Title: Tennessee State and Local Politics (Two GOP gov. debates upcoming) Post by: Oak Hills on July 02, 2014, 10:23:36 PM I've decided to start a thread for posting news about Tennessee politics. I'm going to focus on state and local stories that may be of interest. For things pertaining to congressional elections, I created this thread (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=190132.0) awhile back.
I figured this is as good a time as any, seeing as the primary is coming up Thurs, Aug. 7 (Yes, you read that right - we hold our state primary and local general elections on the first Thursday in August, for no reason I can figure out.), and a number of new state (http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/jun/30/anti-meth-law-among-those-taking-effect-tennessee-/) laws took effect yesterday. (http://www.wate.com/story/25904502/anti-meth-law-among-those-taking-effect-july-1-in-tennessee) Among them: One requiring a prescription to purchase more than 28.8 grams of pseudoephedrine annually, to fight meth production; One requiring the state Dept. of Children's Services to release information about children whose death it investigates (age, gender, history with the DCS; There had been a major scandal about the DCS with regards to information about children who died in DCS custody or while having abuse claims investigated; I will not link to a specific article because this has been ongoing for years, but this page (http://blogs.knoxnews.com/humphrey/childrens-issues/) has a decent selection of articles on the matter); One allowing the state to execute using the electric chair if lethal injection drugs are unavailable or lethal injection is ruled unconstitutional; One allowing package stores to sell beer among other things; the same law will allow municipalities to hold referenda on whether to allow wine sales in supermarkets, though they will not be allowed to implement this change until 2016; currently; supermarkets are allowed to sell beer, but not wine, while package stores are allowed to sell wine and other alcoholic beverages, but not beer; And one allowing prosecution of mothers for using illicit drugs while pregnant. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Bandit3 the Worker on July 02, 2014, 11:40:35 PM One requiring a prescription to purchase more than 28.8 grams of pseudoephedrine annually, to fight meth production; Isn't the GOP supposed to be for "limited government"? Quote And one allowing prosecution of mothers for using illicit drugs while pregnant. The GOP war on women continues. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Hifly on July 03, 2014, 04:11:29 AM One requiring a prescription to purchase more than 28.8 grams of pseudoephedrine annually, to fight meth production; Isn't the GOP supposed to be for "limited government"? Quote And one allowing prosecution of mothers for using illicit drugs while pregnant. The GOP war on women continues. Your attitude may help explain why one party wins all statewide elections in Tennessee and the other party loses all statewide elections in Tennessee. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Chancellor Tanterterg on July 03, 2014, 04:57:30 AM One requiring a prescription to purchase more than 28.8 grams of pseudoephedrine annually, to fight meth production; Isn't the GOP supposed to be for "limited government"? Quote And one allowing prosecution of mothers for using illicit drugs while pregnant. The GOP war on women continues. Your attitude may help explain why one party wins all statewide elections in Tennessee and the other party loses all statewide elections in Tennessee. Phil Bredesen would like a word with you. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: TX Conservative Dem on July 03, 2014, 06:15:21 PM Tennessee Democrats get the Executive Mansion back in 2018 after Haslam is term limited.
The 2-term Dem, 2-term GOPer continues in the Volunteer State. No Tennessee Governor has lost reelection. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: warandwar on July 08, 2014, 12:43:49 PM Tennessee Democrats get the Executive Mansion back in 2018 after Haslam is term limited. The 2-term Dem, 2-term GOPer continues in the Volunteer State. No Tennessee Governor has lost reelection. Well, they had a one term limit until 1978. And have you seen the state of the Democratic party in Tennessee? They have no one even willing to run a serious campaign and are decimated in the State Legislature. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: TX Conservative Dem on July 10, 2014, 07:31:57 AM So you don't see the TN Dems ever getting the TN Executive Mansion back ever again?
Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Oak Hills on July 14, 2014, 11:11:08 AM So you don't see the TN Dems ever getting the TN Executive Mansion back ever again? They most likely will at one point, but probably not in 2018 The Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, site of the recent union vote (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=187615.0), will be making Volkswagen's new SUV, (http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/14/us-vw-suv-usa-idUSKBN0FJ1IR20140714?feedType=RSS) creating 2,000 jobs. The creation of a new UAW local, in the hopes of receiving recognition for the union if enough workers sign up, had been announced last week. (http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/uaw-union-local-coming-tenn-volkswagen-plant-24503100) Also, there an important vote on the August 7 ballot which I forgot to mention: every eight years, Tennessee Supreme Court justices have to go through a popular referendum on whether they will continue to serve on the Court for another eight years. Normally the justices are re-elected without incident, but this year, Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey is leading a campaign to deny the justices their seats, (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2014/jul/13/retention-vote-for-supreme-court-justices-of/) basically for being appointees of Democratic governor Phil Bredesen. In Tennessee, the state Supreme Court appoints the state attorney-general, so if Ramsey's smear campaign succeeds, it will mean that a majority of justices will be Republican appointees, meaning the Republican Party will have complete control over all state offices, given their supermajorities in both houses of the General Assembly. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: TX Conservative Dem on July 14, 2014, 01:40:11 PM What odds does Ramsey's tempter tantrum have of succeeding ?
Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Oak Hills on July 15, 2014, 10:03:30 AM What odds does Ramsey's tempter tantrum have of succeeding ? Pretty high, unfortunately. A lot of people are going to be swayed by ads calling them "activist judges" or whatever. From the article I posted earlier: Quote This year, the three campaigning justices are on track to jointly raise and spend $1 million or more, and their supporters have expressed fears that far more than that will be spent in attack ads urging voters to reject them in the remaining days before the election. If that happens “we’re dead” because voters generally are unfamiliar with the situation, said Lew Conner, a Republican and former Court of Appeals judge backing the current justices. In other news, the Haslam family's truck-stop chain has agreed to pay $92 million in fines for cheating customers out of rebates. (http://www.oakridger.com/article/20140714/NEWS/140719950) Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Oak Hills on August 07, 2014, 11:06:23 AM Well, the primaries for Congress, governor, and General Assembly are today, as are the judicial retention elections and all county offices up for election this year.
Turnout was heavy in early voting. (http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2014/08/02/early-voting-wraps-record-turnout/13529063/) A total of 564,631 early ballots were cast. 354,154 Tennesseeans voted in the Republican primaries, and 164, 918 in the Democratic. (http://tnsos.org/elections/ElectionData/20140807EarlyVotersDisplay.php?All) That link also gives a breakdown by county. Anderson County Election administrator Mark Stephens was quoted in today's Oak Ridger as saying that "Clinton had about 45 people in line and Oak Ridge had about 20 still in line at noon" on Saturday, when early voting ended. (Source: http://www.oakridger.com/article/20140806/NEWS/140809929 (http://www.oakridger.com/article/20140806/NEWS/140809929), also appeared on page 4A of the print edition under headline "Voting gets underway this morning") I expect turnout to be quite good today, as well, I will give you a report from Roane County's Oak Hills precinct later this afternoon. Polls close simultaneously across the state despite the time difference; they will close at 8PM in precincts on Eastern Time and 7PM in those using Central Time. On a more personal note, this will be the first election I will ever vote in. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Pandaguineapig on August 07, 2014, 12:07:49 PM why question is; who the f@*k are these Dejarlais voters?
Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Oak Hills on August 07, 2014, 02:44:00 PM Turnout at my precinct was steady, but there weren't huge lines or anything like that. I voted for McKamey for Governor, Adams for Senate, and to retain the judges. All the others were either unopposed or local races not of interest to the forum.
Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Adam Griffin on August 07, 2014, 03:44:16 PM Alexander
Tracy Wamp Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: IceSpear on August 07, 2014, 03:50:37 PM why question is; who the f@*k are these Dejarlais voters? Presumably the same as the Sanford, Vitter, and Gingrich voters. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Adam Griffin on August 07, 2014, 04:06:25 PM why question is; who the f@*k are these Dejarlais voters? Presumably the same as the Sanford, Vitter, and Gingrich voters. Evangelicals who truly believe DesJarlais when he said God has forgiven him. "Who am I to judge?" Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Pandaguineapig on August 07, 2014, 04:14:51 PM why question is; who the f@*k are these Dejarlais voters? Presumably the same as the Sanford, Vitter, and Gingrich voters. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Oak Hills on August 07, 2014, 09:50:09 PM Well, I'm pleased to report that justices Wade, Clark, and Lee have been retained by a nearly 60%-40% margin, as disappointed as I am that McKamey and Adams seem to have lost their races.
Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Adam Griffin on August 07, 2014, 10:10:59 PM Well, I'm pleased to report that justices Wade, Clark, and Lee have been retained by a nearly 60%-40% margin, as disappointed as I am that McKamey and Adams seem to have lost their races. Is Ball even a Democrat? Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Andrew1 on August 08, 2014, 03:16:25 AM Once again Tennessee Dems have nominated the "wrong" candidate in a low information primary. Charles Brown did no campaigning, his Facebook page contains no information and misspells his first name.
Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Adam Griffin on August 08, 2014, 03:47:23 AM Once again Tennessee Dems have nominated the "wrong" candidate in a low information primary. Charles Brown did no campaigning, his Facebook page contains no information and misspells his first name. There's ample evidence from just this cycle - let alone others - to prove that the TN Dem electorate is unarguably the stupidest electorate in the nation, even when compared to Dem parties in other states with just as much and more disorganization. I can't think of a time in the past 6 years when they haven't picked the wrong candidate. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Gass3268 on August 08, 2014, 06:49:21 AM Once again Tennessee Dems have nominated the "wrong" candidate in a low information primary. Charles Brown did no campaigning, his Facebook page contains no information and misspells his first name. There's ample evidence from just this cycle - let alone others - to prove that the TN Dem electorate is unarguably the stupidest electorate in the nation, even when compared to Dem parties in other states with just as much and more disorganization. I can't think of a time in the past 6 years when they haven't picked the wrong candidate. My Tennessee girlfriend, who interned at the TNDP, does not disagree with you. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Andrew1 on August 08, 2014, 03:21:58 PM And the fun begins...
Democratic nominee against Tennessee governor wants to electrocute him (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/08/08/democratic-nominee-against-tennessee-governor-apparently-wants-to-electrocute-him/) Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Flake on August 08, 2014, 03:29:42 PM And the fun begins... Democratic nominee against Tennessee governor wants to electrocute him (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/08/08/democratic-nominee-against-tennessee-governor-apparently-wants-to-electrocute-him/) D+1 Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Oak Hills on August 08, 2014, 06:13:35 PM And the fun begins... Democratic nominee against Tennessee governor wants to electrocute him (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/08/08/democratic-nominee-against-tennessee-governor-apparently-wants-to-electrocute-him/) The Tennesseean managed to get an interview with this guy. (http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2014/08/08/charlie-brown-democrats-find-another-character/13802871/) Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: nolesfan2011 on August 08, 2014, 06:34:48 PM hopefully Charlie uses the peanuts theme song in campaign ads
Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Representative Joe Mad on August 08, 2014, 07:46:39 PM That article that was posted regarding the nominee wanting to electrocute the governor had some neat links at the bottom basically outlining the utter collapse the Democratic party has faced in the south. All rather depressing, really. The one about Alvin Greene was actually rather sad.
Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: crash1984 on August 08, 2014, 10:13:45 PM Tennessee always seems to get some fruitcakes on the ballot for some reason. Yesterday in the governors race I nearly voted for Basil Marceaux.
Back when I was rather young there used to be this guy Dan Martino who was a street preacher and made national headlines by holding a sign at the 1988 Democrat convention saying "God is a Republican". There was one time he ran for sheriff and since he was the only Republican running he got the nomination. Even Republicans were saying to vote for the Democrat. As far as how I voted yesterday I voted for Alexander, Haslam, Wamp, and to retain the justices. Honestly I really did not not like Wamp or Fleischmann and was not going to vote for either come November but I considered Wamp the lesser of two evils. Also there were some local races on the ballot and also a question about domestic partnership. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Andrew1 on August 09, 2014, 04:06:34 AM The Democrats' Basil Marceaux
() Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Oak Hills on November 03, 2014, 08:43:38 PM I haven't updated this in months, but I figured I'd do one final election eve update.
Early voting turnout declined by 14.6 percent versus 2010, but continually rose over the early voting period. The Tennesseean speculates that this may be due to voters taking longer to make up their minds than in previous years. (http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2014/10/30/early-voting-turnout-percent-statewide/18180347/) In line with that theory, a Middle Tennessee State University poll (http://www.wate.com/story/27153813/mtsu-poll-vote-on-tenn-amendment-1-too-close-to-call) out last week indicates that support for Amendment 1, which would give the legislature authority to regulate abortion, leads opposition by 39%-32% among likely voters, with 15% undecided, 8% saying they won't cast a vote on the amendment, and 6% refusing to answer. Sorry there's no link to the poll on MTSU's site, but I bizarrely could not find it on http://mtsusurveygroup.org (http://mtsusurveygroup.org). More results (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2014/10/31/mtsu-poll-amendment-3-outcome-uncertain-haslam-leads-charlie-brown-50-19-alexander-ball-42-26/) of the poll (http://mtsusidelines.com/2014/10/mtsu-poll-amendment-3-a-close-race-haslam-and-alexander-show-substantial-leads/), released a few days later, indicate that Haslam leads Brown 50%-19%, Alexander leads Ball 42%-26%, and support for Amendment 3 leads opposition 30%-25%, with 24% unsure and 14% not voting. That poll doesn't look very good to me. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Oak Hills on November 04, 2014, 09:52:47 PM 643,413 gubernatorial votes have been counted so far, according to wate.com. Although only 22% of precincts are reporting, this would mean that each state constitutional amendment would need at least 321,707 votes to be passed, if that were the final number (which of course it won't be). Nevertheless, I will state the current numbers on the amendments in order to get an early look: Amendment 1 (giving the legislature authority to restrict abortion) has 354,836, Amendment 2 (giving the legislature confirmation powers over state appellate judge appointments) has 406,243, Amendment 3 (banning a state income tax) has 417,715, and Amendment 4 (allowing veterans' groups to hold lottery fundraisers) has 430,848, all over the threshold for now.
Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Oak Hills on November 04, 2014, 10:49:59 PM WUOT is saying all four amendments have passed.
Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Oak Hills on December 05, 2014, 07:58:56 PM There's a new Vanderbilt University poll (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2014/12/03/vanderbilt-poll-finds-tennesseans-support-medicaid-expansion-like-haslam/#more-18075) out this week asking a wide range of policy questions to Tennessee voters.
Some of the most important numbers: -56% support Medicaid expansion. -ACA favorability is at 20/44, with 35% unsure. -Gov. Haslam's approval ratings stand at 70% -67% oppose a no-exceptions abortion ban, though support for several other measures related to abortion is higher. -There is a wide generation gap concerning the issues of same-sex marriage, marijuana legalization, and income inequality. The poll was conducted Nov. 10-20 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. It sampled 949 TN registered voters and has a margin of error of +/- 3.7%. Title: Re: Tennessee Elections and Politics Post by: Oak Hills on June 22, 2015, 02:46:47 PM I haven't updated this thread in quite a while, but I wanted to note a couple of stories from last week.
