Dr. Greg Rabidoux

The recent comment by Marsha Blackburn on the floor of the US Congress that she hoped that lawmakers would agree that “We’re not going to cry ‘emergency’ every time we have a Katrina, every time we have a tsunami, every time we have a need for extra spending” was incredibly insensitive, uninformed and embarrassing. Her comments also strongly suggest she is very disconnected from the plight of so many fellow Americans as a result of the billions of dollars of destruction caused by the very real emergency called Hurricane Katrina.

In fact, her comments are especially troublesome given that the Congresswoman is originally from Mississippi, an area so severely damaged by Katrina and considering that so many middle Tennesseans recently were victims of a tornado that ripped through the state. I join the Tennessee Democratic Party in calling upon Blackburn to apologize for such irresponsible comments and invite all Tennesseans regardless of party to demand she makes this apology in the name of simple courtesy. As Tennesseans, we don’t expect our lawmakers to cry over emergencies as Blackburn suggests just to simply call a real emergency an emergency and then do the right thing.

Blackburn’ has responded to the calls for her to issue an apology, brought by the TNDP, the Rabidoux campaign, and others, by claiming that her thoughts simply moved ahead of her speech in a statement released through a spokesperson, seems merely to suggest that what she said was truly what she meant just that maybe. Regardless, the many victims of Katrina and other all too real emergencies, including those families who have suffered through such emergencies right here in Tennessee deserve more respect, understanding and responsible leadership from their elected officials. What was needed was a real, heartfelt apology from Blackburn not a “so-called” apology.

About Greg Rabidoux

The Rabidoux Family

Dr. Rabidoux is the youngest of three children. He and his wife Mara have one son, Valentin. Dr Rabidoux is currently a professor at Austin Peay State University where he teaches politics and law, and heads up the university’s pre law program. His wife Mara, a former NCAA Division I All-American tennis player, teaches Spanish at APSU.

For most of his adult life, he worked full-time while attending school at nights. He received his B.A. from the University of Connecticut in political science and journalism, his Masters degree from American University in Washington DC in public policy. He earned his PH.D from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee in American Government, and his JD from Marquette University Law School. He has practiced law and is a certified professional mediator, having mediated for the US EEOC. After completing his M.A. degree he worked for a US House of Representatives Member and later for the United Nations in New York.

Rabidoux  writes a regular weekly column on politics for The All State Newspaper and on-line editions, and has been published in such publications as The National Jurist, USA Today and Reader’s Digest. He is a lifelong Democrat and currently a member of the Montgomery/Clarksville Democratic Party and State of Tennessee Democratic Party. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Arts and Heritage Development Council of Clarksville, Tennessee which sponsors this year’s (Summer 2009) Writers Conference and Tobacco Heritage Tour. Greg and Mara are Christian, and members of the Clarksville YMCA.

Contact the campaign

You can find more information on the Rabidoux campaign at his web site. You can email him, follow his campaign via twitter, or facebook, and make campaign contributions via his Act Blue Page. You can also contact them via postal mail:

Rep. Kent Williams, Speaker of the House, 106th Tennessee General Assembly

In the apparently ongoing uproar over the newly elected House Speaker’s continued and unrepentant presence in the Republican Party, harsh feelings persist.

In an unprecedented move, Republican Lt. Governor and Speaker of the Senate Ron Ramsey has told his fellow Republican, House Speaker Kent Williams, that he ought to quit the Republican Party.

Ramsey said he talked with Williams about this situation in his (Ramsey’s) office:

Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey calls Senate into session

“I think it would be better for him if he was to be independent. I think it would be better if he made that choice instead of being kicked out of the party.” Ramsey contends that, “the whole atmosphere, the whole situation would work better if he was an independent.”

Ramsey was attending the Tennessee Press Association winter meeting, which was being held in downtown Nashville, when he made these comments. On Monday, GOP chair Robin Smith is supposed to announce whether the party is going to throw Williams out.

