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Rutherford County Democrats Announce Convention

Friday, February 5th, 2010

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.”

Posted in Democratic Party, Elections, FYI | No Comments »

Gordon’s Distinguished Career in Congress to Come to a Close

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

bg-photo Congressman to retire from Congress after his current term

MURFREESBORO - After more than a quarter-century of public service to his home state of Tennessee, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon announced his plans to retire from Congress when his current term ends in 2010.

“I feel honored that the people of Middle Tennessee have allowed me to serve them for the past 25 years,” said Gordon. “Every decision I have made in Congress has been with their best interests in mind. I hope the people here at home feel that I have served them as well as their good advice and views have served me.

“When I was elected, I was the youngest member of the Tennessee congressional delegation; now, I’m one of the oldest. In fact, I have members of my staff who weren’t even born when I took office. That tells me it’s time for a new chapter.”

Gordon, the dean of the state’s congressional delegation, said he made his decision after consulting with his wife, Leslie.

“Turning 60 has led me to re-evaluate what’s next. I have an 8-year-old daughter and a wonderful wife who has a very demanding job. I am the only child of my 83-year-old mother, Margaret. They have made sacrifices to allow me to do what I love by serving in Congress, and now it’s my turn,” said Gordon.

Strengthening families has been a common thread throughout Gordon’s time in Congress. During his service, he has consistently worked to improve the quality of life for working families by providing greater access to higher education; allowing workers to keep their jobs while managing a family emergency such as a sick child, spouse or parent; and working to preserve the American dream by ensuring today’s students have the strong math and science skills they will need for the jobs of the future.

His constituents have repeatedly recognized Gordon’s efforts by sending him back to the U.S. Capitol to represent them - in 13 elections, Gordon has never lost any of the 15 counties in his district. In recent years, he has won re-election handily, earning 64 percent of the vote in 2004, 67 percent in 2006, and 74 percent in 2008.

The son of a farmer and schoolteacher, Gordon was named chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee in 2007, becoming Tennessee’s first full committee chairman in 30 years. The congressman said he is grateful for the opportunity it presented to author landmark legislation such as the America COMPETES Act, but his goals in Congress have always remained the same.

“My dream for kids growing up in Middle Tennessee is the same that I have for my daughter, Peyton – for them to grow up in a safe neighborhood, get a quality education, and be able to find a good job close to home,” said Gordon. “I hope I’ve been able to make that dream more of a reality for the next generation.”

While Gordon’s congressional efforts may be coming to an end in a year, his legislative efforts and first-rate constituent service will continue in the meantime.

“I will be focusing on the work to be done in the year ahead. Our country is facing extraordinary challenges, and I will continue to work to be the best congressman I can be. My doors are open in Murfreesboro, Gallatin and Cookeville, and my staff and I will continue to listen to people’s concerns and help them cut through government red tape. Staying in touch with the people I represent has been my number one priority. That will remain true throughout my last year in Congress,” said Gordon, who has held more than 2,000 open meetings, call-ins and listening sessions during his service.

The congressman said his achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the support of many people very close to him, including his parents.

“I couldn’t have asked for more supportive and inspiring parents. My mother and my late father always stood by my side throughout the years,” said Gordon. “I’ve also been blessed with a talented, hard-working staff that has helped me do a better job. And I will be forever grateful to the friends and volunteers who have given their counsel and support over the years.”

Educated in Rutherford County public schools, Gordon graduated with honors from Middle Tennessee State University in 1971 and later received his law degree from the University of Tennessee. He served in the Army Reserves from 1971-1972. Gordon is married to Leslie Peyton Gordon, who is a partner with Korn/Ferry International, and they have one daughter.