First, longtime state Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville, has been indicted (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/state/state-rep-joe-armstrong-indicted?_ga=1.210379989.1761316911.1383092621) on fraud and tax evasion charges based on an alleged plot involving cigarette tax stamps: Quote One of Tennessee’s and the nation’s most influential black state legislators bartered his vote on a cigarette tax hike for a cut in a scheme to hoard tax stamps at pre-hike prices and then sell them off once the Tennessee Legislature approved the bill, a federal indictment alleges. State Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville, who served as president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators from 2012-2014 and twice was named the group’s Legislator of the Year, was indicted Wednesday in U.S. District Court. Armstrong, 58, is charged in the indictment with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., tax evasion and lying to the IRS. He is expected to surrender to federal authorities Friday morning to be arraigned. … Tax stamps, which are affixed to every pack of cigarettes sold in Tennessee, are akin to money as they are valued at whatever tax the state has set and are bought and sold like commodities. In 2006, Armstrong was part of a failed push to boost the cigarette tax, which was then 20 cents per pack. In February 2007, fellow Democrat and then-Governor Phil Bredesen announced he, too, would be urging the Legislature to boost the tax by 40 cents per pack. Advocacy groups for various health organizations backed that effort. Wholesalers began buying up the tax stamps in anticipation of the hike, which is legally permissible. But the hoarding was so rampant state Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr put limits on how many of the stamps wholesalers could buy. … “Armstrong devised a scheme to profit from the expected increase,” Atchley wrote in the indictment. “It was a further part of the conspiracy that Armstrong would elicit others to invest and finance his scheme to surreptitiously profit from the increase in the Tennessee tax rate.” Armstrong agreed with his unidentified co-conspirators he would use his position on the House finance committee to push through the tax hike while secretly amassing cash and brokering a deal with Tru Wholesale to buy the tax stamps before the hike was enacted, according to the indictment. “It was a further part of the conspiracy that Armstrong would, as a member of the Tennessee General Assembly House of Representatives Committee on the Finance, Ways and Means, vote to advance legislation to the Tennessee General Assembly in anticipation of the tax rate being increased to a 60-cent rate,” Atchley wrote. The tax hike passed, although the final bill set a 62-cent tax rate. Here is a piece giving some background on Armstrong. (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2015/06/17/joe-armstrong-profile-piece/) Second, the Chattanooga Times-Free Press ran an article yesterday (http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2015/jun/21/democrats-take-aim-gardenhire/310684/) regarding Democratic efforts to defeat state Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanoga, in next year's election: Quote Tennessee Democrats have named their enemy No. 1 for 2016: Republican state Sen. Todd Gardenhire. At a fundraising event Thursday in Chattanooga, state Democratic Party Chairwoman Mary Mancini said gaining ground in the Legislature is the party's top priority, and District 10 is the first battleground. The district includes the southern parts of Hamilton County, including Chattanooga and East Ridge, and a large swath of southern and eastern Bradley County. Gardenhire has served since 2013, after now-Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, a Democrat, said in 2012 he wouldn't seek re-election. Berke had held the seat since 2008. Gardenhire was the first Republican to hold the seat in four decades. It's no surprise Democrats are going after Gardenhire. The Chattanooga senator became the focal point of ire after he and six other Republican senators voted against Gov. Bill Haslam's Insure Tennessee Medicaid expansion program. Gardenhire also used a vulgarism to a health care protester who asked him if he would give up his own state health insurance. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics Post by: Oak Hills on July 24, 2015, 07:33:44 PM State Supreme Court justice Gary Wade is retiring, effective Sep. 8. (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2015/07/24/tn-supreme-court-justice-gary-wade-retiring/)
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics Post by: Oak Hills on July 26, 2015, 06:00:56 PM Nashville has a mayoral election coming up on Thursday, August 6, and there is a poll (http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2015/07/25/nashville-mayors-race-poll-has-three-way-tie-first/30643921/) out conducted by Democratic pollster Gerstein Bocaine Agne Strategies for the Tennessee Laborers PAC, showing these numbers:
Megan Barry: 20% David Fox: 19% Bill Freeman: 18% Howard Gentry: 11% Charles Robert Bone: 9% Linda Eskind Rebrovick: 7% Jeremy Kane: 3% Undecided: 14% Sample: 500 LVs MoE: +/- 4.4% Conducted: July 16-20 There is a runoff in September. I haven't really been following this race. Is there anyone from that area who could give a summary of what's been going on with that? Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on July 26, 2015, 08:03:45 PM Nashville has a mayoral election coming up on Thursday, August 6, and there is a poll (http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2015/07/25/nashville-mayors-race-poll-has-three-way-tie-first/30643921/) out conducted by Democratic pollster Gerstein Bocaine Agne Strategies for the Tennessee Laborers PAC, showing these numbers: Megan Barry: 20% David Fox: 19% Howard Gentry: 11% Charles Robert Bone: 9% Linda Eskind Rebrovick: 7% Jeremy Kane: 3% Undecided: 14% Sample: 500 LVs MoE: +/- 4.4% Conducted: July 16-20 There is a runoff in September. I haven't really been following this race. Is there anyone from that area who could give a summary of what's been going on with that? David Fox= Conservative Republican (I'm voting for him) Megan Barry= Socially liberal moderate (Tennessean endorsed her) Linda Rebrovick= From prominent Democratic family, but kind of a Republican herself Bill Freeman= Liberal Democrat (why wasn't he included on this poll?) Those are the only ones I know enough about to summarize. I really hope Fox makes the runoff. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics Post by: MT Treasurer on July 26, 2015, 08:44:57 PM Those are the only ones I know enough about to summarize. I really hope Fox makes the runoff. It's going to be very, very tough for him. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on July 26, 2015, 09:04:19 PM Those are the only ones I know enough about to summarize. I really hope Fox makes the runoff. It's going to be very, very tough for him. If he doesn't and Freeman does, I will still take an interest in the runoff to make sure that Freeman doesn't win. If Fox were the only Conservative-leaning candidate, I would like his chances to make the runoff in Nashville (which is only D+5)- but he has to worry about Rebrovick, Barry, and potentially others. One race that I will want to watch closely is the race for the 5th when Cooper retires- I wonder if the GOP could find a country music star to make it a possible pickup. But, with TN trending even further to the GOP, I bet they find a way to gerrymander an 8th Republican district out of Nashville in 2020. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: smoltchanov on July 27, 2015, 12:24:05 AM Conservative Republican mayor of Nashville? Not especially likely, IMHO....
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics Post by: Oak Hills on July 27, 2015, 02:20:13 PM Bill Freeman= Liberal Democrat (why wasn't he included on this poll?) He was. I just forgot to type his name and percent when I was making that post. Fixed. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: Gass3268 on July 27, 2015, 03:08:45 PM My girlfriend is from the Nashville area (she's from Hendersonville) and she told me all of her family that live in Nashville (almost all are pretty conservative) are voting for Freeman.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: Oak Hills on August 04, 2015, 10:00:15 PM Nashville: (http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2015/08/03/da-asked-investigate-anti-fox-robocall/31059093/) Fox is now accusing Freeman ally, and Democratic state representative, Bo Mitchell of being behind an anti-Fox robocall which did not disclose who paid for it, a violation of federal regulations; the Davidson County DA is investigating.
House District 14: (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/politiknox/14th-district-debate-set-for-thursday-carson-v-zachary_65425264?_ga=1.223987035.1761316911.1383092621) I have thus far failed to mention this, but the Republican primary for the special election to replace Ryan Haynes, who resigned from the TN HoR in order to become state GOP chair is next week. The two candidates, small businessman Jason Zachary and local school board member Karen Carson will be facing off at a debate this Thursday at 7 PM. No Democrats or independents have filed, so the winner of the primary will be elected. Here is a map of the district, located in Knox County: () Prisons: (http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2015/aug/04/state-prisons-haslam-says-first-priority-safe/318048/) Gov. Haslam is defending his administration's record of running state prisons in the wake of recent controversy (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2015/07/30/tdoc-figures-322-prison-guards-have-quit-since-overtime-policy-change/) surrounding staffing policies. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: RFayette on August 04, 2015, 10:21:22 PM Is Fox actually a conservative Republican? He sounds like a vaguely moderate pragmatist in his ads talking about infrastructure, debt, and not just serving downtown. Is this his strategy to win?
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: MT Treasurer on August 04, 2015, 11:22:18 PM Is Fox actually a conservative Republican? He sounds like a vaguely moderate pragmatist in his ads talking about infrastructure, debt, and not just serving downtown. Is this his strategy to win? Pretty much, he wants and has to stick out among the seven candidates running. I am rooting for him and hope that Freeman won't make the runoff. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon on August 04, 2015, 11:24:28 PM Congratulations, Tennessee. You are no longer home to the country's most idiotic democratic party. That title belongs to Mississippi. Robert Gray got far more of the gov primary vote tonight than Charles Brown did last year.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on August 05, 2015, 04:03:01 PM Is Fox actually a conservative Republican? He sounds like a vaguely moderate pragmatist in his ads talking about infrastructure, debt, and not just serving downtown. Is this his strategy to win? Pretty much, he wants and has to stick out among the seven candidates running. I am rooting for him and hope that Freeman won't make the runoff. I'm for Fox. The race is almost certain to go to a runoff, but it is just a question of which two of Fox, Freeman, and Barry make it, unless there is a late surger. My preference of the three is Fox>Barry>Freeman. What date is the runoff, again? Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: MT Treasurer on August 05, 2015, 11:50:37 PM Election results can be found here.
http://www.wsmv.com/category/249764/election-returns Livestream: http://www.wsmv.com/category/213709/news-live-stream Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: MT Treasurer on August 06, 2015, 01:59:41 PM So far low election day turnout due to heavy rain (http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2015/08/06/headed-polls-give-yourself-some-extra-time-due-wet-roads/31205823/)
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on August 06, 2015, 02:57:22 PM So far low election day turnout due to heavy rain (http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2015/08/06/headed-polls-give-yourself-some-extra-time-due-wet-roads/31205823/) Benefits Fox? Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: MT Treasurer on August 06, 2015, 06:35:09 PM My prediction (even though the race is literally unpredictable):
1. David Fox: 24% 2. Megan Barry: 24% 3. Bill Freeman: 22% 4. Howard Gentry: 10% 5. Charles Bone: 9% 6. Linda Rebrovick: 8% 7. Jeremy Kane: 3% Probably too generous to Fox, but I hope the low turnout benefits him. We will see. I also think Briley will win the vice-mayoral race (but it's nothing more than a guess), but I have no idea how close it will be. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: MT Treasurer on August 06, 2015, 07:19:28 PM Wow, first results look good for Fox:
Megan Barry 12935 24% David A. Fox 12305 23% Bill Freeman 10509 20% Howard Gentry 6661 12% Charles Robert Bone 5790 11% Linda Eskind Rebrovick 3080 6% Jeremy Kane 2487 5% Mostly early vote that's in. Briley leads Garrett in the vice-mayoral race just as I had expected: David Briley 25696 55% Tim Garrett 21398 45% Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: MT Treasurer on August 06, 2015, 09:22:32 PM 60% in!
