County music star to rock Watertown ag hall for Hoffman

Country musician John Rich, half of the country duo Big & Rich, will perform at the Jefferson County Agricultural Society Exhibition Hall, 615 W.T. Fields Drive, at 6:30 p.m. Monday during a "get out ot the vote" rally for Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the 23rd Congressional District race.

The venue can fit 440 people legally. When Big & Rich played the nearby Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds in June 2006, the group attracted more than 5,000 people.

The event Monday is free and open to the public.

City Manager Mary M. Corriveau said the city does not anticipate any expenses related to the Hoffman rally. She was called Friday morning by the Hoffman camp, seeking permission to hire off-duty officers for the event, and that was granted, Mrs. Corriveau said.

If traffic congestion develops because of the rally, on-duty patrols will be available, she said.