Posted in 2010, Democratic Party, Elections, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) | 3 Comments »

Another Conservative Attacks Lou Ann Zelenik’s Candidacy

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Stephen Shirley, Conservative DNJ Contributor

PRAYS ITS A CONSPIRACY TO MAKE HER GO AWAY

Stephen Shirley is known as a conservative contributor to the Daily News Journal through guest columns, DNJ forum posts, and blogs. Here’s what he had to say about Republican Lou Ann Zelenik’s decision to challenge Congressman Bart Gordon (D-Murfreesboro) in a DNJ guest column:

Zelenik certainly isn’t the perfect candidate. Never mind that she lost a Republican primary race for the Tennessee House 48th District. Zelenik comes across as a partisan blowhard interested more in hearing herself talk than in listening to local residents. She’s caustic, abrasive and quite simply annoying. Her schtick plays well with the “birthers” crowd. But independents simply plug their ears to her braying and search out a more reasoned voice.

Numerous political watchers openly wonder if the Zelenik campaign isn’t just an attempt to weaken Gordon for the 2012 election cycle. A campaign against Zelenik would force Gordon to spend from his campaign war chest. But what if weakening Gordon isn’t the only motivation for the Republican Party? What if there is a secondary motivation in encouraging a Zelenik campaign in 2010?

If Zelenik faces off against Gordon next November, spends significant amounts of her own money and still loses, she might conclude that elected office is not in her best interests. In one fell swoop, Republicans could hurt Gordon’s prospects of another re-election as well as clear the slate of a powerful, if not deeply flawed, candidate.

So call it the Zelenik gambit. It may be an attempt to weaken Bart Gordon. But by offering up Zelenik as campaign fodder in 2010, the gambit may also be an attempt to eliminate her from future discussions.

Posted in 2010, Elections, Lou Ann Zelenik, Radical Republicans, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) | 1 Comment »

Masked Republican Senate Candidate Thrown Out Of UT Game

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

111009campfield2_t300 UT POLICE REPORT CITES BELLIGERENCE

If you are not familiar with Rep. Stacy Campfield (R-Knoxville), you’re definitely missing out on one of the rising stars/spectacles of the Tennessee GOP. Campfield spends his time on the Tennessee House floor fighting conservative battles such as calling the black caucus more racist than the KKK (while trying to join), issuing state death certificates for aborted fetuses, and getting guns onto school campuses . Republican leaders just love him, so he’s decided to run for State Senate.

Being such a celebrity among Republicans can be a heavy burden, though. Mr. Campfield gets very tired of having his clothes ripped off his body by throngs of adoring fans, so he decided to wear a brightly-colored leather mexican wrestling mask to the UT game to hide his identity and fit right in. The problem is, masks are not allowed in Neyland stadium, and when Campfield was told to remove it he refused and tried to evade campus police. They were not amused:

According to a report by UT Police Lt. Dana McReynolds, the Knoxville Republican was wearing a “Luchador’s (Mexican wrestler’s) full head mask” during the game against South Carolina despite publicity before and during the game that Halloween masks were not allowed inside Neyland Stadium.

“I told him masks were not allowed in the stadium and told him he would have to take it off,” McReynolds wrote. “He asked why and I again told him that masks were not allowed and he could either give the mask to me or take it off and put it away. Before I could finish my sentence he took off the mask and asked if he could keep it. I told him ‘yes’ and thanked him for complying.”

The officer noted that Campfield then re-entered the stadium area but went a different direction than his original seat.

“Curious about this odd behavior and concerned that he had misunderstood our interaction, I caught up with him in front of the concession stand in Section D,” McReynolds wrote. “I … began to tell him that I was not asking him to leave the section, just to take off his mask. Again … he interrupted and said, ‘I was just taking a walk. Is it illegal to walk around?’ I told him ‘no,’ and was surprised by his sudden confrontational attitude. … He again asked if walking around was illegal. I told him ‘no’ and again began to explain that he did not have to leave his seat, just take off the mask. He continued to ask if walking around was illegal. … Thinking that something was not right (he kept saying the same phrase over and over, would not make eye contact and kept shifting on his feet, left to right) I asked to see his ticket.”

When Campfield gave the officer his ticket, it was for Section LL, not Section B.

According to the report, the officer asked Campfield why he had not said he was going to his correct seat, and he said again, “I told you I was walking around. Is it illegal to walk around?”