Megan Barry 24% David A. Fox 23% Bill Freeman 21% Howard Gentry 12% Charles Robert Bone 11% Linda Eskind Rebrovick 6% Jeremy Kane 3748 5% Freeman doing a little bit better, but I doubt it will be enough. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: MT Treasurer on August 06, 2015, 09:48:25 PM 80% in and the vice-mayoral race is tightening a bit:
David Briley 43280 53% Tim Garrett 37906 47% But I think Briley has won. Barry and Fox will go to the runoff. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on August 06, 2015, 10:17:46 PM 100% in- Fox and Barry heading to the runoff- Freeman out.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: MT Treasurer on August 06, 2015, 10:18:49 PM I am so glad that Freeman is out and hope that Fox makes the runoff, but like I said before - it will be tough for him.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on August 06, 2015, 10:22:29 PM I am so glad that Freeman is out and hope that Fox makes the runoff, but like I said before - it will be tough for him. I will be voting for Fox, but my guess is that Barry wins the runoff. I still much prefer her to Freeman (and my main disagreements with her are on social issues, which matter far less in a mayoral race). Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: smoltchanov on August 06, 2015, 11:51:28 PM I hadn't follow this race closely, but runoff is between moderately conservative Republican (Fox) and moderately liberal Democrat (Barry), correct? If so - Barry is favored...
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on August 07, 2015, 11:25:05 AM I hadn't follow this race closely, but runoff is between moderately conservative Republican (Fox) and moderately liberal Democrat (Barry), correct? If so - Barry is favored... To my knowledge, Barry is an Independent, but definitely left-of-center on social issues (which play less of a role in local politics, anyway). She is someone who, like Karl Dean, will focus more on governing than political beliefs (and she isn't particularly fiscally liberal). Fox, contrary to what his opponents say, won't govern as a hard-core Tea Partier. He is actually fairly socially moderate or centrist, but he is very fiscally conservative and won't support massive spending projects. Barry is the favorite, but a strong close by Fox could give him the election. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Election - Aug. 6, 2015 Post by: smoltchanov on August 07, 2015, 12:12:12 PM ^ Thanks!
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - HD14 Special GOP Primary - Aug. 12 Post by: Oak Hills on August 09, 2015, 05:16:58 PM HD14: (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/politiknox/debate-reveals-conservative-candidates-differences_49643800?_ga=1.118992713.1761316911.1383092621) Here is the News-Sentinel write-up of the Carson-vs.-Zachary debate.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - HD14 Special GOP Primary - Aug. 12 Post by: smoltchanov on August 10, 2015, 04:03:21 AM HD14: (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/politiknox/debate-reveals-conservative-candidates-differences_49643800?_ga=1.118992713.1761316911.1383092621) Here is the News-Sentinel write-up of the Carson-vs.-Zachary debate. Well, as of late both parties became so ideologically "homogenous", that one need to discover subtle differences at least on some issues simply to distinguish one candidate from another... Frequently it's Tweedledee мы Tweedledum situation, with all candidates voicing "ME TOO!!!" on almost all issues.. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - HD14 Special GOP Primary - Aug. 12 Post by: Oak Hills on August 12, 2015, 06:07:08 PM HD14: (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/politiknox/voters-to-decide-14th-district-seat-wednesday_92208517?_ga=1.216196182.1761316911.1383092621) The primary is today. Polls close at 8 PM. Here is an article about the election from today's Knoxville News-Sentinel:
Quote Voters go to the polls today to choose a new member of the state House to represent the sprawling 14th District in Farragut and much of West Knoxville — a race that’s drawn the attention of special-interest groups at the state and national levels. Knox County school board member Karen Carson and former congressional candidate Jason Zachary are seeking the Republican nomination in a special election to replace Ryan Haynes, who became the Tennessee Republican Party chairman in April. No Democrats are running, although the GOP winner still has to be officially elected Sept. 29, when city primaries also will be held. The election is viewed by many observers as a race between Gov. Bill Haslam’s supporters, who favor Carson, and his opponents, who are backing Zachary. The candidates differ on a key issue — Insure Tennessee, Haslam’s alternative to the federal Affordable Health Care Act that would have expanded insurance to some 280,000 low-income residents. Carson supports the measure, pointing out 20,000 veterans would have benefited. Zachary opposes the proposal and linked it to Medicaid at a debate last week where he called Insure Tennessee an expansion of a federal program into the state’s business. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - HD14 Special GOP Primary - Aug. 12 Post by: Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon on August 12, 2015, 08:02:13 PM Going back to the Nashville Mayor race - here's a map. Runoff between Barry and Fox on Sept. 10.
() Bear in mind that in this race, even the last placed candidate ran TV ads. David Fox (red): Most GOP voters with some business-oriented conservadems Megan Barry (blue): Urban progressives, "hipsters", etc. Bill Freeman (green): Blue-collar Dems and a large portion of African-Americans. He also targeted hispanics. Howard Gentry (yellow): African-Americans Linda Eskind Rebrovick: intelligent handsome map nerds (I voted for her, but apparently no one else did) Rebrovick, a former Dell and IBM executive, campaigned on a "smarter city" using technology to alleviate our traffic and growth problems. She got some traction among moderate GOP voters moderate women, but leaked votes to Fox in the end. Its not clear who Charles Bone was targeting, but he did have a TV ad with a memorable jingle about Nashville neighborhoods. Jeremy Kane came in last but has built some name ID for a future race. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - HD14 Special GOP Primary - Aug. 12 Post by: Oak Hills on August 12, 2015, 09:16:41 PM HD14: (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/politiknox/carson-concedes-to-zachary-in-14th-district-primary_05002612) Zachary wins the primary, with 2,397 votes to Carson's 1,742.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - HD14 Special GOP Primary - Aug. 12 Post by: smoltchanov on August 13, 2015, 01:15:51 AM HD14: (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/politiknox/carson-concedes-to-zachary-in-14th-district-primary_05002612) Zachary wins the primary, with 2,397 votes to Carson's 1,742. So - far right is triumphant here? Usual thing for Republican primary in "reliable" districts: the more far-right you are - the more you get from the base. And if you must not care about GE - that's the shortest possible path to victory. The same for Democrats in "their" districts... The result - extremely polarized state legislatures (and Congress) Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - HD14 Special GOP Primary - Aug. 12 Post by: Türkisblau on August 13, 2015, 09:17:52 AM HD14: (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/politiknox/carson-concedes-to-zachary-in-14th-district-primary_05002612) Zachary wins the primary, with 2,397 votes to Carson's 1,742. So - far right is triumphant here? Usual thing for Republican primary in "reliable" districts: the more far-right you are - the more you get from the base. And if you must not care about GE - that's the shortest possible path to victory. The same for Democrats in "their" districts... The result - extremely polarized state legislatures (and Congress) Smolty, you have the bizarre honor of being the Atlas user to have repeated the obvious the most times. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - HD14 Special GOP Primary - Aug. 12 Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on August 13, 2015, 09:22:19 AM Going back to the Nashville Mayor race - here's a map. Runoff between Barry and Fox on Sept. 10. () Bear in mind that in this race, even the last placed candidate ran TV ads. David Fox (red): Most GOP voters with some business-oriented conservadems Megan Barry (blue): Urban progressives, "hipsters", etc. Bill Freeman (green): Blue-collar Dems and a large portion of African-Americans. He also targeted hispanics. Howard Gentry (yellow): African-Americans Linda Eskind Rebrovick: intelligent handsome map nerds (I voted for her, but apparently no one else did) Rebrovick, a former Dell and IBM executive, campaigned on a "smarter city" using technology to alleviate our traffic and growth problems. She got some traction among moderate GOP voters moderate women, but leaked votes to Fox in the end. Its not clear who Charles Bone was targeting, but he did have a TV ad with a memorable jingle about Nashville neighborhoods. Jeremy Kane came in last but has built some name ID for a future race. I think Bone was going after GOP voters as well, considering his campaign staff. As for the runoff, if you add up all of the votes for Fox, Rebrovick, and Bone, you get around 40%. It will come down to whether or not Freeman voters come home for Barry- if they do, Barry will win, but, if they don't, Fox has a good chance to come out on top. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - HD14 Special GOP Primary - Aug. 12 Post by: smoltchanov on August 13, 2015, 09:51:53 AM HD14: (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/politiknox/carson-concedes-to-zachary-in-14th-district-primary_05002612) Zachary wins the primary, with 2,397 votes to Carson's 1,742. So - far right is triumphant here? Usual thing for Republican primary in "reliable" districts: the more far-right you are - the more you get from the base. And if you must not care about GE - that's the shortest possible path to victory. The same for Democrats in "their" districts... The result - extremely polarized state legislatures (and Congress) Smolty, you have the bizarre honor of being the Atlas user to have repeated the obvious the most times. Thanks. That's exactly what i want. Ideally - until this obvious thing (and - general idiocy of such situation) will become generally accepted mantra. As Cato the Elder has said in the past "...it is my opinion that Carthage must be destroyed"))))) And he said this in EVERY speech))) Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: Oak Hills on August 15, 2015, 07:16:03 PM 2018 Gov: (http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2015/aug/15/democrats-give-berke-nudge-governors-race/319976/) A couple of Dem state senators claim to be optimistic about the election, and suggested the mayors of Chattanooga, Nashville, and Clarksville as possible candidates.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: smoltchanov on August 16, 2015, 12:12:48 AM 2018 Gov: (http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2015/aug/15/democrats-give-berke-nudge-governors-race/319976/) A couple of Dem state senators claim to be optimistic about the election, and suggested the mayors of Chattanooga, Nashville, and Clarksville as possible candidates. If (as likely) Republicans will run much more conservative candidate then Haslam - possibly (though not very likely) Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: Oak Hills on August 23, 2015, 02:13:58 PM 2018 Gov: (http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2015/aug/23/mayor-hmind-chattanooga-nothing-else/321239/) Mayor Andy Berke (D-Chattanooga) denies any interest in seeking the office.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: MT Treasurer on August 31, 2015, 01:55:53 PM Not really about Tennessee, still...