Rep. Gary Odom, D-Davidson County

Also at the TPA meeting, House Democratic Leader Gary Odom said Williams could join his party. “If the Republican Party wants to remove him, I would welcome him on my side of the aisle. I’d like the title of majority leader instead of just Democratic leader.”

As part of a panel discussion, former Senator Bob Rochelle predicted the GOP will kick Williams out. “Never underestimate the ability of the Republican Party to screw things up,” he said. Rochelle, who is a Democrat, said in punishing Williams, the party is trying to assert control of the legislature’s decisions, which rob voters of independent thinkers.

Rochelle offered that state lawmakers will not linger long on all the ill feelings over Williams’ election as speaker. He told the press association that, “The dynamic is, whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, you’re looking for votes. You’re looking to get things done. The Legislature will be in its usual stance, which you won’t like either.”

Lobbyist Mark Greene commented that, “It’s really uncharted waters up there now. The level of animosity and really sheer hatred right now is off the scale.”

Source: The Nashville Scene Online, TN Press Association

Tennessee State House of Representatives Chamber

Tennessee House Republican leadership takes the top spot. Party designate and presumed standard bearer, Rep. Jason Mumpower, was outmaneuvered by a Republican moderate they had threatened with economic boycott and House Democrats.

Rep. Jason Mumpower R-Bristol

Marking the end of a forty year shut-out, the Tennessee Republican Party made history by taking up the leadership of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Rep. Jimmy Naifeh relinquished his 18-year reign as Speaker of the House as the Republican Party asserted its 50-vote majority and nominated Rep. Jason Mumpower as Speaker.  Rep. Gary Odom, D-Davidson County, over loud catcalls from colleagues and spectators, nominated Rep. Kent Williams, R-Carter County, as an alternate candidate.

The voting was done by roll call. With Williams being the last name on the roll, anticipation was high as the Republicans waited to see if Williams would keep his pledge to support the party and vote Republican, as all the Democrats cast their votes for him.

Rep. Jimmy Naifeh, fmr Hse Spkr

In a stunning upset that saw Rep. Mumpower red-faced, and howls and boos erupting in the House Chamber that carried out into the hallway and into the Senate Chamber, Kent Williams supported his party, voting for himself, denying Mumpower the Speaker position and becoming Speaker of the House of the 106th Tennessee State Legislature.

Prior to the opening of the legislative session, the Republican Party had held a caucus to marshal its members into a solid voting block behind a set list of candidates for all House leadership positions that would lock out the Democrats and support pre-determined legislative priorities for the new term. They were reportedly determined to replace Jimmy Naifeh as House Speaker. Nashville news media have reported that party members came down especially hard on Rep. Williams to support legislative initiatives he felt to be extreme. They went so far as to threaten a boycott of his family business.

Rep. Kent Williams, newly elected Speaker of the House TN General Assembly

With the voting over, Williams was declared the new Speaker of the House, duly elected. After taking the oath-of-office, Speaker Willams has stated that the welfare of the people of Tennessee comes first and that he will be fair in distributing committee appointments and chairmanships. He will favor his party but there will be Democratic appointments and job skills and ability will take higher priority than party affiliation.

Following his acceptance speech, the House went into recess to allow both parties to caucus and consider their follow-up action and strategy for the positions of House Speaker Pro Tempore and Deputy Speaker.

Delegates gather for the convention.

In a crowded room at the Riverview Inn, the controversial September 13 decision of Tennessee State Democratic Party Executive Committee to invalidate the August Primary election was carried out via a tri-county democratic convention convened to decide which of two candidates appear on the November ballot.  In this special called convention, sixty-five county delegates decided the Democratic Party nominee of State Senate District 22 for the November ballot. With a roll call vote, 61 delegates pledged their vote to challenger Atty. Tim Barnes, with four votes going to incumbent State Senator Kurita.