“After five or six attempts at explaining this to him, I told the man I was not going to play word … games with him,” the officer wrote. “He had violated the mask policy, was in the wrong section and was being argumentative and uncooperative.”

“While walking to the exit, he kept repeating over and over that he was just walking around and when did it become illegal to walk around,” McReynolds wrote.

UPDATE: Christian Grantham has a video compilation

Posted in Elections, FYI, Radical Republicans, Rep. Stacey Campfield, Republican leaders, Tea Parties | No Comments »

Judge Orders Secretary of State Tre Hargett to Implement Voter Confidence Act

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Tre Hargett, Tennessee's Republican Secretary of State, Refuses To Implement Verifiable Voting Law

NASHVILLE - Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester renewed his call for Secretary of State Tre Hargett to purchase new voting machines that count paper ballots after a Davidson County judge today ruled the machines do not have to meet 2005 certification standards.

Chancellor Russell Perkins issued his ruling after Common Cause Tennessee filed a lawsuit compelling the secretary of State to implement the Tennessee Voter Confidence Act, which requires all county election commissions to make the switch to optical scan machines and paper ballots before the November 2010 elections.

“Mr. Hargett cannot use the bogus claim anymore that the machines do not exist,” Forrester said. “Now maybe he will follow the law and do the job he was sworn to do. Fair and verifiable elections are part of the very foundations of our democracy. I do not understand why he is stalling on this issue.

“The state has more than $35 million in federal funding set aside to purchase these machines. That’s more than enough money to purchase the machines and train workers. In fact, these machines have been cited in study after study as being less costly in maintenance than the electronic touch-screen machines now in use by most of the state’s 95 counties.”

Hargett based his argument concerning certification standards on a memorandum issued by the General Assembly’s Office of Legal Services, which opines to whether the law mandates machines purchased adhere to 2005 standards adopted by the federal Election Assistance Commission. EAC standards are voluntary standards.

“The TVCA does not require the voting system to be implemented by the State of Tennessee to meet 2005 standards,” the judge ruled. “The Court determines that the State is obligated to take prompt, effective steps to meet the statutory deadline using compliant voting systems.”

Posted in 2010, Elections, Republican leaders, Safe Elections, Tennessee Voter Confidence Act | No Comments »

Right-Wing Fringe Claims Victory Over Republican Overlords

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

asterix-and-the-vikings Even though they lost a district that has been in republican hands since the Civil War to a Democrat, the TEA Party crowd and their fearless leaders consider the loss a victory in the effort to oust moderate republicans and take over the republican party.

Democrat Bill Owens won New York’s 23rd Congressional District last night even though Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Michelle Malkin, and Fred Thompson led an invasion of the longtime republican district. They demanded that the republican candidate, Dede Scozzafava, was not conservative enough for them. Right-wing activists imported their own candidate and insisted they would win with a true conservative. They didn’t.

The Virginia Republican candidate didn't even list party affiliation in his ads.

Meanwhile, GOP leaders in Virginia chose a moderate former Attorney General with 14 years of legislative experience for their Gubernatorial candidate. McDonnell downplayed his partisan affiliation and conservative social views, choosing to instead focus on the traditionally Democratic issues of jobs, healthcare, and education - the top 3 on the issues section of his web page. In fact, McDonnell didn’t even list his party affiliation anywhere on his home page and his ads didn’t either. He even used the traditional Democratic blue background, though he wears a sporty red tie, as you can see in the example to the right:

In New Jersey, Republican Chris Christie used similar techniques, not announcing party affiliation anywhere on his home page. The Democrats stuck with a wildly unpopular Governor who had been languishing under rock-bottom approval ratings since 2008 in a state that chose Barack Obama by nearly 20 points. The outcome? Moderates who downplayed their conservative republican background won the Governorships in New Jersey and Virginia.

It is clear that voters largely rejected the far right yesterday, but let’s hope the right-wing doesn’t get the memo and continues to recruit fringe candidates like Lou Ann Zelenik against common sense Democrats across America. We sure don’t want to be thrown in that awful briar patch.

