posted July 23, 2008
I have done my best to stay away from politics for the past six years, but the District 31 House race is just too important to ignore. I don’t know why Jim Vincent would attempt to get back into office after he disgraced the office before. I’m not bothered near as much about his “barroom brawl” as I am about his self-serving attempt to get a dishonest person’s insurance license reinstated so he could once again be foist upon an unsuspecting public.
The fact that his cohort in this perpetration was Ward Crutchfield is also troubling and its makes me wonder why he didn’t seek the help of his own party’s state senator.
The truth is I just can’t trust Jim Vincent, and with good reason. When a man can shake your hand and tell you it is his word and his bond, only to be telling you what you will learn one day later to be a bold-face lie, is all the proof I need to know that the people of District 31 will be ill served if Mr. Vincent is returned to office.
I also know Jim Cobb and he is an honest and forthright man. He has proved he will serve both counties, Hamilton and Rhea, while respecting our tax dollars and voting to use them wisely. Jim Cobb has served our country as a sergeant in the U.S. Army and we need him more than ever to serve District 31.
J. Pat Williams
Chattanooga
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It is saddening to see such carefully designed political rhetoric presented as "personal opinion". I don't know "J. Pat Williams". However, I do recognize poorly camouflaged, dirty, back-stabbing fish-paste when I see it.
I also know Mr. Vincent and his family. They are shrewd, honest, Christian folk, and I admire them.
Did Jim Sr. get in a brawl? Yes, I suppose so. I'll bet he was defending a woman's honor or backing up one of his friends - something that "J. Pat Williams" has probably never had the guts to do himself.
Did Jim get involved with someone dishonest? Maybe so. That happens in politics. Even a man as wise as Jim Sr. can be deceived.
So, "J. Pat Williams" keep your thinly disguised slander under your forked tongue.
Daniel D. Smith
Capt@comcast.net
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Unfortunately, we don’t live in District 31 so we can’t vote for Jim Vincent. But we would if we could. We need people of his experience in business and government to represent that district which ultimately serves people of two counties, and all of Tennessee.
What’s important is the effectiveness of the legislator to handle the responsibilities of office. Equally important is their overall temperament for the job. Jim Vincent has a proven track record of leadership, and is responsive to the needs of his district. Whether or not he got in a bar fight a few years ago is totally immaterial.
It is very hollow, and totally irresponsible, of Jim Cobb to vote against more state school funding for Rhea and Hamilton Counties, then telling those who disagree with that vote to “get over it.”
Jim Vincent’s solid record of achievement and service speaks for itself, and does not require the touting of endorsements by special interest groups.
Our house will vote to send Gerald McCormick back to Nashville, and we hope those of District 31 will send Jim Vincent to serve with him.
Craig and Marcy Carroll
alamo3csc@yahoo.com
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It appears to me, Mr. Smith, that you must be wearing rose-colored glasses where Jim Vincent is concerned.
As someone who knows, and has been employed by both Mr. Jim Vincent and Mr. J. Pat Williams, I can assure you that you have made several mistakes regarding both men. I don’t have a horse in this race, so this “opinion” is in no way political. But when I see a wrong, I feel a need to fix it.
There is no “supposing” Jim Sr. was involved in a barroom brawl. You have lost your bet on whether he was defending a woman’s honor 'or' defending a friend in the course of that fracas. I worked for Mr. Vincent and at work the next day, sporting his “shiner”, he never did mention that it happened defending any person.
You degraded Pat Williams’ character, a man you admit not knowing. I do. Even though I do not find it necessary to come to his defense, anyone who knows him knows of his good moral character, honesty and integrity.
After knowing and working with Mr. Vincent for 11 years or so, I cannot use the same adjectives to describe his character.
I can also assure you, there is no “maybe so” about Jim Vincent working with someone dishonest. And a business and personal relationship, not politics, were involved. I know - I was there. Jim Vincent was in no way an innocent victim or deceived in any way regarding this matter.
You used the words “slander” and “forked tongue” very freely. Be careful. Words like those could come back to haunt you some day - and make you feel very foolish.
I also know the family of Jim Vincent, and I admire and respect his wife, Marilyn, very much. At one time I also held respect for Jim Vincent - until he broke promises to his employees that he would “do us right” and then sold the business to someone he knew was not in the best interest of the business or the employees - for his own financial gain. When I am lied to, and can no longer trust a man’s word, I no longer can defend his character.
Debbie Pack
Chattanooga
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