Approved delegates from Cheatham, Houston and Montgomery counties totaled eighty-two. The sixty-five credentialed delegates in attendance satisfied the requirement for a quorum. Senator Rosalind Kurita, herself a delegate, did not attend the proceedings. Tim Barnes, also a delegate, did. The standing-room only proceedings were convened on time (at 7:30 p.m.), orderly, and without outbursts or protests being voiced. There was a rotating silent protest just outside the hotel as a single protester held a sign objecting to the convention. A half dozen television cameras and numerous media photographers were present to document this breaking news story.

Guidelines declared.

Gene Lewis, Montgomery County Democratic Party Chairman, opened the proceedings. Martha Brooke Perry, Cheatham County Party chair, led the Pledge of Allegiance. Chaplain Charles Moreland gave the opening prayer, reading the familiar Prayer of St. Francis, classic prayer for “peace”, apt in the face of the controversy that has surrounded this race. The credentials committee chairperson confirmed delegate attendance count as 65 and declared a quorum was present.

Grant Phillips, General Counsel to the Tennessee Democratic Party, then addressed the convention, summarizing events that  led to the call for this convention. Chairman Lewis declared the sole purpose of the convention was to select a Democratic Party nominee for the November ballot. No discussion of the primary, the special executive committee hearing or personal attacks would be permitted. Outbursts and unruly conduct would result in those persons being escorted from the gathering. With that, the floor was opened to receive nominations.

The nominations and the vote.

Linda Swindell, a Cheatham County voter, nominated Senator Rosalind Kurita (at right), accompanying that nomination with a statement that voters “lost their right to have their votes counted.” Ricky Wallace nominated Attorney Tim Barnes without comment.  Nominations were closed. While this process allowed for additional nominations of any candidate meeting state requirement, no other nominations were put forth.

Each nominee was allowed five minutes in which to address the delegates. Nominee incumbent Senator Kurita did not attend the proceedings and was unavailable to make a presentation; she had indicated she would not attend since she believed party delegates had “already made up their minds.”

Tim Barnes was present and addressed the delegates. He spoke of being tired, tired of scurrilous attacks on his character, his profession and the people of District 22. He stressed that his focus remains on helping the people of the district. With the everyday stress of high gasoline prices, mortgage and banking uncertainty, unaffordable health care and underfunded education, he said there was no time for character assassination. He had no personal agenda or advancement goals to exploit. He further said he would be proud to be the nominee for District 22 on the November ballot.

With the conclusion of his address, a roll call vote was conducted. With a 61 to 4 vote tally, the convention chose Barnes to be the Democratic Party nominee on the November ballot. The convention adjourned after the vote tally was declared. A press conference in the hotel lobby was held.

Supporters celebrate and Barnes gives thanks.

Tim Barnes supporters gathered in the lobby to cheer their candidate’s selection. With shouts of “Time for Tim!,” Barnes made his way to the rostrum, shaking hands and receiving congratulations along the way. He thanked his supporters for their steadfastness. He also thanked his wife and children for enduring the chaotic atmosphere of the past seven months. He said he was humbled by the vote and would not take this selection lightly. He is proud of his campaign, stating that it proves taking the high road can be successful. He never practiced negativism and focused instead on the concerns of working families, the people of District 22.

Barnes reiterated his reasons for pursuing the nomination: to help working families. Responding to media questions of whether Senator Kurita would mounting a write-in campaign, he said he understands she is angry but deferred the question to the state Democratic Party. When asked about possible voter backlash to the way he has won the nomination, he answered no and again deferred any further consideration on the subject to party officials.  He stated that his goal is to help the people as they struggle to make ends meet. When asked about crossover Republican voters, Barnes said there has always been been crossover voting. It becomes harmful “when it is a concerted effort to subvert the democratic process.” He acknowledged having Republican friends and welcomed any Republicans who would choose to support him with their vote.

Barnes said he would renew his campaign efforts for the people’s vote in November. He again thanked all the volunteers who have given selflessly of their their time and efforts on his behalf and asked them to continue and gear up for the next push to the November election.