Posted in Elections, FYI, Lou Ann Zelenik, Radical Republicans, Tea Parties | 2 Comments »

Republican Candidate Drops Out, Endorses Democrat 36 Hours Before Election

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

Dede Scozzafava (R) and Bill Owens (D), candidates for NY 23rd Congressional District

If you haven’t been following the high drama in New York’s 23rd District Congressional Special Election, we’ll forgive you. But suffice it to say that its been historic. Here’s a quick primer:

New York’s 23rd Congressional District has not been represented by a Democrat since the 1850’s. A special election to fill the vacated seat includes a Democratic candidate, a Republican candidate, and a “Conservative Party” candidate who doesn’t live in the district and was recruited and backed by right wing nutcases like Sarah Palin, Fred Thompson, and Michelle Malkin. The right wing fringe sees this as a chance to beat a moderate Republican and gain momentum in their takeover of the entire Republican Party. Leaders in the Republican Party such as Newt Gingrich have backed the Republican candidate, Dede Scozzafava, setting up a civil war within their own party. The internal squabble has made this race competitve for the Democrat, who is now poised to make history by being the first Democrat elected in this district since prior to the Civil War.

The Republican, Scozzafava, has seen her campaign collapse in recent weeks. She suspended her campaign on Saturday and announced her endorsement of the Democrat at 2:00 today. Following is a portion of her statement:

You know me, and throughout my career, I have been always been an independent voice for the people I represent. I have stood for our honest principles, and a truthful discussion of the issues, even when it cost me personally and politically. Since beginning my campaign, I have told you that this election is not about me; it’s about the people of this District.

It is in this spirit that I am writing to let you know I am supporting Bill Owens for Congress and urge you to do the same.

Please join me in voting for Bill Owens on Tuesday. To address the tough challenges ahead, we must rise above partisanship and politics and work together. There’s too much at stake in this election to do otherwise.

We have reported previously on the circular firing squad known as the Republican Party. Lou Ann Zelenik’s ouster and her replacement with Rick Womick seems to be merely a local outgrowth of a national right wing fringe takeover. And now even the Davidson County Republican Party is getting in on the action. Considering the Republicans’ recent disastrous national poll numbers, let’s hope it continues.

Posted in Democratic Party, Elections, Lou Ann Zelenik, Michelle Bachmann, Radical Republicans, Republican leaders, Rick Womick, Tea Parties | No Comments »

American Confidence In Republicans Hits 25-Year Low

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

picture-891 A tracking poll conducted quarterly for the past 30 years has found that an initial rally by republicans earlier this year has been wiped away and replaced with the lowest confidence among likely voters that the GOP has faced since 1983. Chris Cilliza has the breakdown.

Less than one in five voters (19 percent) expressed confidence in Republicans’ ability to make the right decisions for America’s future while a whopping 79 percent lacked that confidence.

Among independent voters, who went heavily for Obama in 2008 and congressional Democrats in 2006, the numbers for Republicans on the confidence questions were even worse. Just 17 percent of independents expressed confidence in Republicans’ ability to make the right decision while 83 percent said they did not have that confidence.

On the generic ballot question, 51 percent of the sample said they would cast a vote for a Democratic candidate in their congressional district next fall while just 39 percent said they would opt for a GOP candidate. (As late as this summer, Republicans had seemingly narrowed the wide generic ballot lead Democrats enjoyed for much of the last two election cycles.)

And, perhaps most troubling for GOP hopes is the fact that just 20 percent of the Post sample identified themselves as Republicans, the lowest that number has been in Post polling since 1983. (No, that is not a typo.)

The poll was conducted by conventional and cellular telephone from Oct. 15 to 19 among a random sample of 1,004 adults. The margin of sampling error for the full poll is plus or minus three percentage points.

