Atty. Tim Barnes

Senator Rosalind Kurita

It’s not over ’til it’s over. And the controversial Kurita/Barnes campaign for a seat in the Tennessee Senate is definitely not over.

Incumbent Senator Rosalind Kurita defeated challenger Atty. Tim Barnes by a mere 19 votes in the August primary, a win that was almost immediately contested by Barnes and his supporters. That win came on the heels of a controversial eleventh hour campaign play that put bold over-sized color postcards depicting Barnes, whose practice focuses on family law and adoption, as an attorney who defends drunk drivers and abusers.

The eleventh hour negative ad campaign incurred the wrath of 38 area attorneys who countered with their own election day ad and strong statement in defense of Barnes and of the right of every American to a defense, and about the “true” nature of Barnes’ legal practice.

Barnes officially challenged the election results, and on Saturday the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee in a 33-11 decision invalidated that vote, calling the Kurita win “incurably uncertain.” The committee also opted to place the decision on which candidate will appear on the November ballot in the hands of Democratic Committees in the three counties the winner would represent: Cheatham, Houston and Montgomery. Since there is no Republican opposition in this Senate race, the decision of this county triad would decide the state Senate race. Kurita won Cheatham counties, but lost in Houston and the more heavily populated Montgomery County. The county committees are not limited to the two candidates from that race, but it is unlikely that any “third” prospect would emerge.

Locally, many Democrats voiced displeasure with Kurita’s vote to cross party lines and for John Ramsey as Senate Speaker (who is also the designated Lieutenant Governor for Tennessee) last year.

The upcoming tri-county convention won’t be limited to nominating either of the two candidates, but Kurita reportedly did not appear optimistic she would be chosen. Recently at the Grand Opening of Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters, Kurita thanked those who had voted for her and demurred on discussing her strained relationship with many party members. She did not attend the recent Democratic Party Hand Farm Labor Day Celebration, which is the biggest party event of the year. Kurita has not indicated whether she will legally challenge Saturday’s decision.Tim Barnes was obviously pleased with the result and the revival of his candidacy but acknowledged the controversy in not yet and his candidacy is till in legal limbo. Barnes had alleged irregularities in the primaries, including some voters who had been told they needed a Republican ballot in order to vote for him. Primary voters in Tennessee must select a party affiliation in order to vote.

The Montgomery County Democratic Party leadership will await the tri-county convention and hope for an expedient decision. Currently the Tennessee Senate is dived with 16 Democrats, 16 Republicans, and one independent. The date of the county convention has not yet been set.

The event, which is held one week after the traditional Labor Day holiday, is designed to honor the American workers and the Labor Unions who work in their best interests, and involves five Middle Tennessee counties.

Come out and support our Democratic Party and candidates and also enjoy the numerous VIP’s and keynote speakers and of course music and the best barbecue around!

More than 2,000 people attended this event last year. Tickets are priced at $20 each and include the speakers program, chicken barbecue, a dart tournament, and activities for children.

Five County Annual Labor Day Celebration is hosted by Cheatham, Davidson, Montgomery, Robertson, and Williamson County Democratic Parties.  For more information, please contact Kimberly Fritts at or call 615-748-9011.

Tickets will be available at the gate on the day of the event or by calling the Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters at (931) 552-5523.

To get to the celebration at the Hand Farm from Clarksville-Montgomery County get on I-24 East and get off at Exit 19.  At Exit 19, turn left and cross over I-24 then take the 1st right turn and follow to the entrance to the Hand Farm.

The event, which is held one week after the traditional Labor Day holiday, is designed to honor the American worker and the Labor Unions who work in their best interests. With the 2008 Presidential elections looming, the increasing devisiveness of the Iraq War and increasing concerns over wages, health care, pensions and retirements, and myriad pressing domestic issues, the unions and their workers have a lot to talk about.

During the program, 105-year-old Pearl Trotter, Montgomery County’s oldest voting Democrat, will be honored.

Kim McMillan, Senior Advisor to the Governor, will emcee the event and represent the governor’s office at this event. R. Thomas Buffenbarger, President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, is the keynote speaker. Buffenbarger is the 119-year-old union’s 13th President and oversees its operation on behalf of 700,000 current and retired union members from the USA and neighboring Canada. Other labor organization guests include Tennessee AFL-CIO President Jerry Lee and AFL-CIO national Director of Organization, Steward Acuff.

The Clarksville based band, the Ballistic Pintos, will provide music for the event, entertaining with songs including Son Going Down, Fresh Horses, and Cornbread & Taters. The group, founded in 1997, also covers songs by other artists including Travis Tritt, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard — to name just a few.
The guest list also includes Congressmen Jim Cooper and Lincoln Davis, and Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Gray Sasser. Democratic representatives and local elected officials from each participating county will be in attendance.

More than 2,000 tickets have already be sold. Tickets are priced at $20 each and include the speakers program, chicken barbecue, a dart tournament, and activities for children.

Tickets will be available at the gate on the day of the event.