In the political world, guilty by association can be good or bad depending on who you associate with. When candidates enter the political arena asking for the vote and confidence of the people, who they associate with, take council from and are influenced by become a relevant matter. There has been much made of the fact that supposedly Lenoir City mayoral candidate, Robert "Tooter" Robinett is financially associated with certain other elected officials namely Lenoir City Judge Terry Vann and councilman Tony Aikens. To simply make statements without fact is improper.

The facts are that Robinett and Vann were partners in a business known as RVW Partnership. RVW Partnership is a Tennessee general partnership consisting of Robert Robinett, Terry Vann and the late James R. "Buddy" White. The businesses main venture is the Warrior Chase Condominium development on Hwy. 70 East. In August 2003, RVW Partnership secured a loan of $1.700,000.00. On November 7th 2006, Terry Vann filed a Quit-Claim release for his interest in the partnership to the now late James R. "Buddy" White and Robert Robinett.

Robinett and Vann became co-owners of six acres of land on Tom Lee Road February of 2002. In 2003, Robinett and Vann secured a loan against the property for $100,000.00. In 2005, Terry Vann filed a Quit-Claim release of his interest in the property to his daughter, Stefanie Vann. On April 4th, 2008, Stefanie Vann filed a Quit-Claim release of her interest in the property to Robert Robinett.

In 1997, T and T Rental Properties of Tennessee, a Tennessee general partnership composed of Tony AIkens and Robert Robinett secured a loan of $270,000.00 using two tracts of land owned by Robert Robinett. The loan was released in 2004.

Obviously, Lenoir City mayoral candidate, Robert Robinett does or has in fact had partnership and financial affiliations with both Lenoir City Judge Terry Vann and councilman Tony Aikens. Does this mean Robinett would be influenced by his associates? Maybe, maybe not. Is his association with these other two officials good or bad? That's up to the voters to decide.

This information is not in support of any candidate or in opposition of any candidate. These are just simply some of the facts. Personally if someone put a gun to my head and said I had to pick one of the above, I'd just have to say, pull the trigger.