Posted in 2010, Elections, Rutherford County Republican Party, Tax and Spend Republicans | 5 Comments »

Inaugural Grow Tennessee Dinner a Huge Success

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

The video above shows clips from local TV news coverage of Saturday’s Grow Tennessee dinner and straw poll. It’s a good introduction to Tennessee’s 5 Democratic Gubernatorial candidates.

You can watch full coverage of this event on WTVF (5) and WSMV (4).

You can read about it in the Murfreesboro Post, Daily News Journal (here and here), Nashville Scene, Nashville City Paper, Clarksville Online, Tennessean, and MTSU Sidelines.

The results are in from Saturday’s straw poll of Democratic candidates for Governor of Tennessee in Murfreesboro. All five Democratic candidates spoke to a sold-out audience at MTSU’s Tennessee Ballroom.

Sen. Roy Herron - 119
Sen. Jim Kyle - 81
Kim McMillan - 58
Mike McWherter - 32
Ward Cammack - 13
Undecided - 12

Here is what blogs from across the state of Tennessee are saying about the straw poll:

KnoxViews:

I believe Bredesen was the clear front runner by this time in 2001. Despite this result, there doesn’t yet seem to be one for this primary. Kyle has only just started campaigning. McMillan had a stronger showing than many might have expected, especially McWherter. Makes you wonder if the McWherter name is all that familiar to the younger voters coming into the party.

Silence Isn’t Golden:

What this means, the long answer: I was rather surprised by McWherter’s poor showing. The main criticism of straw poll-type events is that the results are unreliable because campaigns can just bring in a ton of supporters to skew the results. Yet it did seem, to me at least, that McWherter did have quite a few supporters there. I really want to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially given that we know he can raise the money, but he does seem rather awkward on the stump.

LeftWingCracker:

I can see Herron contiuing to do well in the rural areas, but he will get bupkis in Shelby County; only McWherter, if any one, can make a dent in the lockdown Jim Kyle has achieved here in a short period of time. Kyle’s great showing in the Boro will cause others outside Big Shelby to take another look at him. Now, The Boro is in the fifth most populous county in Tennessee, so this is a significant showing for Roy, and suggests the Battle of Weakley County will not be going away any time soon.

Pith in The Wind:

Roy Herron won the Rutherford County Democrats’ straw poll Saturday. That’s surprising in itself, but he also trounced Mike McWherter, the one most people see as the party’s strongest candidate for governor. McWherter finished behind even Kim McMillan. He’s always seemed like a dud to me, a guy capable of sucking the excitement right out of a room.

Sean Braisted:

The results of the Rutherford County Democratic Straw poll are hardly scientific, but it sort of holds with my observations which is that Mike McWherter has failed entirely to inspire passion in his party activists. Yes, his name recognition might give him a lead in whatever polls are done, but for anyone engaged, its a lukewarm feeling at best…save the people who feel they “owe” Ned Ray one.

Politically Funny:

Last evening I attended the 1st Annual Rutherford County Grow Tennessee dinner. What a great event hosted by Rep. Kent & Cecil Coleman, Rep. John & Marilyn Hood, Sen. Andy & Cherry Womack, and Ms. Sandra Y. Trail and held at MTSU’s James Union Building. I truly must commend Jonathon Fagan, Chairman of the Rutherford Democratic Party, for doing an outstanding job.

To Move A Nation:

One by one, the candidates were introduced and strode up to the podium to present speeches that were typically five minutes in length. Each delivered what I would assume were their basic stump speeches. This was a good approach, because the audience didn’t seem to be that familiar with any of them. Here’s my general impression of each speech.

Posted in 2010, Democratic Party, Elections, Fundraising | 7 Comments »

First Democratic Gubernatorial candidate straw poll is now SOLD OUT

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

Earlier today, we issued the following press release. Congressman Bart Gordon will be in attendance and is pleased to introduce his good friend Congressman Lincoln Davis as keynote speaker.

The Rutherford County Democratic Party (RCDP) announced today that they have sold out the first straw poll in the 2010 Democratic primary for Governor of Tennessee. The 1st Annual Rutherford County Grow Tennessee dinner will take place Saturday Sept. 19th from 6-7pm CT at MTSU’s James Union Building in the Tennessee Ballroom. Congressman Bart Gordon’s good friend Congressman Lincoln Davis will give the keynote speech at the event.

