Burchett Announces Candidacy; Effects of Economic Downturn

The election for Knox County mayor is more than a year away. The current mayor, Mike Ragsdale, is term-limited, leaving the position wide open for the first time in eight years. Gene Patterson's first guest today is State Senator Tim Burchett, who has announced his intention to run for the mayor's seat.

The economy continues to dominate the news. A slowing economy are resulting in budget shortfalls in all levels of business and government. In our second segment, Gene Patterson talks with Doug Lawyer, with the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership, about how this will play out over the next year here in Knoxville.

Ackerman Publie Relations executive Mike Cohen and 6 News political analyst George Korda conclude the program with a look a the political horizon.