It was a tough loss for both Kurita and her constituents, who favored her stand on issues including the environment and women’s issues, among other concerns. Outside the Inn, several people protested the not only the decision but the process, with duct tape over their mouths as a symbol of their vote for Kurita being silenced.

Kurita, as many voters have speculated, is planning a write-in campaign for the for the November 4 election. Barnes, who at one point on primary night thought he had won the election only to find minutes later he lost by 19 votes, challenged that original election, an action that last Saturday resulted in eight hours of testimony and the invalidation of the primary race by the Democratic State Executive Committee.

Ironically, for all the controversy this process incurred, the primary race attracted less than 12% of registered voters, hardly a mandate. Kurita won that by 19 votes. Barnes challenges the election results, calling for a recount,, which, with voting machines, only repeats the totals, not the votes. In another bit of irony, the current electronic voting system in Montgomery County will be replaced by a verifiable voting system — but not until after the presidential election in November. Barne’s challenge to the election was not only the close vote but other alleged irregularities at county polling places.

[Show as slideshow]

12►

Some long-time Democrats become “Incurably Uncertain” about remaining in their own party after Kurita’s election win was discredited on September 13. The eight hour session which seemed to most observers to be a sure win for Kurita ended with a 33-11 vote to null and void Kurita’s Senate election win.

When this decision was announced, APSU Associate Professor of Biology, Dr. Joe Schiller, told the officials in the room that “they had been instructed to vote based on the evidence and facts, not on retribution and revenge”. He was asked to leave the room. Feeling disenfranchised, he told me that the whole event was a miscarriage of justice and he is seriously reconsidering his party affiliation. “If it is a Republican conspiracy when Republicans vote for Democrats, that’s a conspiracy I’d like to have.”

“There was no proof. It was a Scopes monkey trial. It was embarrassing”, said Beth Robinson, a Clarksville computer systems analyst and member of The Climate Project. “This reminds me of the Supreme Court ignoring the voting public and handing Bush the White House despite the fact that Gore received more votes.” Beth said she’d like Senator Kurita to explore a write-in campaign and possibly run as an Independent.

Standing room only as the Tennessee Democratic Executive Committee hears evidence in the Kurita/Barnes primary election case

R. Neal wrote his view on the case in the Tenn Views web site. He includes a link to Kurita’s attorney’s response to the Barnes challenge, which you can read here or at http://www.tennviews.com/files/kuritachallengeresponse.pdf Neal writes that Barnes filed a challenge, citing a litany of alleged irregularities. Kurita filed a response refuting them point by point. Read the rest of Neal’s article at http://www.tennviews.com/node/3882.

Retired attorney, Alma Sanford was in shock and declared publicly that she is leaving the party and will vote for McCain. In a later interview, she admitted that she would never vote for McCain, but she will also not vote Democratic. For the people who know Sanford and her 49 years of dedication to the Democratic Party, this is indeed a sorry blow.

Alma Sanford with Attorney Robert Rochelle

Democrats scurry to discredit Alma Sanford, who is a Tennessee native.  She won a Humanitarian Award in 1994 for her efforts in defending the elderly from evictions from their homes. Sanford did extensive volunteer work on the Gore and Kerry campaigns, raising thousands of dollars for Kerry. Starting in 2004, she co-founded the Tennessee group, Gathering to Save our Democracy, and she lobbied two or three days a week for four years seeking improvements or alternatives to Tennessee voting machines, from which votes cast are  not verifiable. (Ed: In January, 2010, Tennessee will launch a verifiable voting system.)

Here is Alma Sanford’s letter to Clarksville Online:

“As I sat beside my friend who is also a retired attorney, at the eight hour long hearing of the Tennessee Democratic Party on Saturday, I kept remembering the years I practiced law in front of Judges in a real court setting.  My friend agreed with me after a couple of hours of testimony from witnesses called by Tim Barnes, the complainant, that any judge before whom we had ever appeared would have thrown out the case.  The so-called “evidence” was based on thinly disguised vengeance and the anguish of a ’sore loser.’

