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Sometimes, Jamie Woodson Enjoys a Little Horse Play

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In a profile story on Jamie Woodson, Georgiana Vines reports the former state senator turned SCORE president likes hunting, fishing, mentoring youngsters and, perhaps most notably, horses.
“I can’t tell you the hundreds of times I have balanced out a weighty decision I had to make while grooming a horse, picking out stalls, cleaning tack or weed-eating a fence row. Sometimes, I don’t think about a single thing. I just enjoy the sight, the smells and the sounds of horses and the labor that it takes to tend to them properly,” the 40-year-old said.
…While she lived in Sequoyah Hills, she kept a thoroughbred horse, Mikey, in Jefferson County (which became part of her state House district through redistricting, prompting some concern over winning against a Jefferson County opponent.)
She won her first blue ribbon in a horse show at River Glen in Jefferson County — a win she parlayed into winning the election. In the Republican primary she beat Craig Kisabeth, a formern football coach, and was the winner since no Democrat ran.
…During the time she served in the state House and Senate, Woodson also was general counsel for Camel Manufacturing in Campbell County. April Harris, Camel’s CEO, said she got to know Woodson when they both rode horses at Penrose Farm. Harris’ daughter, Sommerville, rode ponies there along with her friends.
“Jamie would take the pony club girls out to lunch during the day. My daughter would come back and tell me about Jamie. That’s how I met her, encouraging girls to be all they could be,” she said.

Padgett, Rogero Lead Fundraising in Knoxville Mayor’s Race

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Georgina Vines has provided a rundown on campaign financial disclosures in the Knoxville mayor’s race:
It’s clear from the latest financial disclosures of the Knoxville mayoral candidates that the business community that supports political candidates, most of whom are Republicans, is endorsing Mark Padgett, a Democrat and son of former longtime Knox County Clerk Mike Padgett.
The businessman’s supporters include family members of Gov. Bill Haslam, former Knoxville mayor. The Republican governor has said he’s staying out of the nonpartisan race. But Madeline Rogero, who ran against Haslam eight years ago and then became his community development director when he was mayor, has some business support, too, particularly among architects and prominent women.
… Rogero, also a Democrat, did get donations from two people key in Haslam’s mayoral administration – Larry Martin, deputy mayor, and Bill Lyons, senior director of policy and communications, both of whom have remained with interim Mayor Daniel Brown.
Her contributors also include Dotty Roddy, mother-in-law of Councilwoman Marilyn Roddy, who was a mayoral candidate until deciding in April to run for Jamie Woodson’s state Senate seat. Dotty Roddy made her $500 contribution after the councilwoman changed races.
In terms of fundraising, the campaign is between Padgett and Rogero. Padgett is the frontrunner, raising $146,865 in the last quarter ending June 30; Rogero raised $63,911 during the period. But former County Commissioner Ivan Harmon, who reported raising $20,700, said he’s not to be counted out. Former Councilman Joe Hultquist, a latecomer to the race, reported raising $10,035. Bo Bennett, a 911 dispatcher, reported raising $24.