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By Angela Cutrer
Star Correspondent

The Carter County Republican Party has planned its 2023 Reagan Day Dinner for Saturday, May 27, at Milligan University. Participants will be able to meet and greet at 5:30 p.m., with dinner set for 6:30 p.m.

Special guest speaker is Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs; you may know him as WWE Hall of Famer “Kane.” He is a longtime supporter of libertarian political causes.

Jacobs was elected mayor on Aug. 2, 2018, after a long career as a professional wrestler. He was inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame April 1, 2021. Outside of professional wrestling, Jacobs made film and television guest appearances and worked with his wife as insurers. On Aug. 4, 2022, Jacobs was re-elected as Knox County mayor.

“We are very excited to have Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs as our keynote speaker for this year’s dinner,” said Abby Frye, chairwoman of the Carter County Republican Party. “If you have never had the opportunity to hear Mayor Jacobs, I highly encourage you to attend.”

Frye said that this year’s dinner takes place just a few days before early voting starts in the special election to fill the vacancy for the District Three seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives. For the primary election, early voting runs June 2-17, with Election Day on June 22. The general election will be on Aug. 3.

“Our annual Reagan Day Dinner provides an opportunity for members of our party to not only come together in fellowship, but to also engage with our elected officials on the local, state and federal level, many of whom attend the event,” she said. “Several of the candidates in the Republican Primary election will be attending the dinner, and this will give party members a chance to meet these candidates, if they have not already, and find out where they stand on key issues.”

Tennessee District Three covers all of Johnson County, along with portions of Carter, Sullivan and Hawkins counties, so many local residents may not be as familiar with candidates from other parts of the district, Frye said.

“Anyone who follows politics and government knows that the last few years have been tumultuous on both the state and federal levels,” she added. “Now, more than ever, it is important for Republicans to come together in unity and work to elect Conservative leaders who will fight against government overreach and defend our constitutional rights.”

Tickets are $25 for the meet and greet (with a limited number available) and $40 for dinner tickets. May 15 is the last day for tickets to be reserved. Tickets are available through CCRP officers or by emailing cartercountygop@gmail.com.