon has been a teacher for most of his adult life, and his enthusiasm for helping the next generation is what motivates him. He wants to create opportunities for working families—as a way of giving back to those who opened doors for him.
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About Mark
Mark and his wife Becky live in the North Hills neighborhood of Knoxville. He served our area as an elected Knox County Commissioner from 2006 to 2010.
Some 22 years ago Mark Harmon moved to Knoxville to take a journalism and broadcasting professor job at the University of Tennessee. He’s still working there, earning two national awards for his teaching and three national honors for his column writing.
Mark has been doing public service since his earliest days in our community. From 1999 to 2003 he volunteered his time to coach a speech and debate team at Knoxville College, sometimes driving them (and the UT team) in a van to tournaments as far away as Alabama and Ohio. He also was a mentor in the McNair Scholars Program.
The Issues
Minimum Wage
Affordable College
Health Care
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We Need a New Congressman
Tim Burchett went to Congress four years ago, and many people hoped he would act independently and rely on reason. Instead, he went to the swamp and became just another swamp creature.
Those of us who are fortunate enough to serve must be humble about our roles. This is not Tim Burchett’s seat; it is the public’s seat. Tennessee’s U.S. House District 2 does not belong to any person or party. The voters reserve the right to change public servants, and we must respect their choices.
Burchett has failed us on that score. He joined a Texas lawsuit trying to tell four states how to conduct their elections. His was such a poor argument that it was rejected unanimously by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Burchett also voted to give the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrectionist mob exactly the truth-denying vote they wanted. Then he twice voted against commissions or committees to investigate the violence done to our Capitol and the police officers who protected it.
Burchett also has many other bad votes. This website has an entire section on that subject. He also rakes in the corrupting corporate money that pollutes our politics.
We need a better congressman—someone who stands up to bullies, mobs, and the powerful; someone who doesn’t give them what they want. Mark Harmon is a great choice for that job. You can read more about his positive approach to public service on the “About Mark” and “Issues” sections of this website.
Events
Debate, sponsored by USA Today Network, of gubernatorial and congressional district one and two Democratic and Republican candidates. Thursday, May 12, 6pm in the UT Student Union Auditorium. The event is free, but here is the register link for people planning to attend
https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1341/21/interior.aspx?sid=1341&gid=1&pgid=18185&cid=35487
May 19, 5-6pm, opening event Democratic Headquarters, Knox County, 311 Morgan St.
May 19, 7-8pm, Loudon County Democrats, Lenoir City Municipal Center.
Latest News
- Tim Burchett pre-State of the Union critique proved to be false and contradictoryRe: “Congressman Tim Burchett: What you’ll miss in Joe Biden’s State of the Union,” KnoxNews.com, March 1. KnoxNews recently carried a guest column by Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett; it really was just a disjointed blurt loaded with factual errors, contradictions, oversights, and wild extrapolations. As the Democratic candidate challenging Burchett, let me set straight the public… Read More »Tim Burchett pre-State of the Union critique proved to be false and contradictory
- Press Congressman Tim Burchett with tough questionsAs we marked the anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, it seems like a very good time to ask some public questions of incumbent congressman Rep. Tim Burchett. He has declared he’s running for reelection, and I have started a campaign to be the Democratic Party nominee challenging him. So let me put out some questions… Read More »Press Congressman Tim Burchett with tough questions
- BURCHETT POSTCARD IS A FLOPCongressman Tim Burchett this month sent an oversized postcard to the hundreds of thousands of people in our district; he was touting his actions in the U. S. House. If you look very closely at small print, you’ll see this bit of self-promotion was done at taxpayer expense. It was done at the start of an election… Read More »BURCHETT POSTCARD IS A FLOP
- HARMON CHALLENGES BURCHETT TO DEBATESExactly one year from today voters will choose a new Congress. In our area that likely means voters will choose between Republican incumbent Tim Burchett and Democratic candidate Mark Harmon. Today Harmon challenged Burchett to agree to a series of televised debates. “The voters deserve at least two, preferably three or more, debates. We can… Read More »HARMON CHALLENGES BURCHETT TO DEBATES
- Tennessee must reject Santorum slights on Native AmericansAnother Rick Santorum outrageous statement came and went last month, flushed away like so many of his words. His claim, however, merits reaction and debunking in many spots, notably here in Tennessee. The former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania turned CNN commentator, speaking at a Young America’s Foundation event, pontificated about America. “We came here and… Read More »Tennessee must reject Santorum slights on Native Americans
- Tennessee PSAs Underplay COVID CrisisPublic Service Announcements (PSAs) have a long and noble history on U.S. television. Smokey the Bear taught campers to extinguish fully their campfires. In one famous “Keep America Beautiful” PSA the audience sees a character in Native American costume paddling a canoe across a polluted landscape. As litter is tossed on his moccasins we switch… Read More »Tennessee PSAs Underplay COVID Crisis