The Advocate and Democrat

Former McMinn County Director of Schools John Forgety announced Thursday he will run in 2010 for the 23rd District Tennessee House of Representative seat being vacated by Mike Bell.

The 23rd District encompasses all of McMinn County and the eastern portion of Monroe County.

"I have been somewhat intrigued with the political process for a long time," said Forgety, who worked on former District Attorney General Jerry Estes' campaign in 1982.

Bell, who currently represents the 23rd District, announced last week he would pursue the 9th District state Senate seat held by Dewayne Bunch, who is not running for re-election.

The 9th Senate District is made up of Bradley, McMinn, Meigs and Polk counties.

Forgety will run in the Aug. 5 state Republican primary. The winner of that primary will move on to the Nov. 2 general election.

Candidates for both the Democratic and Republican state primaries can begin picking up qualifying petitions Jan. 1 and must complete them by April 1.

With double-digit unemployment rates in Monroe and McMinn counties, Forgety said creating jobs will be his top priority.

"Our economy is not going to get significantly better until that improves," he said. "Jobs must be the first order of business."

He said the state must work to make Tennessee attractive to industries and to help small businesses succeed.

Being a farm boy, he said it is very frustrating for him to see children who must leave their family farms. They can't make a living farming, tuition is too high, and there aren't enough local jobs, so they move away.

"We must make it possible for farmers to keep the family farm."

Forgety spent 40 years working in the public school system, including 16 years as director of schools in McMinn County. He also served 20 years in the Tennessee Army National Guard and is a veteran of the Iraqi Freedom operation.

He retired as a first sergeant in the Tennessee National Guard not long before his July 1, 2008, retirement as McMinn County director of schools.

Since his retirement, Forgety has continued to be involved in education as an "exemplary educator," under contract with Edvantia to provide assistance to targeted schools for the Tennessee Department of Education. He also is affiliated with Ronnie Colyer Auction and Realty.

He said he intends to get more acquainted with the district's representatives in Monroe County, and he and his wife, Faye, own a small cabin between Madisonville and Tellico Plains.

"I have met with some of those folks up there and they are wonderful people," he said.

The Daily Post-Athenian contributed to this report.

editor@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101

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