The Executive Committee

“We wish we could have heard the Executive Committee members discuss the evidence – or the lack of evidence.  Only three members ever spoke to the ‘heart of the case,’ i.e., discussed the evidence.  One member stated emphatically that he was concerned about setting a bad precedent by throwing out an election because Republicans had voted in the Democratic Primary, when Tennessee is a state that allows open primaries.  He stated that if the election of the voters of District 22 was set aside, that at the next meeting of the Executive Committee, the members should determine how many Republicans will be allowed to vote in a Democratic Primary before the threshold is reached.

“Instead of a decision based on evidence and facts (as Sen. Kurita’s attorney was able to get Tim Barnes to say he wanted), one member after the hearing told me, “The decision would have been the same had the vote been taken at 9:00 a.m. (when the hearing began).”  She said the members had made up their minds because they were still so angry about Senator Kurita voting to unseat Sen. John Wilder as the speaker of the Tennessee Senate.

“Where was the anger of the members of the Tennessee Democratic Executive Committee when, in 2004, so many elections for State Senate candidates were lost that the Senate no longer was in Democratic control?  Did any one of them ever express anger at the Chair of the Party?  Did one member express anger at the Chair of the Coordinated Campaign who was charged with the duty to elect all Democrats?  Did any one express anger at the Senate Democratic Caucus Leader because he failed in his job.

Left front: Attorney George E. Barrett and Tim Barnes, second from right

“To date, I have never heard any member of the TNDP or anyone else for that matter, find fault with any of the MEN who held the aforementioned positions.  No one ever challenged Sen. John Wilder when he regularly appointed Republicans as Chairs of Senate committees, passing over Senator Kurita (and other Democrats) as she continued to rise in seniority with the numbers of years she served in the Tennessee Senate.

“I talked with Senator Kurita on Thursday, September 11th, and she had just read my e-mail asking people to come to yesterday’s hearing to support her.  In that e-mail, I had stated that Tim Barnes’ campaign manager told me that Tim Barnes is anti-choice.  Senator Kurita said, “Well he managed to keep that a secret because no one ever asked and he never did state his position on ‘choice’ during the campaign.”  She stated emphatically that she had no idea Tim Barnes was anti-choice.

“I noticed in Sen. Kurita’s statement at the hearing yesterday, she stated clearly, “I am a pro-choice Democrat.”

“The reason I have been so adamant in my support of Senator Kurita is because of a certain hearing before the Tennessee Senate in 2006.  There was a bill (SJR 127) before the Senate that would have sent to the voters a constitutional amendment banning all abortions in Tennessee, even to save the life of the mother.  Senator Kurita made a very impassioned speech, as a Registered Nurse, about how important it is to have that personal decision made by the Mother and her Doctor without interference of any governmental agency.

“As a pro-choice voter, if I lived in District 22, I would much rather have Senator Kurita represent me than Tim Barnes.  However, the Tennessee Democratic Party has probably made sure that will never happen again.

“What a sad day for all who have spent years and many dollars defending democratic principles and who thought that the Democratic Party agreed with those principles.  It appears we were wrong.”

~~ Alma Sanford, J.D. , Antioch, TN

A packed house for the Kurita/Barnes hearing on Setember 13

Other Kurita supporters who came to the session:

Penny Brooks of Ashland City, State Chapter Co-Legislature Chair and Co-Political Chair of the Sierra Club, said that she came in support of Kurita because of Kurita’s outstanding environmental record, especially on energy. Brooks supported Kurita’s election win because she does not believe there were deliberate illegal tactics to determine the election in her favor.