Gov. Haslam spreads wealth among Senate candidates (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/politiknox/gov-haslam-spreads-wealth-among-senate-candidates_01306398) Quote U.S. senators listed as receiving donations from Gov. Haslam are Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Rob Portman of Ohio, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, John Hardy Isakson of Georgia, John McCain of Arizona, John Boozman of Arkansas, Pat Toomy of Pennsylvania and Tim Scott of South Carolina. Forbes magazine has estimated Haslam's net worth as more than $1 billion and labeled him the "richest politician" in the United States. The governor has declined to comment on that estimate. Bredesen, while in office, was often estimated to have a net worth of more than $100 million, a figure he declined to explicitly confirm while once saying it was "maybe in the ballpark." Sizing up Trump: Tennessee's Republican officeholders are not endorsing Donald Trump, but some are offering favorable commentary about the billionaire presidential candidate who is leading national polls and who won a straw poll in Nashville after speaking the National Federation of Republican Assemblies on Saturday. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: MT Treasurer on September 03, 2015, 04:24:53 PM PPP: Barry 46, Fox 45 (http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2015/09/02/poll-barry-fox-dead-heat-mayoral-runoff/71576682/)
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: Oak Hills on September 03, 2015, 09:48:41 PM Nashville: (http://www.npr.org/2015/09/03/437291785/religion-takes-spotlight-in-final-days-of-nashville-mayoral-race) I heard this story on the radio today. Apparently there's been an anti-Barry smear campaign accusing her of being anti-Christian. Fox has disavowed any such accusations.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: Bandit3 the Worker on September 03, 2015, 10:04:23 PM A Republican shouldn't be that close in a big city like Nashville, but then again, there's not really any such thing as "the city of Nashville." It's a consolidated city-county, so the whole county gets to choose the city's mayor.
I'm waiting for some smart lawyer or judge to slap down consolidated city-counties like this, on the grounds that it imposes taxation without representation against the more urban areas. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on September 04, 2015, 10:26:15 AM PPP: Barry 46, Fox 45 (http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2015/09/02/poll-barry-fox-dead-heat-mayoral-runoff/71576682/) This is all going to come down to turnout. Given that Fox has a strong advantage among voters who plan to vote on Election Day itself, this one could literally come down to the weather next Thursday- and it looks fine as of now. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on September 06, 2015, 08:07:38 PM Anyone want to make a final Fox-Barry prediction?
Mine: Fox (de facto R): 51.5% Barry (de facto D): 48.5% Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: Oak Hills on September 06, 2015, 08:23:00 PM In addition to Nashville, Memphis also has a mayoral election this year, and the local daily there, the Commercial Appeal, has a new poll (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2015/09/05/poll-shows-wharton-leading-memphis-mayors-race/) out suggesting a tight race.
Mayor A.C. Wharton: 30% City Councilman Jim Strickland: 25% City Councilman Harold Collins: 12% Police union President Mike Williams: 12% Others: 6% Undecided: 15% Sample: 500 LVs MoE: +/- 4.5% Pollster: Mason-Dixon Research The election will be held on Thursday, October 8, and there is no runoff. As with Nashville, I invite anyone who has been following this race more closely than I (read: following it at all) to share any knowledge they may have. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: MT Treasurer on September 06, 2015, 09:18:30 PM Anyone want to make a final Fox-Barry prediction? Mine: Fox (de facto R): 51.5% Barry (de facto D): 48.5% Unfortunately, I won't be able to follow this race next week, so this is my last prediction: Barry: 50.8% Fox: 49.2% (I want Fox to win, but the race is very difficult to predict and it will all come down to turnout.) Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: The Arizonan on September 08, 2015, 12:08:50 AM The reason a Republican would be doing so well in the Nashville mayoral election is because it's a nonpartisan election.
Is there anything else interesting about the election? Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: Bandit3 the Worker on September 08, 2015, 07:34:45 AM What parties are the Memphis candidates?
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: 136or142 on September 08, 2015, 02:38:36 PM What parties are the Memphis candidates? Mayor Whartman is a Democrat. Don't know about the others. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on September 09, 2015, 01:41:52 PM The reason a Republican would be doing so well in the Nashville mayoral election is because it's a nonpartisan election. Is there anything else interesting about the election? That it is very hostile on both sides. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: Bandit3 the Worker on September 10, 2015, 08:43:37 PM Right now, Barry is winning, and it really isn't even that close...
http://feeds.democratandchronicle.com/elections/nashville/ Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: Bandit3 the Worker on September 10, 2015, 09:18:28 PM Barry has been declared the winner by about 10 or 11 percentage points.
Why was polling so far off? Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: International Brotherhood of Bernard on September 10, 2015, 09:23:04 PM Barry has been declared the winner by about 10 or 11 percentage points. Why was polling so far off? Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: Gass3268 on September 10, 2015, 09:30:22 PM Excellent News!
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: Oak Hills on September 10, 2015, 10:27:29 PM Megan Barry: 60,519 votes (55%)
David Fox: 49,694 (45%) Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on September 10, 2015, 10:47:33 PM Very disappointing. I had been doing some volunteer work for the Fox campaign the last few weeks and was at the watch party tonight. A lot of stunned and disappointed faces.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: Gass3268 on September 10, 2015, 11:06:19 PM Looking forward to seeing the a map for the runoff!
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: MisSkeptic on September 11, 2015, 02:34:17 PM Looks like Megan Barry has defeated Fox, and thus becomes the first woman to be mayor of Nashville, TN. Awesome!
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: windjammer on September 11, 2015, 02:42:56 PM I didn't follow at all. Why did people believe it was going to be competitive? Nashville isn't one of these democratic stronghold cities?
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: MisSkeptic on September 11, 2015, 03:01:19 PM I didn't follow at all. Why did people believe it was going to be competitive? Nashville isn't one of these democratic stronghold cities? I didn't really follow it either. The Friendly Atheist blog updated different post where Fox attacked Barry for being an atheist and a number of related subjects. Clearly Fox was trying to fight dirty. http://ballotpedia.org/Nashville,_Tennessee_municipal_elections,_2015 (http://ballotpedia.org/Nashville,_Tennessee_municipal_elections,_2015) Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: Maxwell on September 11, 2015, 03:26:50 PM It's kind of shocking to me a fairly right wing conservative got as close as he did.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: MT Treasurer on September 11, 2015, 03:35:09 PM Looking forward to seeing the a map for the runoff! http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2015/09/11/interactive-how-megan-barry-became-nashville-mayor/72047880/ I didn't follow at all. Why did people believe it was going to be competitive? Nashville isn't one of these democratic stronghold cities? Lol, it is. Obama won Davidson County 58-40. The suburbs are obviously more Republican. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: Bandit3 the Worker on September 11, 2015, 03:46:18 PM Plus, the polls showed them even. Everyone is always gloating about how the GOP does better than the pollsters predict, but this time it wasn't so.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: Gass3268 on September 11, 2015, 04:01:04 PM Looking forward to seeing the a map for the runoff! http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2015/09/11/interactive-how-megan-barry-became-nashville-mayor/72047880/ Thanks! Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics - Nashville Mayoral Runoff - Sep. 10 Post by: windjammer on September 12, 2015, 03:40:53 AM The time where blacks weren't voting is over, even in special election apparently.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics (Memphis Mayoral Election--Oct. 8) Post by: Oak Hills on October 09, 2015, 10:22:42 PM Several important stories in the last week, which I was unable to post because I was too busy:
HD-9: (http://www.timesnews.net/News/2015/10/09/Bundren-Jackson-announces-candidacy-for-House-seat-vacated-by-Harrison.html?ci=stream&lp=2&p=1) Rogersville realtor Cynthia Bundren-Jackson yesterday announced her intention to run as a Republican for the state House from District 9, comprising Hawkins and Hancock Counties, in a special election triggered by the recent resignation (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2015/10/07/rep-mike-harrison-resigning-to-lead-county-mayors-group/) of state Rep., and chair of the Finance Subcomittee, Mike Harrison (R-Rogersville), to take over as executive director of the County Mayors' Association of Tennessee. Speaker Pro Tempore Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville) will take over the Subcommittee on an interim basis. Map of the Ninth, (http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/districtmaps/HouseDist09.pdf) from the General Assembly website. Memphis: (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/government/politics/elections/local/strickland-wins-memphis-mayors-race-215d01ef-9677-435e-e053-0100007fdb36-331502661.html) City Councilman Jim Strickland defeated incumbent Mayor A.C. Wharton by an unexpectedly large twenty-point margin yesterday. Full results: (https://www.electionwareresults.com/webResults/summary-56.html) Jim Strickland: 41,829 votes (41.54%) A.C. Wharton: 22,199 (22.05%) Harold Collins: 18,496 (18.37%) Mike Williams: 16,180 (16.07%) Sharon A. Webb: 598 (0.01%) M. Latroy Williams: 404 (<0.005%) A. Fullilove, Jr.: 365 (<0.005%) Robert Hodges: 235 (<0.005%) D.P. Walker, Jr.: 168 (<0.005%) Leo Awgowhat: 118 (<0.005%) Write-ins: 91(<0.005%) News industry: (http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2015/oct/07/gannett-nears-deal-own-all-one-major-tennessee-newspaper/329289/) The Gannet Co., which already owns the Nashville Tennesseean, among other papers, has reached an agreement to purchase Journal Media Group, Inc., owner of both the Memphis Commercial Appeal and the Knoxville News-Sentinel along with other smaller papers, for $280 million, which will put all three of Tennessee's largest dailies under a single corporate umbrella. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics (Memphis Mayoral Election--Oct. 8) Post by: smoltchanov on October 10, 2015, 12:56:48 AM AFAIK - Strickland is first white mayor of Memphis in many years (about quarter of century), and is a somewhat conservative-leaning Democrat...