The evening is hosted by Rep. Kent & Cecil Coleman, Rep. John & Marilyn Hood, Sen. Andy & Cherry Womack, and Ms. Sandra Y. Trail. The event is a fundraiser that will also serve as an important early straw poll of Middle Tennessee Democrats on who they feel has the best vision to move Tennessee forward as our next Governor.

“Not only did we quickly sell out the event we also maxed out the Tennessee Ballroom’s 360 person capacity,” said RCDP Chairman Jonathon Fagan. “The candidate that wins this straw poll will send a strong message to the party, press and donors for weeks to come that they are a serious candidate to move our state forward.”

Gubernatorial candidates Sen. Jim Kyle, Kim McMillan, Sen. Roy Herron, Mike McWherter and Ward Cammack will be at this event and share brief words about the future of our great state.

Posted in 2010, Democratic Party, Elections, Events, Fundraising, RCDP, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) | No Comments »

Middle Tennessee Democratic Gubernatorial straw poll - Saturday Sept. 19

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

The Rutherford County Democratic Party will host an evening with five Tennessee Democratic Gubernatorial candidates Saturday September 19 on the campus of MTSU.

The 1st Annual Rutherford County Grow Tennessee dinner is a fundraiser that will also serve as an important early straw poll of Middle Tennessee Democrats on who they feel has the best vision to move Tennessee forward as our next Governor.

The evening is hosted by Rep. Kent & Cecil Coleman, Rep. John & Marilyn Hood, Sen. Andy & Cherry Womack, and Ms. Sandra Y. Trail.

“Grow Tennessee will be an early indication of who Middle Tennessee Democrats are supporting in the 2010 Gubernatorial primary,” said RCDP Chairman Jonathon Fagan. “The candidate that emerges on top will send a strong message to the party, press and donors for weeks to come that they are a serious candidate to move our state forward.”

Gubernatorial candidates Sen. Jim Kyle, Kim McMillan, Sen. Roy Herron, Mike McWherter and Ward Cammack will be at this event and share brief words about the future of our great state.

WHEN: Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 6-9 p.m. CT
WHERE: Middle Tennessee State university’s Tennessee Ballroom in James Union Building (directions)
TICKETS: call RCDP at 615.796.1472 or Pat McFadden at 615.336.7450 or click here to order them online through ActBlue.

Posted in 2010, Elections, Events, Fundraising, RCDP, TNDP | 2 Comments »

TNDP Hosts Special Training JUST FOR US

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

sostraininglogo3 There will be a special election right here in our own county this fall! The election for the critical 62nd District house seat will shape Tennesee politics for years to come. Election Day is October 13th, but the time to mobilize is NOW!

The TNDP is holding a special S.O.S. training in Shelbyville on August 15th to energize Democrats in Rutherford, Bedford, and Lincoln County and give them the tools they need to succeed.

Get More Details Or Register Now BY Clicking HERE!

The training is free. Lunch will be provided at cost.

Posted in 2010, Democratic Party, Elections, Meeting, TNDP, Volunteer | No Comments »

FREE Premium Tickets for Bill Clinton Keynote at Jackson Day!

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

wjc_headshot_w300h450 IF WE WIN THE 62ND CHALLENGE:

The Challenge: District 62 - TNDP Statewide Phonebank Challenge!

As you all know we are currently one seat down in the State House of Representatives. It is imperative that we regain a majority in the State House so that we can have a fair shake in the 2010 redistricting – this will effect every district in Tennessee.

A State House seat is currently OPEN as Democratic Rep. Curt Cobb has resigned his House District 62 seat to become the Bedford County Clerk and Master. Ty Cobb, the brother of Curt Cobb, is the Democratic nominee for the open seat.

It’s vitally important win the upcoming special election on Tuesday, October 13th and keep this seat in the Democratic column. We need your help for Ty to win!

