Monday’s Tennessee State Election Commission Meeting Takes on Heightened Importance

The Tennessee State Election Commission’s biennial, normally unnoticed routine of appointing county election commission members takes on heightened importance in light of recent events and unusual situations in at least three Tennessee counties.
In accordance with Tennessee state law, T.C.A. 2-12-101 and 2-12-106, the State Election Commission (SEC) appoints five election commissioners for each of the state’s 95 counties for terms of two years.

Read the full story

Republicans Eyeing Job As Tennessee Governor Respond To Timely Questions At Event Thursday

  While announced and expected Republican candidates for Tennessee governor differed little in their comments at a Rutherford County GOP event on Thursday, they handled questions about tough and timely issues. Businessmen Randy Boyd and Bill Lee spoke at at the annual Reagan Day Dinner, as did state Sen. Mark Green (R-Clarksville) and Congresswoman Diane Black. Boyd, who formerly served as Gov. Bill Haslam’s economic commissioner, and Lee are the only two who have officially announced their candidacies for the 2018 race. On sanctuary cities, all four in attendance said they were strongly against Tennessee cities refusing to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. There are no cities in the state that have technically refused to cooperate with ICE, though Nashville Mayor Megan Barry is seen as sympathetic toward illegal immigrants. Moreover, lax immigration enforcement nationwide under previous presidents has meant ongoing problems with criminal illegal immigrants who continue to commit crimes. “No city in Tennessee will be a sanctuary city under my watch,” said Boyd, who is regarded as an establishment Republican and who last year gave a large donation to Conexión Américas for its culinary entrepreneurship program. Renata Soto, the founder and director of the Nashville group, is…

Read the full story

No Fireworks in Gubernatorial Primary as Diane Black, Randy Boyd, Mark Green and Bill Lee Make Their Pitches at Rutherford County GOP Reagan Day Dinner

Tennessee Star

MURFREESBORO, Tennessee — Four announced and expected Republican candidates for Tennessee governor spoke at Thursday evening’s Reagan Day Dinner sponsored by the Rutherford County GOP. Participants included businessmen Randy Boyd and Bill Lee, Congresswoman Diane Black and State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville). State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) said Wednesday she had to back out because of a scheduling conflict. At Thursday’s event, it was announced that State Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville) and House Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) were also unable to attend as planned. Norris, like Beavers, cited a scheduling conflict and Harwell had to go to Colorado to be with her sister, who broke her back. Boyd and Lee are the only two who have officially launched campaigns for the 2018 race. The four candidates who spoke Thursday at the Stones River Country Club in Murfreesboro answered questions about federal encroachment on states’ rights, school vouchers, sanctuary cities and Medicaid. All four gave responses that reflected few substantial differences. There were no questions about Gov. Bill Haslam’s IMPROVE Act, which he recently signed into law after it passed in the state legislature, but not without fierce debate. The legislation raises the gas tax and allows municipalities to hold…

Read the full story

Seven Republican Candidates For Governor To Speak At Rutherford County Event

  Republican candidates for Tennessee governor will speak at this year’s Reagan Day Dinner sponsored by the Rutherford County GOP. The lineup for the May 25 event will include seven “announced and expected Republican gubernatorial candidates,” according to promotional material. They include businessmen Randy Boyd and Bill Lee, Congresswoman Diane Black, State Senators Mark Green (R-Clarksville), Mark Norris (R-Collierville) and Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet), and Speaker of the State House of Representatives Beth Harwell (R-Nashville). Only Boyd and Lee have announced to date. Part of the mission of local chapters of the Republican Party is to inform voters about candidates running for office, said Donna Barrett, chair of the Rutherford County GOP. “What better way than to have the candidates present at functions where we can personally hear where they stand on issues?” Barrett told The Tennessee Star. On the most important state issues in 2017, the gas tax increase included in the IMPROVE Act passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed by Gov. Haslam, the seven announced and expected Republican gubernatorial candidates hold positions that range from support to opposition to no comment so far. State Senator Mark Norris and Speaker of the House Beth Harwell voted yes…

Read the full story