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on January 26, 2016, 06:13:04 PM Also, a really interesting primary, where it looks like a 20-something named Grant Starrett has a good chance to successfully primary Scott DesJarlais.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics Post by: Kingpoleon on January 27, 2016, 04:54:48 PM I've heard Bill Gibbons is being considered for Attorney or Solicitor General of Tennessee. Do our TN members know anything about this?
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics Post by: Oak Hills on January 29, 2016, 11:26:06 PM Durham scandal: (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2016/01/28/ap-overview-story-on-todays-durham-developments/) This just keeps getting crazier and crazier:
Quote State Rep. Jeremy Durham is taking a leave of absence from the Tennessee General Assembly amid calls for his resignation and the Senate speaker’s allegation on Thursday that he had an affair with another lawmaker. House Speaker Beth Harwell also asked the Tennessee attorney general to launch an independent investigation of Durham that could become part of an effort to vote the second-term Franklin Republican out of the House. Durham earlier this week stepped down as House majority whip and later withdrew from the House GOP caucus altogether amid several women’s allegations of inappropriate behavior by the lawmaker, both in person and via text messages. Durham has denied any wrongdoing, but has received permission from Harwell’s office to take up to two weeks of leave from the Legislature to seek unspecified treatment. Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, on Thursday added to the growing furor surrounding Durham by alleging that the married lawmaker had an affair with Republican Rep. Leigh Wilburn of Somerville, causing her to resign last month. HD-34: (http://www.dnj.com/story/news/2016/01/25/state-rep-womick-decides-retire/79304406/) Conservative lawmaker Rick Womick (R-Rockvale) will retire after the next election. Womick also endorsed his former campaign consultant Tim Rudd to replace him. Murfreesboro attorney Jimmy Turner, also a Republican, is running as well. District map. (http://www.capitol.tn.gov/districtmaps/HouseDist34.pdf) Judicial confirmation: (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2016/01/28/judicial-confirmation-bill-goes-to-the-governor/#more-25410) Senate approves the plan 33-0, and the House 86-5, sending to the Governor's desk. School vouchers: (http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2016/jan/26/tennessee-school-voucher-bill-scrapes-through-house-finance-committee-one-vote/346746/) The bill has passed the House Finance Committee 11-10. State of the State: (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/local/haslam-budget-will-invest-in-education-begin-to-repay-transportation-fund-2a6a6c5d-b204-3c07-e053-01-366914631.html?_ga=1.23135098.1761316911.1383092621) Haslam will focus on education and how to spend a larger-than-expected revenue surplus in his State of the State speech Monday: Quote Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said Thursday that the state budget he will unveil Monday night will "invest" heavily in education, and indicated it will also start paying back the $260 million transferred out of the highway fund to balance the budget during the depths of the recession. The governor also said he will spend a good part of his annual State of the State and budget address to the Legislature and a statewide public television audience talking about how he believes the state should handle its revenue surplus, now more than $500 million beyond projections for the current fiscal year. Lawmakers and advocacy groups have an abundance of ideas about how to cut taxes or increase spending. ...Haslam's speech followed an earlier joint discussion on legislative issues by Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey and House Speaker Beth Harwell. All three top state officials also indicated that college students can expect some relief from the steady, steep state tuition increases of the past two decades. Ramsey, R-Blountville, touted a bill filed in the Senate last week that would impose a two-year freeze on tuition at all public colleges and universities in the state, followed by a plan in which entering freshmen would pay the same tuition rate through their four undergraduate years. …Rather than a fuel tax increase to pay for a growing backlog of highway needs cited by the Tennessee Department of Transportation, state lawmakers have focused on the $260 million transferred from the highway fund into the state's general operating fund in the early 2000s during a revenue shortfall. The governor acknowledged he won't ask the Legislature to raise gasoline taxes this year, for the first time since 1989, but will next year. But he said the budget plan will include a plan on repaying the highway fund. "It's about $261 million that the general fund owes the transportation fund. We recognize that and we will have a proposal for how to make certain that gets paid back over time," he said. "But I don't want anyone to think that will solve the problem if that whole $260 million is paid back tomorrow. We have one project in Memphis, Lamar Avenue, which is $260 million by itself, and Alcoa Highway near Knoxville is $275 million. I can keep going." Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics Post by: Oak Hills on January 29, 2016, 11:29:56 PM I've heard Bill Gibbons is being considered for Attorney or Solicitor General of Tennessee. Do our TN members know anything about this? I can't find any information on that from web searches. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics Post by: Kingpoleon on January 30, 2016, 01:14:12 AM I've heard Bill Gibbons is being considered for Attorney or Solicitor General of Tennessee. Do our TN members know anything about this? I can't find any information on that from web searches. May have just been some Thinking On Twitter(TOT). I don't remember the party member who said it. Anyway, Mayor Mark Luttrell seems rather electable, as does State Sen. Randy McNally. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics (State of the State address -- Feb. 1) Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on March 16, 2016, 11:43:21 AM The Lt. Gov. and Speaker of the Senate (I'm honestly not sure how/why he is both) Ron Ramsey announced today that he will not run for re-election to the Senate this year. Not sure if that means anything for being Lt. Governor.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics (State of the State address -- Feb. 1) Post by: Oak Hills on March 19, 2016, 09:39:32 PM The Lt. Gov. and Speaker of the Senate (I'm honestly not sure how/why he is both) Ron Ramsey announced today that he will not run for re-election to the Senate this year. Not sure if that means anything for being Lt. Governor. In Tennessee, "lieutenant governor" is simply an ex officio title held by the speaker of the Senate. They are one and the same office. Anyway, here's an article (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2016/03/16/26354/) on Ramsey's retirement for those interested. The Kingsport Times-News has this article (http://www.timesnews.net/Politics/2016/03/18/Lundberg-files-to-run-for-state-Senate-seat.html?ci=stream&lp=9&p=1) about candidates running to replace him. State Rep. Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol) and three other candidates have picked up petitions for Ramsey's northeast Tennessee seat. Additionally, Sullivan County Commissioner John Crawford has picked up a petition for Lundberg's House seat. Maps of Ramsey's (http://www.capitol.tn.gov/districtmaps/Sen0412.pdf) and Lundberg's (http://www.capitol.tn.gov/districtmaps/HouseDist01.pdf) seats. Nashville Post on possible successors to Ramsey as speaker: (http://www.nashvillepost.com/politics/article/20491860/mcnally-begins-push-for-speakership) Quote Within hours of Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey’s tearful announcement Wednesday that he would give up his office, Finance Committee Chairman Randy McNally was reaching out to nearly every member of the Republican Caucus asking for their vote. With a 38-year tenure in the legislature, McNally, 72, doesn’t face re-election until 2018. His longevity is a stat political insiders say could make his ascent to the Senate speakership a smooth transition following Ramsey’s expected departure next year. "I know I'm not a Ron Ramsey. He's a good friend. I probably see myself as more of a transition-type person. This will probably be the last thing I do in politics," he told the Post. "I'm not going to be running for anything else. This is sort of the last hurrah." At max, McNally said he has one more term in him, "not a couple. Maybe one more." His short tenure would pave the way for a replacement in a few years. “Sen. McNally is our longest-serving member," said Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, the Senate speaker pro tempore and another hopeful for the speaker's gavel. "He’s played a multiple number of roles for our caucus, and in many ways, he’s earned what I would consider to be the right of first refusal.” Watson is one of several expected contenders for the prestigious top job. Others include Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, Republican Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, and Commerce and Insurance Committee Chairman Jack Johnson, R-Franklin. Sources say McNally's election to Senate speaker would open up a powerful position on the Senate Finance Ways and Means Committee. Watson, first vice chair of the committee, could then slide over to the chairman's position and potentially ready himself for a future run for speaker, sources say. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics (Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey retiring) Post by: Oak Hills on April 08, 2016, 10:23:57 PM The deadline to file for state legislature or Congress was yesterday. Five out of 16 state senators and 28 out of 99 state representatives will be seeking re-election unopposed. (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2016/04/08/five-state-senators-28-state-reps-draw-no-party-opponents/)
Here the full list of state legislative and congressional candidates. (http://tnsos.net/FiledPetitions.pdf) Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics (Final list of legislative candidates issued) Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on April 22, 2016, 06:45:33 PM A recount has been ordered by a federal judge (a liberal one was the only one willing to take the case) for the 2014 Amendment 1, which protected unborn babies. It passed 53-47, but the Amendment received more votes in total than were cast in the governor's race due to people abstaining from voting for or against Halam to try to "double their vote" (a weird loophole in the counting process). That tactic is the source of the controversy. Just yesterday, a state judge ruled in favor of the Tennessee counting process. Even with a recount, it seems likely that the original result will be upheld.
