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Roger Griffith Launches Campaign for State Representative |
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 February
1, 2012, Roger Griffith, a local businessman and county commissioner, announced his candidacy for State Representative of the reconfigured 17th district, which now includes most of Jefferson County and the northern part of Sevier County.
In announcing his candidacy, Griffith stated, “We are facing serious challenges in our district. There is a double-digit unemployment rate in this area, Tennessee ranks 46th in education, and our values are constantly under attack. To overcome these challenges, the district needs a representative in Nashville with fresh ideas, extensive business experience, and the desire to listen to and communicate with citizens. I will work hard to represent the best interests of the entire district.”
Griffith is the founder and president of Griffith Engineering & Consulting, Inc., a local engineering firm. He said, “As a small business owner myself, I understand the difficulties of cumbersome government regulations and excessive taxes. Current unemployment rates in Jefferson and Sevier Counties are over 10%, which is significantly higher than the state average of 8.3%.”
Griffith also commented, “Government cannot create lasting jobs, but government can lower taxes, cut burdensome regulations, develop infrastructure and provide economic incentives to help businesses thrive, providing more and better jobs. We cannot sit idly by and wait for economic recovery to come to us. We must be prepared to launch into economic recovery and be a leader in job creation. I will work diligently to represent the interests of this area in Nashville.”
His public service complements his business experience. Griffith is currently a County Commissioner in Jefferson County, where he serves as Chairman of the Finance Committee and Chairman Pro Tempore. He has helped develop and pass a Debt Management Policy for the county, which provides openness and transparency for financial transactions. Griffith has been a leading supporter of school construction projects in the county, including the construction of a new elementary school and extensive renovations for the county’s high school. He recently introduced a resolution opposing any weakening of the “Sunshine Law”.
Griffith, 50, earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee Technological University. During 14 years at TVA, he held various engineering and management positions. As the principal of his engineering firm for the past 15 years, Griffith has been an engineering consultant for many local businesses and development projects, including Dollywood, The Inn at Christmas Place, Mills Auditorium, the Pigeon Forge Welcome Center, and Grainger County High School.
Roger and his family are active members of True Life Church in Jefferson City where he serves as an elder. He is a graduate of the East Tennessee Regional Leadership Program. He is also a member and past president of the Jefferson City Rotary Club, and a past board member of Habitat for Humanity in Jefferson County.
Roger has been married to his wife, Missy, for 25 years. They have nine children and live on a small farm in New Market.
Griffith will be on the Republican ballot in the state primary on August 2. For further information, please contact (865)850-0322.
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la Nina and
the Coming Months for East Tennessee
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Will this year be a repeat
of 1993?
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Jefferson County, along with most of the Nation, has experienced a vastly different Winter than 2011 brought to the area. Temperatures locally have been more Spring like in nature and have resulted in some confusion in plants and wildlife. Flowers, including daffodils and the less hardy Spring tulips, have begun to bloom and wildlife that is often scarce during the cold months, such as skunks, have begun to make their presence known months earlier than normal. Though many Jefferson County residents are more than happy with the moderate temperatures that the la Nina cycle has delivered to the area, it begs the question of what the County will be facing when Spring arrives in earnest. The Climate Predication Center is anticipating above average temperatures and precipitation through early Spring. Locally, parts of the County were devastated during 2011, as floods ravaged the area. The increased chance of precipitation could mean that the flood outlook is equally grim for early 2012. The good news is that by late Spring meteorologists expect that the la Nina cycle will no longer adversely impact the Tennessee Valley. Temperatures are expected to be normal in late Spring and continue in that pattern through the end of 2012. Precipitation is also expected to level out in the late Spring, bringing relief to those living in the flood plains. Abnormal precipitation amounts have already lead to the opening of nine Tennessee dams to relieve the threat of flooding. Though temperatures are expected to remain above average until late Spring, some meteorologists are comparing this year to 1993, when the area faced a recording breaking amount of snow in mid March. Though the blizzard of 1993 was a devastating weather event, the threat of tornados, thunderstorms and flooding appear to be more the norm for the next several months. New Market, Strawberry Plains and White Pine were heavily hit by flooding during 2011. Other areas of the County had sporadic flood damage, as well as high wind and hail damage during the turbulent weather of 2011.
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Israel - Iran
Tensions Continue To Grow
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By: Jake Depew, Jefferson County Post Staff Writer
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On Friday,
February 3, 2012, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of
Iran, issued a statement saying that Iran would stand beside any
country who opposes the “cancerous” Israel. Israel is a longtime
ally of the United States, and many officials in the country have
grown increasingly anxious about Iran’s developing nuclear
program, as Khamenei has stated before that, given the chance, Iran
would take nuclear action against Israel. Many believe that Iran is
trying to develop nuclear weapons, although the country has released
statements many times that claim the goal of the program is to
provide energy for civilian purposes. As a result of these fears,
concern is
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