Cynthia Bennett, National Board Member, of Tennessee National Organization of Women (NOW) in Nashville, said that Kurita has been a strong supporter of women’s rights in Tennessee. Bennett came to this panel hearing to show the support of the women of Tennessee for someone who has actually stood in the well of the Tennessee Senate and spoke eloquently against changing Tennessee’s constitution, which was an action to take reproductive rights away from Tennessee women. “Kurita stood strongly for us and we stand strongly for her.”

Shane Ray, Fire chief of the Pleasantview Volunteer Fire Department, came in uniform. He said “She’s hard working and dedicated; a good woman who is open and willing to listen, even when we disagree. She’s honest.”

Kathy Parker of Clarksville said that Kurita stands up for State employee’s raises.

David Borden Kircher of Nashville said Kurita won the majority of votes and to take victory away from her would be unfair.

Russell A. Cain of Clarksville came to support Senator Kurita and his vote. Issues raised are alarming and tend to indicate serious political and ethics concerns, he said.

Holly Quick and Floyd Poston, from Nashville, said they came in support of Kurita’s win and said the election was certified by the state. In addition, they are both staunch supporters of women’s rights including the right to a safe and legal abortion. They feel strongly about  election integrity. Holly was an early and strong supporter of verifiable paper ballots for all Tennessee voters. She is the secretary of Gathering to Save our Democracy.

Also appearing in support of Kurita:

• Marietta Shipley, Attorney at Law, former Judge in Nashville
• Margaret Behm, Attorney at Law, Nashville
• Toby Abrams, Tennessee State President N.O.W.
• Martha Wettemann, employee of TN Dept. of Labor and Pres. of Davidson County Chapter of TN State Employees’ Assn.; Treasurer of Cheatham County Democratic Party
• Dr. James Powers
• Roger Schecter, retired attorney
• Jean Sanford McGee
• Deborah Narrigan, Nurse – Chair of Gathering To Save Our Democracy, Legislative Committee
• Matthew Taylor, Cheatham, Student & worker in Rosalind’s campaign, and his mother County
• Linda Swindle and Penny Brooks from Cheatham County
• Holly Spann, Active in Nashville Women’s Political Caucus and & Davidson Democratic Women County
• Mary Parker, Attorney at Law

I was only able to find and interview a few Barnes supporters at this session:

• Mark Olson of Clarksville came supporting Barnes because Rosalind, in his opinion, is a Republican. She voted for a republican for the senate speaker post.
• Mike Williamson of Clarksville came supporting Barnes because Rosalind’s attitude toward the legal profession and the rights of the accused during the election offended him.
• Tommy Vallejos from Clarksville came in support of Barnes saying it is time for change and that  Kurita sold out the people who voted her in.

My observations: During the session we heard about “potty-gate”: Kurita crossed the line at a polling place to use the bathroom. Witnesses saw her go into the school building where the gym held the polling booths. Kurita admits this occurred, but said she saw and talked to no one and did not enter the voting area. Barnes’ attorney said policy says this could be taken as trying to harass or intimidate voters. Kurita’s attorney produced the policy, which did not use those words.  It said that entering the poll could be trying to improperly influence the voters. Barnes produced no one who saw Kurita inside the building.

We heard testimony from a man who didn’t get to vote for Barnes. Part of his story was that when he went to vote he did not want to choose either the Democrat or Republican Party for voting purposes. Later we heard testimony from the poll workers about the man which gave us a different view entirely. Anyone who has voted in a primary knows you are required to declare your party affiliation.

A big part of the accusation was that the Republicans had deliberately set out to upset the election and its results. We heard testimony from APSU student Democrat leader, Adam Haynes, who said he went to the Republican headquarters where a woman suggested that Republicans should try to upset the Democrat election. Adam had no names and defense declared it hearsay. When questioned Adam admitted his golf club was used in a video on Facebook and YouTube showing a man beating an image of Kurita with a golf club. On YouTube it was titled “A young Democrat takes out his frustrations on Senator Kurita.” The video had been removed from the site soon after it was posted.