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2016/04/22/federal-judge-orders-recount-2014-abortion-ballot-vote/83407612/ UPDATE: The Yes on 1 campaign is likely appealing to the 6th District Circuit Court. It appears to stand for now, pending a recount. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics Post by: Oak Hills on May 13, 2016, 10:11:09 PM --AP:"Harwell, Ramsey would be surprised by any more vetoes" from Gov. Haslam. (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2016/05/13/harwell-ramsey-surprised-vetoes/)
--Haslam is the seventh most popular governor in the country, according to a new poll (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2016/05/12/haslam-approval-rating-63-percent-almost-unchanged-2015/) from Morning Consult; he stands at 62% approval and 22% disapproval, about the same as last year. --"Counseling Group cancels TN conference to protest new law" (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2016/05/10/counseling-group-cancels-nashville-conference-protest-new-law/) By Sheila Burke, Associated Press Quote NASHVILLE, Tenn. — By canceling its conference in Tennessee next year, the American Counseling Association wants to put other states on notice that new LGBT laws can carry consequences, the group’s leader said. The cancellation announced Tuesday, had been hinted at after the Tennessee General Assembly passed a new law letting therapists decline to see patients based on religious values and personal principles. It’s aimed at preventing similar measures elsewhere. “Our message to other states is don’t introduce bills that are essentially legalizing discrimination,” said Richard Yep, the organization’s CEO. “It is discriminating against those who are least able to fight back.” The conference would have brought 3,500 to 4,000 people to Nashville, he said. The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. estimates that it would have generated $2.5 million in direct visitor spending and $444,609 in tax revenue for the city and the state of Tennessee. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics Post by: Oak Hills on June 27, 2016, 11:21:22 PM "Anti-annexation PAC makes picks in legislative races" (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2016/06/27/anti-annexation-pac-makes-picks-legislative-races/)
Tom Humphrey, Humphrey on the Hill June 27, 2016 Quote Citizens for Home Rule PAC, created last year to help candidates favoring restrictions on city government annexation, is supporting four incumbent Republican legislators in the August primary election, along with one challenger and a candidate in the state Senate seat being vacated by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey. The PAC sent a news release to media last week announcing its endorsement of Scott Williams of Maryville, who is opposing Sen. Doug Overbey’s bid for re-election to a new term in the state’s 2nd Senate District, which includes Blount and Sevier counties. In response to an email inquiry, PAC Treasurer John Avery Emison said Williams is getting a $3,500 check and further disclosed other donations that will be reported next month. The group had already reported a couple of donations previously. The biggest donation is $7,600 — the maximum allowed by a PAC to a state House candidate — going to Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah, who sponsored legislation requiring voter approval in the impacted area of a city annexation, approved two years ago, and unsuccessfully pushed this year a bill to allow deannexation, wherein voters could decide to take themselves out of a city’s incorporated area. The PAC’s parent organization, Citizens For Home Rule, strongly supported both efforts. The PAC reported receipt of $50,000 from the parent organization in its initial financial disclosure and still had $54,822 cash on hand at last report after previously reported donations, including $3,000 to Bud Armstrong, who was re-elected as Knox County law director in March; and $1,000 gifts to Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, and Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden. "Bo Watson joins legislators’ PAC club" (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2016/06/26/bo-watson-joins-legislators-pac-club/) Tom Humphrey, Humphrey on the Hill June 26, 2016 Quote Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Bo Watson has become the latest state legislator to set up his own political action committee, naming the new entity BowPAC and declaring it will help provide the “fuel of funding” for future Republican political successes in Tennessee. About 30 of Tennessee’s 132 legislators — most of them Republicans — now have their own PACs, kept separate from their re-election campaign accounts, in accord with a trend that has slowly grown since Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey set up RAAMPAC in 2003. The Legislature’s senior member, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, finally joined the PAC trend late last year by creating McPAC. In an April disclosure McPAC reported a cash-on-hand balance of $36,356 after initial fundraising efforts — most of the money coming in contributions from 26 special interest PACs. "Could Tennessee join fight to collect sales taxes from internet retailers?" (http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/politics/state/story/2016/jun/26/haslam-joins-states-fight-collect-sales-taxes/372997/) Andy Sher, Chattanooga Times-Free Press June 26, 2016 Quote NASHVILLE — Gov. Bill Haslam wants Tennessee to join a growing group of states seeking to force either Congress or the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit rulings preventing collection of sales taxes from out-of-state online retailers. State Department of Revenue officials will hold a rulemaking hearing in August on a proposed rule that administration officials hope will tear down that barrier and let the tax dollars roll in. The rule would require out-of-state online companies with more than $500,000 a year in Tennessee sales to collect and remit sales taxes to the state starting July 1, 2017. Adopting the rule is a multistep process. If adopted, it's virtually certain to be challenged in court. And that's the primary objective of the strategy being pushed by states like Alabama, South Dakota and now Tennessee. At least a dozen states are pushing a patchwork of laws or rules they hope will pressure Congress to act or, more likely, force the issue back before the Supreme Court. "The governor has been out front on this issue and trying to get something through Congress," Haslam press secretary Jennifer Donnals told the Times Free Press in an email. If Tennessee is successful, Donnals added, "we would also look at reductions on the sales tax on food to be as cost neutral as possible." At issue are two Supreme Court rulings dealing with "remote" or out-of-state mail order and catalog companies. One is the 1967 National Bellas Hess v. Department of Revenue decision. The other is 1992's Quill Corp. v. North Dakota ruling. Both held that states can only compel companies with an in-state physical presence, such as a store, office or warehouse, to collect sales taxes from customers. Justices have said collecting sales taxes for multiple states and thousands of local jurisdictions would simply be too difficult, a burden on interstate commerce. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics (State primaries--Aug. 4) Post by: Oak Hills on July 01, 2016, 01:22:31 AM "Harwell task force: Medicaid for veterans, those with behavioral disorder" (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2016/06/30/harwell-task-force-medicaid-veterans-behavioral-disorder/)
Eric Schelzig, Associated Press June 30, 2016 Quote NASHVILLE, Tenn. — GOP lawmakers on Thursday for the first time presented details of a more limited approach to Medicaid expansion than was envisioned by Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s failed Insure Tennessee proposal. Members of a task force appointed by Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell said the 3-Star Health proposal would first focus on extending coverage to uninsured people with behavioral health problems and to veterans. The program would include health savings accounts, incentives for healthy living and penalties for improper use of emergencies. Republican Rep. Cameron Sexton of Crossville said the task force has presented its plan to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services but acknowledged that no other state has been approved for a similar approach. “We’re looking for a measured approach, where we can have a phased-in approach to work toward closing the gap,” he said. The proposal would also need the approval of the GOP-controlled Legislature, which rejected Haslam’s Insure Tennessee proposal to extend coverage to 280,000 people amid fears that it was too closely linked to President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. "Wine in grocery stores, guns-on-campus among laws taking effect July 1" (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2016/06/30/wigs-guns-campus-among-new-laws-taking-effect-friday-july-1/) Eric Schelzig, Associated Press June 30, 2016 Quote NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Wine will be available in Tennessee supermarkets, professors will be allowed to carry guns on public college campuses, and drivers will be subject to stricter penalties for texting on the road, under new laws taking effect Friday. Many bills passed by lawmakers this year took effect upon being signed by Republican Gov. Bill Haslam, but others were linked to the start of the new budget year, which starts July 1. "With wine in grocery stores and a new head of the ABC, Tennesseans are optimistic about the future of alcohol in the state" (http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/with-wine-in-grocery-stores-and-a-new-head-of-the-abc-tennesseans-are-optimistic-about-the-future-of-alcohol-in-the-state/Content?oid=6782368) Cari Wade Gervin, Nashville Scene June 30, 2016 Quote Eight a.m., the first of July. That's the moment everything changes for the alcohol industry in Tennessee. At that very second, when the clock strikes 8 — well, depending on the time zone — that's when around 450 grocery stores and a handful of larger convenience stores across the state will be able to legally sell wine for the first time since Tennessee outlawed alcohol in 1909, 10 years prior to federal Prohibition. And more stores will be selling soon. …The state's liquor industry has varied competing interests, and sometimes