Tag: Rutherford County GOP

Mysterious Email Supporting Property Assessor Rob Mitchell Sent to Rutherford County Employees

Matthew Giffin
Rob Mitchell

Several Rutherford County officials received a mysterious email message cautioning them to support incumbent property assessor candidate Rob Mitchell following a Tennessee Star report about his hiring practices, according to an email obtained by The Star.

Ahead of Mitchell’s bid for reelection, he hired the son of two Rutherford County officials, Michael Maxwell, for a position in the property assessor’s office created for Maxwell after determining he was unqualified for the original job posting, The Star previously reported.

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Carol Swain: Americans Must Reject Identity Politics And Multiculturalism

Wendy Wilson

MURFREESBORO, Tennessee — Americans need to turn away from identity politics and multiculturalism and embrace an American identity, conservative writer and speaker Carol Swain said Tuesday at a Rutherford County GOP luncheon. That’s the only way our country can move beyond the conflicts we’re experiencing, said Swain, echoing a message she has given in interviews on Fox News in the aftermath of violent clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Saturday between white supremacists and radical leftist counterprotesters. On Fox, Swain defended President Trump for blaming both sides. Swain said Tuesday that the ranks of those attracted to “white identity and white consciousness” is growing, but that it’s illogical to maintain that blacks, Hispanics and Asians can promote an identity for themselves rooted in race, but that whites can’t. The solution, she believes, is to support and promote an American identity to cultivate a unifying bond. Tickets for Tuesday’s luncheon at the DoubleTree Hotel sold out. With 85 people attending, it was the largest quarterly luncheon gathering the Rutherford County GOP has hosted. Tuesday also marked Swain’s last official day as a law and political science professor at Vanderbilt University. But Swain has no plans to retire from writing and traveling to…

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State Rep. Bryan Terry and State Rep. Dawn White Host Rutherford County GOP ‘Empowering Women’ Event

Wendy Wilson

  MURFREESBORO, Tennessee — In high school, Mae Beavers was voted “most bashful” by her classmates. She never envisioned becoming active in politics and those who knew her couldn’t have imagined it, either, Beavers related Monday at the fourth annual “Empowering Women” event sponsored by the Rutherford County GOP. The hosts of Monday’s event were State Representatives Dawn White and Bryan Terry, both Murfreesboro Republicans. The longtime conservative state legislator, who is now a gubernatorial candidate, shared her story to encourage other women to get involved in politics, echoing the theme of the evening. “We’ve got some leadership issues in this state,” said State Senator Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) in her brief presentation. Monday’s event, held at the SportsCom, featured several speakers who spoke about various ways women can make a difference. “Not everybody can run for office, but what you can do is get behind people who need you,” said keynote speaker Rebecca Ann Burke, Tennessee Republican Party state executive committee woman for Senate District 23. Known for her enthusiastic efforts to help other conservatives get elected, Burke recently campaigned for Karen Handel in her Georgia congressional race. “They’re saying Karen Handel’s race was won in the last two weeks by…

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U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais Rips Mainstream Media At Rutherford County GOP Event

Wendy Wilson
Tennessee Star

  U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais slammed the mainstream media Thursday in delivering his welcoming remarks at the Rutherford County GOP Reagan Day Dinner. “These folks are not even trying to be neutral and impartial anymore,” he said, describing how he believes coverage has become even more slanted since President Trump was elected. DesJarlais, who represents the 4th district which includes Rutherford County, said news stories are full of “complete and utter nonsense” and cautioned attendees to be wary of what they see and read. “The president is doing everything we elected him to do but you won’t hear about that on TV,” he said. Four announced and expected candidates for Tennessee governor spoke at Thursday’s event at the Stones River County Club in Murfreesboro. They included state Sen. Mark Green (R-Clarksville), Congresswoman Diana Black, and businessmen Randy Boyd and Bill Lee. Only Boyd and Lee have officially announced that they are running. DesJarlais encouraged state and local Republicans to stick together, saying that Democrats’ only chance of putting forward a winning gubernatorial candidate is if Republicans divide among themselves. In Washington, D.C., things are going better than some Republicans realize, he said. “Border crossings are dramatically down and that’s without…

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

Wendy Wilson

  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…

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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

Wendy Wilson
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…

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Mae Beavers Will Not Attend Reagan Day Dinner Featuring Announced and Expected GOP Gubernatorial Candidates

Wendy Wilson

  State Sen. Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) will not attend an event tonight (Thursday) where six other announced and expected Tennessee Republican gubernatorial candidates will be speaking. The event, the Rutherford County GOP Reagan Day Dinner, will  be held at the Stones River Country Club in Murfreesboro at 7 p.m. Beavers had previously been listed as a speaker. Beavers told The Tennessee Star she has a conflict in her schedule and is unable to attend. She hasn’t formally announced an intention to run in the 2018 race but said Wednesday she is still considering it. “We’re still 18 months out,” she said. Beavers said people across the state are encouraging her to run and have offered to help her campaign. She is liked by conservative Republicans who value her fiscal and social conservatism. Those still scheduled to participate in Thursday’s debate include businessmen Randy Boyd and Bill Lee, Congresswoman Diane Black, State Senators Mark Green (R-Clarksville) and Mark Norris (R-Collierville), and Speaker of the State House of Representatives Beth Harwell (R-Nashville). Boyd and Lee are the only ones who have officially announced an intention to run. Click here for more information about the debate.

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Seven Republican Candidates For Governor To Speak At Rutherford County Event

Wendy Wilson

  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…

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