Mayoral candidate Larsen Jay with popular Knoxville caterer Holly Hambright at a reception in downtown Knoxville on Tuesday.
Besides being an excellent candidate for Knox County Mayor next year, I appreciate Larsen Jay for another important reason: he’s a great excuse for a really fun party!
Alan and I — with the support of an impressive host committee — held a “Meet & Greet” gathering for him earlier this week at our condo in the J.C. Penney building on Gay Street. We had a fun, mostly downtown-centric crowd and got a chance to hear first-hand why he thinks he is the best candidate for the position.
A member of Knox County Commission for the past seven years, Jay is an accomplished businessman and community supporter. “The Mayor of Knox County is essentially the CEO of the county,” said my husband, Alan Carmichael, in his introduction of the candidate. “And Larsen is an experienced and successful CEO.”
For his part, Jay said he would focus on fiscal responsibility if he is elected next year, as well as infrastructure improvement, public safety, and economic development. A Republican, Jay said his family is one of Tennessee’s “First Families,” having lived in the Volunteer State for seven generations.
Jay has bachelor’s and MBA degrees from the University of Tennessee. He has 15 years of experience in the film and television production industry and he founded the nonprofit Random Acts of Flowers, which delivers recycled flowers and personal visits to patients in healthcare facilities in Knoxville, Tampa, Indianapolis, and Asheville.
He and his wife, Adrian, have two sons and live in west Knoxville.
Larsen Jay, left, with downtowners Gina and Richard Bass and Gay Lyons, right.
It was a very social group! The noise level quickly rose to a dull roar!
Friendly, too! Gay Lyons, left, hugs Maria McHale, a close friend and former downtown neighbor of Alan and mine.
Tyler Janow with Sandi Swilley, left, and Gay Lyons.
From left, Kim Henry, Jennifer Holder, and Cynthia Gibson.
From left, Jeannette Mills, Janet Testerman, and Harry Boston.
I was happy to use this beautiful platter created by my friend Kristin Grove to serve the deviled eggs.
More mingling.
Emma Moutaw, left, and Olivia Graves work for the Jay campaign. They were huge helps with the event, checking folks in and handling donations and name tags. The evening raised $5,400 for the campaign.
From left, Mike Kellar (wearing cap), Richard Ford, Kendall Keller, Dawn Ford, and Madge Cleveland.
Great friends and party helpers, from left: Katie Kline, Madge Cleveland, and Susan Brown. Susan was a member of the event’s host committee. Other members: Gina and Richard Bass, David and Tracy Dewhirst, Desiree and David Eldridge, Cynthia Gibson and David Gilbert, Laura and Mark Heinz, Angel Howard and Rick Stone, Tyler Janow and Anthony Wilson, Michael and Kendall Keller, Gay Lyons, and Sandi Swilley. Thanks, everybody!
Gourmet’s Market and Cafe provided the food, which was a hit. Here’s the lemon-rosemary chicken with tahini vinaigrette. Yum.
I’m not sure what Harry Boston was saying, but it sure looked serious!
From left, Dino Cartwright, Susan Brown, and Jennifer Holder.
We had two kinds of pissaladiere. This one had pepperoni.
Veggie version.
Katie Kline, center, with Dawn and Richard Ford.
Time for a few remarks from the candidate.
From left, on couch: Angel Howard, Judith Foltz, and Sandi Swilley; standing: Anthony Wilson and Richard Bass; in rear: Adrian Jay, Rick Stone, Madge Cleveland, and Joan Ashe.
Victor Ashe, seated, and from left, Janet Testerman, Jeannette Mills, Maria McHale, Harry Boston, and Jeff Lee.
From left, Tyler Janow, Kendall Kellar, and Gay Lyons.
Olivia Graves, left, and Diana Condon.
Larsen making his case. (We were already sold!)
A view from the kitchen.
After the remarks, a few more photos: Jay with Diana Condon, left, and Judith Foltz.
With Sandi Swilley.
Emma Moutaw and Mike Kellar.
My favorite shoes at the party were Kim Henry’s! Pretty and practical at the same time!
After the event, Alan, Susan Brown and I went to The Kennedy for an “after party!” Ha. Those corn dogs, right, were fantastic. That’s a plate of truffle fries at left.
Alan happily enjoying a corn dog.
Thanks again, Susan, for all the help.
A great evening supporting a sterling candidate. Great pictures too, Cynthia!
Thanks, Rusha! It was a lot of fun – for a worthy cause!
I want this site to be fun. And I especially enjoy anything about Blount Mansion- where I volunteered for 10 years..
But..
As soon as Larson Jay got his 2nd term, he turned on the people that elected him. And became pro- development, which isn’t what everybody wants..
People important to me could no longer afford to live here. And if my home wasn’t paid for, I’d be homeless..
Larson Jay embraced & encouraged The Jacobs Inflation. As well as embracing the ideology of Kincannon and her government intrusion..
Downtown – centric, so true. What do you think of Corryton?
Larry: Thanks for reading the Blue Streak. I hope you find it fun, for the most part. That’s why I write it.
You are, of course, entitled to your opinion and welcome to vote for the candidate of your choice. I support Larsen Jay because he’s experienced in business and is a moderate, something that is increasingly rare in politics these days.
Our event was “downtown-centric” because we live in downtown. Other neighborhoods also are having similar meet-and-greet events. I’m sure there will be one in Corryton.
Thank you for responding- and for adding my thoughts to this site.
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