agreement is hard to come by. But one thing almost anyone you ask will agree on is that Title 57, the chapter of the Tennessee code that spells out laws regarding alcohol, is outdated, cumbersome and confusing. That doesn't mean everyone would be happy throwing it out and starting over, although many would. The original code was mostly written post-Prohibition, in the 1930s, when Tennessee was still the buckle of the Bible Belt, and the majority of the men who drank — because those who drank were mostly men — drank beer. And beer sales are mostly regulated at the local level. Now, in 2016, hospitality is the second-largest industry in the state, behind agriculture. And that's just restaurants, bars and hotels we're talking about. If you add in the financial impact of the retail side and the wholesale side and the distillers — well, there's a lot of money at stake. The amount of revenue the industry brings into Tennessee is sizable. In fiscal year 2015, alcohol and beer sales (retail and by the drink) brought in $161.2 million in state tax revenue — up $20 million from 2013 — along with $1.13 million in fines and around $7 million in fees. That's why some more traditionally conservative legislators have been persuaded to vote for loosening up the laws in recent years. But according to industry insiders, the main obstacle to completely rewriting the code in a way that makes sense for our modern era is that it would need to start from the presumption that the entire state is wet — exactly the opposite of what the current law presumes. ...But according to many in the hospitality industry, the ABC has not kept up with that explosion in growth as well as it should have. Under the prior director, Keith Bell, enforcement actions were sometimes inconsistently applied. The penalty for a second offense of serving an underage drinker jumped from a two-day license suspension to almost two weeks — the second-harshest penalty in the country, according to Cheek. Bell cracked down on bars serving infusions, which led to outrage and angry bartenders. That led to a new law, which then led Bell to proclaim bitters could only be sold in liquor stores, not grocery stores, even though the latter sell NyQuil or similar cough syrups (10 percent alcohol), Listerine (21.6 percent alcohol) and vanilla or other flavored extracts (35 percent or higher alcohol). Bell resigned suddenly in March, and no one the Scene talked to seemed to have any idea why. "Nobody knows," Cheek says. "Whatever it was, it was bad enough for them to cover up his picture outside the ABC with cardboard." Bell's loss has not been mourned by the hospitality industry, even by those who got along with him. ...The night-and-day comparison to which Cheek is referring is between Bell and the newly appointed ABC director Clay Byrd. The 31-year-old attorney just started at the agency June 8 after working as assistant general counsel in the comptroller's office and the office of legal services at the General Assembly. So far, Byrd has been swamped with WIGS applications and not much else, but he is hopeful he will be able to build strong working relationships with everyone he regulates, from wholesalers to retailers to bar owners. "I knew, given my background and experience, I could be a good fit and help the agency in ushering in a new era with my enthusiasm and excitement about the position," Byrd says. So far, the industry is enthusiastic about Byrd. "I think he's going to do a great job," says Adkins. Adkins, Cheek and others already have a laundry list of things they want Byrd to address, from fines to license suspensions to modernizing the agency, technologically speaking. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics (State primaries--Aug. 4) Post by: Oak Hills on July 04, 2016, 06:57:28 PM HD-95: (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/suburbs/collierville/rep-curry-todd-says-hes-campaigning-hard-and-that-health-legal-issues-are-behind-him-36117826-dea5-5-385387391.html) Commercial Appeal on state Rep. Curry Todd (R-Collierville) and his primary challengers:
Quote Todd, a retired lieutenant for the Memphis Police Department and former owner of a safe and lock company, said he's proud of his record on education, which includes supporting an allocation of $261 million this year for teacher salaries and related items. Todd also worked with State Sen. Mark Norris several years ago to sponsor the Norris-Todd bill, which enabled creation of municipal school districts in Collierville, Germantown and other local suburbs. He said if he is re-elected, one of his main priorities will be to promote business growth, specifically helping startup companies get off the ground with matching funds. ...Former Shelby County school board member Diane George said she'd like to see Tennessee become one of the top 10 states in the U.S. for education. She also calls for creation of facilities to treat the mentally ill and a social movement to cut demand for illegal drugs. ...Another challenger, businessman Mark Lovell, 57, is best known for festival promotion, particularly bringing the Delta Fair to Memphis. Lovell was out of the country last week, an associate said, and efforts to reach him were unsuccessful. However, his website lists positions on a number of issues. On education, he calls for measures including additional charter schools and vouchers to help students in failing schools get a better opportunity. ...Candidate Dana Matheny, a 53-year-old former health care administrator, said if elected she'll make health care a focus of her campaign, working toward solutions that use the power of the free market. "In reality, if we put that money back in the direct control of the patient, they will actually drive down the cost of health care by choosing the services." District map (http://www.capitol.tn.gov/districtmaps/HouseDist95.pdf) Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics (State primaries--Aug. 4) Post by: Oak Hills on July 11, 2016, 10:33:02 PM "Unchallenged senators transfer state mailer money to Dickerson, Overbey" (http://knoxblogs.com/humphreyhill/2016/07/11/unchallenged-senators-transfer-state-money-embattled-colleagues/)
Tom Humphrey, Humphrey on the Hill July 11, 2016 Quote State senators without re-election opponents this year have transferred thousands of dollars of state government funds used for voter mailings to challenged colleagues — a practice now banned for members of the state House. The contrast reflects differing positions taken by Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey and House Speaker Beth Harwell on use of the “constituent communications” funds. A review of records also shows a striking disparity in the amount of money stockpiled in the accounts by senators compared with representatives. Only two of the 99 members of the House have more than $10,000 in their accounts, and several have used their own money — or checks drawn on their political campaign accounts — to cover the cost of newsletters, constituent questionnaires and the like because they lack money in their taxpayer-provided accounts. Most senators, on the other hand, have far larger balances — topped by Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Bo Watson, R-Hixson, with $117,157 stashed in his communications fund. Bills filed in the past legislative session would have prohibited transfers from one legislator to another and put limits on stockpiling. Yet another bill would have banned mailings to voters in a legislator’s district for 90 days before an election instead of the current standard of 30 days. The bills failed with Ramsey voicing opposition, but Harwell quietly last March acted on her own to ban transfers by members of the House, a fairly widespread practice for decades by both senators and representatives. The two speakers have overall control of how members can use the money allocated to them — $6,832 per year for senators; $2,016 for representatives. ...Ramsey, on the other hand, said during the session that he prefers to leave things to the speaker’s discretion on a case-by-case basis. His spokesman, Adam Kleinheider, repeated that position in an email response to an inquiry. Both Ramsey and Harwell declined to be interviewed on the matter. The standout beneficiary of transfers among senators this year — receiving $32,000 before the 30-day mailing blackout began on June 30 — is Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, who faces a challenge from fellow physician Ron McDow in the Aug. 4 primary. The primary winner will also face a Democratic opponent in November. Sen. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, transferred $10,000 to Dickerson, and Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, added $7,500. Sens. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, and Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, provided $5,000 each. Other transfers were from Sens. John Stevens, R-Huntington ($3,000); Becky Duncan Massey, R-Knoxville ($2,500); Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City ($500); and Paul Bailey, R-Sparta ($500). None of the transferring senators faces an election this year. The only other reported transfer was $5,000 from McNally to Sen. Doug Overbey, R-Maryville, who faces challenger Scott Williams in the Aug. 4 primary. Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics (State primaries--Aug. 4) Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on July 23, 2016, 09:14:17 PM I will be announcing my congressional endorsements for all nine seats (including the heated primaries in the 4th and the 8th) tomorrow.
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics (State primaries--Aug. 4) Post by: 100% pro-life no matter what on July 26, 2016, 11:30:14 AM My endorsements:
TN-01: Phil Roe TN-02: John Duncan TN-03: Chuck Fleischmann TN-04: Grant Starrett TN-05: Stacy Ries Snyder TN-06: Diane Black TN-07: Marsha Blackburn TN-08: Brian Kelsey TN-09: Just write in me (even though I don't live in the district and am not 25, I have as much of a chance as any of those Republicans) Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics (State primaries--Aug. 4) Post by: Oak Hills on August 04, 2016, 08:19:38 PM HD-65 R: Sam Whitson defeating disgraced incumbent Jeremy Durham 81%-13% (Durham suspended his campaign just before early voting got underway).
Title: Re: Tennessee State and Local Politics (State primaries--Aug. 4) Post by: Oak Hills on August 04, 2016, 08:42:12 PM SD-26: Incumbent Dolores Gresham leading challenger Bob Shutt by barely over 600 votes.
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