Because of this story out of Alabama, with Dr. Robert Bentley surprising the state by winning his way into a runoff for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, we decided to check with the two doctors running in Tennessee's 8th Congressional District's Republican Primary, George Flinn of Memphis and Ron Kirkland from Jackson. Were they considering following Bentley's lead in Alabama to petition for the "Dr." to appear next to their names on the ballot? And would they consider copying Bentley's ploy of legally changing their first name to "Dr." in an effort to market themselves to voters at the polls?
So we asked -- they both will stand without the "Dr."
From the Flinn campaign: "Dr. Flinn has no plans or desire for a legal name change. He will appear on the ballot as "George Flinn."
From Kirkland's campaign: "He will appear on the ballot as 'Ron Kirkland.' "
So we asked -- they both will stand without the "Dr."
From the Flinn campaign: "Dr. Flinn has no plans or desire for a legal name change. He will appear on the ballot as "George Flinn."
From Kirkland's campaign: "He will appear on the ballot as 'Ron Kirkland.' "
This reminds me of the late Memphis City Councilman Dr. Talib Karin Muhammad who, I understand, had the "Dr." as his legal name but also had no real doctoral degree.