To that end, I am happy to announce the details of a new TNDP STATEWIDE PHONEBANK CHALLENGE!

The Details

We need all of our County Parties to help us make phone calls into District 62 to identify likely Democratic voters and get them out to vote. That is where the challenge comes in. Between NOW and Sunday, August 23rd we will count the number of calls made. The County Party making the most calls will win one free table with priority placement at Jackson Day. By priority, we mean as close to President Clinton, Co-Hosts Governor Bredeson, and Harold Ford as we can put the table!

TOP TEN CALL MAKERS IN THE COUNTY GET THE SEATS! Call (615) 796-1472 or email our secretary at will.r.fields@gmail.com

Posted in Democratic Party, Elections, Fundraising, RCDP, Rep. Curt Cobb (D-62), TNDP, Volunteer | No Comments »

Tax and Spend Republicans: Rutherford County Republicans defend tax increases

Monday, July 20th, 2009

Rutherford County Tea Party Chairwoman Lou Ann Zelenick defends tax increases.

Tea Party organizer and Rutherford County Republican Chairwoman Lou Ann Zelenick launched her party’s message for the 2010 elections today.

Lou Ann is quoted in today’s Daily News Journal on behalf of Republican candidates saying tax increases by county Republicans this year were the “right decision.”

We don’t recall Lou Ann defending tax increases to the Tea Party wing of the Rutherford County Republican Party, but it’s no surprise to hear just days after Lou Ann was photographed above screaming into a microphone in protest of politicians who raise them.

Lou Ann defended one of the largest property tax increases in Rutherford County passed under current Republican County Mayor Ernest Burgess. Lou Ann went on to say she “can’t wait” for other Republicans to announce their campaigns for the 2010 elections. With a message like that, neither can we!

“The citizens of Rutherford County are fortunate we have an honest, hard-working leader in Mayor Ernest Burgess,” she said. “He puts in 24/7 for the citizens of Rutherford County with dignity and honor.”

Republican County Mayor Burgess campaigned in 2006 on cutting county government spending 10% across the board and promised no property tax increases. Mayor Burgess has failed to live up to his promise, and every Rutherford County tax payer can now expect the bill and thank the Rutherford County Republican Party.

Posted in 2010, Elections, Rutherford County Republican Party, Tax and Spend Republicans, Taxes | 1 Comment »

Federal judge orders Republican Election Commission Chairman Tom Walker to cool his jets

Friday, July 17th, 2009

A federal judge has granted a temporary order barring Republican Election Commission Chairman Tom Walker from firing Rutherford County Election Administrator Hooper Penuel.

The order is the latest in a federal lawsuit against Walker and seven other Republicans who plaintiffs claim are violating the United States Constitution with politically motivated firings of county election administrators.

County election administrators are appointed by local election commissions, and state law required those commissions to have Republican majorities because the GOP gained control of the legislature last year.

Some of those new commissions have ousted election administrators who were appointed by commissions with Democratic majorities. In their lawsuit, the eight administrators say the moves are unlawful.

At a hearing Friday, U.S. District Judge John Nixon approved a temporary restraining order barring Rutherford’s election commission from moving to fire Penuel.

Penuel is the only one of the eight defendants who still works as an election administrator, though court filings say he was told his firing is imminent.

Rutherford County’s Republican election commissioners voted to spend Rutherford County tax payer money on lawyers from Chattanooga to defend themselves in the federal lawsuit. The bill to defend Walker’s behavior could cost Rutherford County tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester responded to the federal court’s order:

“This decision puts the brake on what appears to be a wholesale removal of election administrators across the state,” Forrester said. “Why would you fire people who have such a wealth of experience and knowledge of the election process if it weren’t political patronage?

“These firings and the refusal of Secretary of State Tre Hargett to implement the Tennessee Voter Confidence Act leads me to believe there is an organized effort by Republicans to obstruct fair and verifiable elections.”

Posted in Crime, Elections, Ethics, Rutherford County Republican Party, Watchdog Alert | No Comments »