Haslam slam-dunk has hometown crowd thinking big

Bill Haslam enters a reception for top contributors at the Crowne Plaza.

I wondered if I were the only one thinking it.

Then I heard the woman beside me almost whisper it under her breath as she watched Bill Haslam on the TV monitor delivering his acceptance speech Tuesday night.

“Do we need to start getting used to saying, ‘Haslam for President?'” she asked.

A veteran political reporter I knew was standing nearby and I told him what the woman had said — and what I had been thinking. “Do you think it’s possible?” I asked him. “Yes,” he said without missing a beat. “Who else are the Republicans going to have that isn’t crazy?”

It was that kind of night Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Knoxville. The venue was way too small for the crowd that turned out to celebrate Mayor Bill Haslam’s trouncing of Democrat Mike McWherter in the governor’s race. So the noise and the excitement and the sheer heat of having us all crammed together in such close proximity made the euphoria that much more palpable.

But even in the cold morning light, the thought still lingers. I wonder. . .

Here’s a recap of the evening that began with happy anticipation, climaxed in a crush of humanity and ended with a bunch of people’s cars getting towed!

Continuing a tradition that started with Haslam’s Republican primary victory party in Nashville, several of us raised a toast in paper cups left over from his first mayoral campaign. (Note to the Haslams: expect to get a case of those babies delivered to the Governor’s Residence after you settle in!)

From left, Mickey Mallonee, Gay Lyons, Suzan Murphy and Alan Carmichael at the S&W Grand prior to the Haslam event.

Long before the festivities were set to start, throngs began to arrive for the victory celebration. Even though the polls didn’t close until 8 p.m., by 7, signs were posted at the Crowne Plaza saying the garage was full. We thanked our lucky stars that we now lived within walking distance of the hotel and didn’t have a car to contend with. Our first stop was the reception hosted by the campaign finance committee for contributors who had “maxed out” their legally allowable donation limit, which we had happily done.

Things started out so relaxed and civilized in Salon B where the finance committee hosted its reception.

Attorney Imogene King, a Democrat, chatted with Fred Marcum of Sen. Howard Baker's staff at the reception.

Our friends from the McMahan Winstead lobbying firm in Nashville were there.

From left, Alan Carmichael, Beth Winstead, Mona Hart of the Tennessee Secretary of State's office, and David McMahan

Jim Haslam, the father of Bill Haslam and the founder of Pilot Corporation, is good friends with the folks at Rogers Petroleum in Morristown, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Jim Haslam, left, with Penny and Don Rogers.

Randy and Jenny Boyd chat with Shaun Wilmoth at the reception.

Mickey Mallonee, the city's director of special events, poses with Crissy Haslam, Tennessee's next First Lady.

Tammy Wombold, left, and Joanne Hazelwood. Both their husbands are high-ranking Pilot executives.

Haslam spent about 30 minutes working the room before joining his family in a suite upstairs to watch the returns.

Jimmy Haslam, pointing, ran the finance committee.

From left, Debby and Mitch Steenrod, Jeff Roth, and R.B. Summitt.

Chamber Chairman Mike Strickland, center, looks on as Sevier County banker R.B. Summitt greets Joanne Hazelwood.

The King family of Sevier County enjoyed the reception. They are responsible for their county's new state-of-the-art library.

Congressman Jimmy Duncan, here with his wife Lynn, also won big Tuesday night.

Judge Charles Susano shared a laugh with Debby Steenrod.

Mickey Mallonee, left, and Traci McDonell, the city's photographer

Anwar Aman and Sen. Bob Corker were at the reception.

After Haslam and his family left the reception, I decided to see how crowded it was in the hotel’s hallway. Along this corridor were the finance committee reception, a general Republican reception, and, at the far end, the Haslam victory party. Whew!

The hall was practically gridlocked.

I’m pretty familiar with the Crowne Plaza, so I took a shortcut through a staff-only hallway to reach the main ballroom. But once I got in, I could see there was no way to make it anywhere near the stage area.

The main party in the ballroom.

I grabbed a shot of some friends I saw and then ducked out into the hallway again.

Renda Burkhart, left, and Polly Ailor and Laurens Tullock near the back of the party room.

Dean Rice, left, and Gerald Turner were chatting in the hall.

Realizing that it would be about an hour before Haslam delivered his acceptance speech and wanting to get off our feet and get out of the crush of politicians and media, Alan and I headed to The Library, which is the name of the Crowne Plaza’s small downstairs bar. And who did we run into? More politicians and media who had gotten the same idea before us!

Political reporter Frank Cagle of MetroPulse, left, and state Rep. Frank Niceley had a center table in The Library. Niceley also won a huge re-election victory Tuesday.

Pretty soon our friend Gay Lyons showed up.

Gay and Frank Cagle are buddies.

Susie McCamy, left, joined Amy and Tim Williams at the bar.

Meanwhile, folks were STILL pouring into the hotel.

Will and Vandi Bellamy in the lobby.

Steve Bailey, the candidate's brother-in-law, makes his way upstairs.

Finally, word came that Mike McWherter had conceded and it was time for Haslam to deliver his acceptance speech.

Folks watch the speech on the bar's TV.

Someone from the Knoxville Focus ran in and dumped a bunch of “hot off the press” newspapers in the hotel.

Jane Chedester and Carl Tindell.

From left, County Commissioner Dr. Richard Briggs, Dr. John Lacey and Andy Black in the lobby.

School board chair Indya Kincannon dropped by the bar.

From left, state Rep. Ryan Haynes, Josh Burnett of Knox County Trustee's office, Bill Lyons of the city of Knoxville, and attoney Grant Lewallen, Jr.

Former city councilman Larry Cox and Gay Lyons

The mass exodus began then.

Judy Morton and Brient Mayfield

Lee and Jackie Congleton

That’s when we heard the bad news: everyone who had parked in the surface lot to the east of the hotel had had their cars towed. Which makes me think downtown parking will be one of the major issues facing Knoxville’s next mayor.

Ken Knight, left, the general manager of the Crowne Plaza, shakes hands with County Commissioner Ed Shouse. We sure hope your hotel recovers from our visit, Mr. Knight!

Here is a great 12-minute video produced by WBIR about Bill Haslam’s journey to the governorship. Click here.