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"It is only natural that any lawyer might feel concerned about what might happen should he refuse to endorse the winning candidate," said Charles Clifford, a Democrat seeking Young's seat.

"Some members of the public might well assume a lawyer who had endorsed a particular judge for election may have an advantage in that judge's court over an attorney who endorsed the loser or failed to make any endorsements," Clifford said.

However, Robert Goddard, one of three county attorneys seeking endorsements for Young, said there is nothing improper about his actions.

School board attorney David Duggan and Maryville attorney Jerry Cunningham are also soliciting endorsements for Young.

"We're just trying to do an ad. I'm not doing it in conjunction with the campaign," Goddard said.

The advertisement, Goddard said, will possibly run in The Daily Times.
"We're just asking county attorneys to sign on in support of Judge Young. Judge Young has asked no one for an endorsement," he said.

"Can you imagine anyone in their right mind doing that without notifying the candidate?" asked Clifford. "To suggest this is an independent venture is ridiculous."
"Thirty or 40" lawyers are planning to affix their names to the endorsement ad so far, Goddard said.

"It is certainly not unethical for us to ask for endorsements of Judge Young," Goddard said.

Clifford suggested a secret poll be conducted among Blount County Bar Association members, "concerning the respective fitness of myself and my opponent to hold the position of circuit judge."
Blount County Bar President Jon Anderson said that's a possibility that could be addressed at the bar's July 1 meeting.

"If it's going to be done, it needs to be done in the normal parliamentary procedure," Anderson said, with a resolution entered and voted upon.
As far as the endorsement campaign, Anderson said, "I have seen it done by judges in the past, and I don't feel there's anything improper about it.

"Judge Young hasn't solicited anything from me directly, face-to-face," he said.
Clifford said faxes to Young inquiring as to whether he would support a bar poll were met with the realization "our fax line is blocked" at Young's office.

"So far there's been no response," he said.

Calls to Young's office seeking comment were not immediately returned Tuesday.

Charges of impropriety are not unusual in the political arena, Anderson said.

"We are in the middle of a political campaign, and issues will be seized upon," he said.