Senator Kurita, with her husband, George (l), speak with a constituent at the recent opening of Democratic Headquarters

One of the most serious charges made was by a woman who voted at the fairgrounds polling place. She testified that the poll worker told the man in front of her that Barnes was a Republican. Then she testified that another poll worker told her that “they are saying that to everyone” (that Barnes is Republican). Defense produced written testimony of a second poll worker who corrected the first poll worker’s mistake immediately. The woman in line corrected the first poll worker immediately. The Poll worker who was supposed to say, “They are saying that to everyone”, testified that she did not say, under any circumstance, that statement.

Also provided were written testimonies about an annoying phone call to someone telling them Barnes is Republican, and an annoying prank phone call at an early hour saying only “Barnes”. The “evidence” was given as speculation that his opponent was somehow involved in these pranks.

In testimony from Barnes, we learned that his animosity for Kurita started when he ran for office several years ago. Kurita did not attend his fundraisers and did not raise money for his campaign. Barnes said she did not support other Democrats either. Barnes brought up the fact that Kurita had voted out Democrat Wilder, (91), from his Senate seat, (an issue that put a lot of the wind in his campaign). Barnes also talked about the negative ad campaign that Kurita ran about his job as a lawyer.

The defense attorney asked Barnes if he knew as an attorney that unless evidence was submitted before the case as testimony it could not be considered in a case. Barnes said yes. Did he also know that everything he just said was not submitted and could not be used in the case? Barnes said yes.

People who went to support Kurita by showing up were encouraged by the seeming lack of substantial evidence against her and were subsequently appalled at the conclusion. In the aftermath, there is talk of a write-in vote for Kurita. In the wake of this primary election fiasco, a deep rift has developed within the Democractic Party in Clarksville, and throughout the three counties — Montgomery, Cheatham and Houston  that will be represented by on of these two candidates.

Democratic Executive Committees are meeting Wednesday, September 17, at 7:30 p.m., at the Riverview Inn, to decide which name will appear on the November ballot. That decision could be the final verdict on this state Senate seat, since there is no Republican contender for the seat. The wild card in November would be Kurita running as a write -in  or independent candidate.

Mission Statement: We will endorse and vote for the candidates that we believe best support our agenda and we will work to vote out the elected officials that we know do not have the best interest of their constituents in mind.

During the last election season nine candidates on the ballot endorsed by L.O.V.E. won their races and are still representing their constituency today. We encourage everyone to register to vote and then to cast your vote on Election Day because your vote is your voice!

Our endorsements are:

United States Senate: Robert D. Tuke

United States House Of Representatives 7th congressional district: Randy G. Morris

United States House Of Representatives 8th congressional district: John Tanner

Tennessee Senate 22nd senatorial district: Tim Barnes

Tennessee House Of Representatives 67th representative district: Joe Pitts

Tennessee House Of Representatives 78th representative district: David W. Davidson

Assessor of Property: Robert Wayne Hunt

Highway Supervisor: Mike Frost

School Board Member School District 2: Morris N. Stevens

School Board Member School District 6: Eula Gardner Dowdy

Judicial Retention Question Court Of Appeals: “Shall RICHARD H. DINKINS be elected and retained in office as Judge, Court of Appeals, Middle Division?” YES

Robert (Bob) Tuke is a Marine who served America, a Democratic soldier who has worked hard for others in Tennessee politics. He is now a candidate for the United States Senate is touring Clarksville meeting with voters to discuss his platform and answer their questions

Robert D. Tuke is the former Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, having served from July 1, 2005 through January 13, 2007. In addition, he served as Treasurer of the Tennessee Democratic Party and Co-Chair of the Kerry/Edwards Campaign in Tennessee in 2004. He headed Veterans for Kerry in the State in 2003 – 2004. Tuke was also a Trustee of the national Kerry/Edwards campaign and served as Delegation Whip of the Tennessee Delegation at the Democratic National Convention in 2004.

Most recently, Tuke worked as the Tennessee Political Director for Obama for America.