Topic: Secretary of State

Odom: Goins Needs to Do His Job

August 8, 2009 |

Elections Coordinator says he doesn’t have to enact law

Rep. Gary Odom, D-Davidson County

Nashville – State Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins has again refused to comply with state law, said House Democratic Leader Gary Odom on Friday.

“Goins and Secretary of State Tre Hargett have continuously failed to enact Tennessee’s Voter Confidence Act of 2008, which mandates the purchase of optical-scan voting machines that use paper ballots,” said Odom (D-Nashville). “The use of paper ballots ensures that Tennesseans’ votes are counted correctly.”

In a letter dated July 31st, Goins, in response to several requests from Odom’s office, said that he had the sole authority to “interpret” the law and was not going to implement the Act. «Read the rest of this article»

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Constitutional Officers: Secretary of State

By Blayne Clements | January 7, 2009 |

This is the final article in a three part series discussing the upcoming election of the State of Tennessee Constitutional Officers.

This year the Republican gained control of the Tennessee House and Senate; the first time in 140 years. Therefore, they have the numbers to replace the current Constitutional Officers (all appointed by Democrats). In Part 1 on this series, I discussed the Constitutional Officer of the Comptroller. Part 2 discussed the position of Treasurer.  This article will discuss the duties and candidates of Secretary of State.

Per the Secretary of State website, the Secretary of State is charged with  keeping a register of official acts and proceedings of the governor and, when required, the legislature.  Like  the other two Constitutional officers, the Secretary of State sits on numerous state boards and committees.  The most visible duty of the Secretary of State has to do with the fact that the State Election Commission, the Tennessee Ethics Commission and the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance are attached to the Department of State for administrative matters relating to receipts, disbursements, expense accounts, budgets, audits and other related items.  The Secretary of State appoints each county’s election officials. «Read the rest of this article»

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Election of Tennessee Constitutional Officers: Comptroller of the Treasury

By Blayne Clements | January 5, 2009 |

This is the first in a three-part series by Clarksville Online author Blayne Clements. The series continues on Tuesday, January 6 and Wednesday, January 7.

The Republicans have gained control of the state house and senate, and  have the numbers to replace the three current constitutional officer: Secretary of State, State Treasurer, and State Comptroller.  On Monday, December 15th, Republicans held interviews of potential candidates for these offices.

Per a recent article in the Tennessean,  “Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris of Collierville, said it will create a “level playing field” and transparency for what has long been a closed-door system of selecting political insiders.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News, Opinion, Politics | 2 Comments

Kurita: Let voters choose Lt. Governor, Secretary of State

By Christine Anne Piesyk | January 14, 2008 |

State Senator Rosalind Kurita, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Tennessee Senate, is looking for change in how Tennessee finds its Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State.

“It is time to change history and open up statewide elected positions in Tennessee — as in almost every other state in these United States of America. As we begin 2008, we need to create a position for a popularly elected Lieutenant Governor in Tennessee. We also need to popularly elect the Secretary of State.”

Kurita, in making this bid for new elected positions rather than the tradition of appointees to those key posts, said most Tennesseans “do not even realize that we do not have any voice in the selection of powerful statewide offices.”

“During this past legislative session, I passed the first leg of this complicated process in the Senate. Now we must pass it in the House.”

Kurita is now seeking support for this measure from the public, the voters into whose hands she would place the decisions on these important posts. “Your help is crucial to moving us forward in making “the election” process more open,” Kurita said. «Read the rest of this article»

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