Rob Russell for Congress

Saturday, August 16 - Events in Newport (Democratic Prayer Breakfast), Jonesborough (Andrew Jackson Women Democrats' Rally), and Mountain City. Picture below (thanks to Kitty!): Rob in Mountain City with Tennessee Senate Candidate Bill Jones and 2010 gubernatorial hopeful Kim McMillan (former Tennessee House Majority Leader and member of Bredesen's cabinet).

Thursday, August 7 - Primary Day! Rob wins the Democratic nomination.

Tuesday, August 5 - Rob at Greene County Fair, 5-7 pm 

Monday, August 4 - Rob at Greene County Fair, 7-10 pm 

Sunday, July 27 - Rob Russell endorsed by Bristol Herald-Courier's Editorial board.  

Sunday, July 27 - Rob interviewed by Corey Shoun for the Johnson City Press.

Tuesday, July 22 - Rob appears on WJHL TV-11's "Free Time" to send a message to First District Voters. Watch the 3 minute video online at Tri-Cities.Com. Full text of the speech is available at Rob's MySpace site: www.myspace.com/robforcongress

Saturday, July 19 - Rob, along with US Senate Candidates Bob Tuke and Ken Eaton, answers questions for the Northeast Tennessee Democrats Association in Greeneville. Read the Greeneville Sun's coverage.

Friday, June 13 - Rob and other candidates address NETAR (Northeast Tennessee Assoc. of Realtors)

Thursday, June 5 - Rob speaks at meeting of Hawkins Co. Democratic Women 

Sunday, June 1 - Rob appears on WBIR-TV's "Inside Tennessee" with other congressional candidates. See video on Rob MySpace blog at www.myspace.com/robforcongress

Wednesday, May 14 - Lucinda Day ("Lulu") Russell-Berry is born in Kingsport, TN.

Lulu entered the world today at 6 pm; she was 6 lbs, 13 oz -- and completely gorgeous.

Sat., May 3 - Unicoi County Democratic Party's BBQ Fundraiser
 
Rob spoke at a fundraiser for the Unicoi County Democratic Party at the Town Center in Erwin, TN; other speakers included Rev. Casey Nicholson (candidate for State Legislature) and Mike Padgett (candidate for US Senate). For more information: unicoicountydemocrats@yahoo.com

"Fund-Festival"- Saturday, April 19, 7 to 11 pm - Johnson City
"Fund-Festival" to Support Rob Russell for Congress at the Acoustic Coffeehouse in Johnson City

Rob Russell hosted a music festival/fundraiser to help spread the word about his campaign. Performers included The Catbird Seat,  The Bystanders, Travis Stuart, and Rob's long-time bandmates David Hart, Andy Russell & Chad Light. Tickets were $10 with all proceeds going to Rob Russell For Congress. The campaign raised nearly $850 that night.

(left to right) Chad Light, Andy Russell, David Hart, Rob Russell

Brandon Story, Alan Gamble, Robert Alfonso, Rob Russell

Travis Stuart

Tuesday, April 15 @ 7 pm - Greene Co. Democrats
Rob will attend and address the meeting of the Greene County Democrats

Court house, downtown Greeneville, TN.

Greeneville Sun covereage of the meeting: http://greenevillesun.com/story/294435

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.

Monday, April 14 @ 6 pm - Cocke Co. Democratic Women
Rob speaks to Cocke County Democratic Women
Rob will attend and address the meeting of the Cocke County Democratic Women at Ryan's Steakhouse in Newport. Anyone may attend. For more information, contact communications@robrussellforcongress.com

Thursday, April 10 @ 6 pm - Hamblen Co./Morristown
Hamblen County Democratic Women
Rob Russell will attend and address the meeting of the Hamblen County Democratic Women at Sagebrush Steakhouse on Morris Blvd (across from the mall) in Morristown, TN. Anyone may attend. For more information and directions, contact communications@robrussellforcongress.com .

Wednesday, April 9 @ 7:30 pm - ETSU College Democrats
Rob Russell Speaks to ETSU College Democrats
Rob will speak at the meeting of ETSU's College Democrats in the The Cave (lower level, ETSU's Culp Unversity Center). Anyone may attend.

Tuesday, April 8, 5 to 7 pm - Volunteers Meeting
RR for Congress Volunteeers Meeting
Rob and Communications Director Sara Haj-Hussein will meet with anyone interested in volunteering to help Rob's campaign. The meeting will be held at the Democrat Resource Center in Johnson City, TN. Contact Sara at communications@robrussellforcongress.com if you have any questions.

ROB RUSSELL’S PETITION FOR U.S. HOUSE RUN ACCEPTED

Rob Russell, one of two democratic candidates of the first district of Tennessee, has successfully completed the first step in his bid for U.S. House. Russell received word from the Tennessee Election Commission that his petition had been approved. His name will appear on the ballot for the democratic primary scheduled for August 7, 2008.

Russell has the support of the Democratic Party County Chairs in Tennessee’s First District. Four of the county chairs provided the final signatures on his petition. Sid Davidson from Carter County, Marjorie Ramsey from Cocke County, Scott Whaley from Sevier County, and Mike Hampton from Unicoi County all joined Russell on Saturday, March 22 to complete the petition.