Thompson's hometown is getting ready for Freddie

Lawrence County boasts a museum of Southern gospel music, plenty of Crockett sites (the 19th century frontiersman was one of the first city commissioners), and an Amish community north of town that is a strong tourist draw. To attract retirees, Chamber of Commerce brochures emphasize the warm climate, low housing prices (the county average is $80,000) and the absence of a state income tax.

Thompson's campaign -- and, God willing, a Freddie presidency -- will give Lawrenceburg a chance to advertise itself more widely, Smotherman said. He admitted to studying the effects on Plains, Ga., when Jimmy Carter rose to the country's highest office, though there is a crucial difference: While Carter always maintained a residence in Plains, Thompson has not lived in Lawrenceburg since 1969.

Smotherman's readiness committee began meeting at the end of May. At its most recent session, in early August, two dozen people -- including elected officials, Chamber of Commerce employees, local arts leaders, community group presidents and several people involved in providing services to seniors -- met in a Lawrenceburg senior citizens center.

"I think you're going to start seeing people coming because of interest in Fred," Daphene Cope, the chamber's operations director, told the group. "We're going to have a different attraction because of him."

Anne Morrow, a Thompson cousin who is curator of the art museum next to the Crockett Theater, reported on some recent e-mail contacts with Thompson's office. (There was still no word on an announcement, she said.) The mayor talked about the idea of adding 20-foot-tall signs at the city limits with blown-up photographs of Thompson.

The director of the local historic district described how state money would pay for flower planters and signs. The attendees also heard a report on a massive countywide cleanup effort that netted 22,000 pounds of litter.

"We want to grow the community," Smotherman said. "And Freddie can help."

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joe.mathews@latimes.com