MURFREESBORO - Jonathon Fagan, Chairman of the Rutherford County Democratic Party, today announced a convention to be held on March 13 to nominate Democrats for the offices of County Mayor, Register of Deeds, Circuit Court Clerk, Sheriff, Trustee, and County Clerk. Three Democratic incumbents will be seeking nomination - Register of Deeds Jennifer Gerhardt, Sheriff Truman Jones, and Circuit Court Clerk Eloise Gaither. Lisa Harrell, 31-year veteran of the County Clerk’s office, will be seeking nomination to succeed Democrat Georgia Lynch who is retiring as County Clerk after 8 years of service.
“Money is tight right now, and holding a county primary with only one candidate for each office would have been wasteful of taxpayer dollars,” Fagan said.
With a total voter turnout of only 10,000, the last May County Primary in 2006 cost taxpayers $100,000, or $10 per vote.
“Saving $100,000 could mean retaining 3 or 4 county jobs for family breadwinners in tough economic times,” Fagan added.
The convention will be held at the Rutherford County Courthouse on March 13, 2010 at 10:00 am. All attendees will be required to produce their voter registration card or photo I.D. before entering the hall. Candidates who wish to be considered for nomination should contact the Rutherford County Democratic Party prior to March 1st, 2010 at (615) 796-1472 and must meet all state and local requirements to hold said office. Further details and a list of officers and contact information can be found at www.rutherfordcountydemocrats.org.
2010 is the first and maybe the last year in Rutherford County history that either Democrats or Republicans will nominate candidates for public office by convention. The decision to caucus is made by local party Chairmen each election year.
“This is truly historic,” Fagan said. “Andrew Jackson began Democratic politics in Rutherford County in 1822, so it is only fitting that we continue making a little history.”
