Tag: Sen. Doug Overbey

Scott Williams Vying With Rep. Art Swann for Doug Overbey’s Tennessee State Senate Seat

Wendy Wilson

UPDATE: Friday 3:30 pm central The Blount County Commission has voted to appoint state Rep. Art Swann to Doug Overbey’s state Senate seat.    In a statement, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said:    “Congratulations to my friend Art Swann on his appointment to the Tennessee Senate by the Blount County Commission. Art has been a highly respected member of the House of Representatives who has served his constituents with great distinction. He will be an excellent state Senator for the people of Blount and Sevier counties.”   As a virtual unknown, Scott Williams (pictured, left) got nearly 40 percent of the vote last year when he went up against former state Sen. Doug Overbey (R-Maryville) in the race for the Republican nomination for the District 2 seat. Now he wants to be appointed to the seat. Overbey resigned from the Senate Nov. 21 to be sworn in as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The Blount County Commission in East Tennessee today will appoint someone to fill his seat. The meeting will be held at 12:15 p.m. in Room 430 at the county courthouse. State Rep. Art Swann (R-Maryville) also wants to be appointed to the seat and has…

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State Rep. Art Swann of East Tennessee Hoping to Be Appointed to State Senate Seat

Wendy Wilson

The Blount County Commission in East Tennessee will appoint someone this week to fill the state Senate seat vacated by former state Sen. Doug Overbey (R-Maryville), reports The Daily Times. Overbey resigned Nov. 21 to be sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The commission will meet at 12:15 p.m. Friday in Room 430 of the Blount County Courthouse. State Rep. Art Swann (R-Maryville) wants to be considered for the District 2 seat and told The Daily Times that he has secured a nomination. The businessman said he has been in contact with most of the county commissioners. “I feel good about my chances,” he said. First elected to the state House in 1984, Swann served District 20 for two terms. Years later in 2010, he was elected to serve District 8 and has been re-elected to consecutive terms. Swann said he worked closely with Overbey in the state legislature and the two supported companion bills. State Rep. Bob Ramsey (R-Maryville) told The Daily Times that he is not interested in the Senate seat and supports Swann’s nomination. Swann voted for the gas tax hike earlier this year promoted by Republican Gov. Bill Haslam. He has chaired the House…

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State Senator Doug Overbey Nominated To Be U.S. Attorney In East Tennessee

Wendy Wilson
Tennessee Star

  President Trump has nominated state Sen. Doug Overbey (R-Maryville) to be the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Announced Friday, the nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. Overbey is a three-term state senator and chair of the state ethics committee. A senior partner and co-founder of the Robertson Overbey law firm in Knoxville, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Carson-Newman College in 1976 and a law degree from the University of Tennessee in 1979. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) released a statement via Facebook calling Overbey “one of the most valuable and respected members of the General Assembly for many years.” “He has shown true leadership on some of the most important issues that confront our legislature,” McNally said. “His commitment to representing his constituents and producing quality legislation is unwavering.” Tennessee’s two Republican U.S. senators, Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, also issued statements praising Overbey. In his 38 years of practicing law, Overbey has handled a variety of legal matters, including antitrust and commercial litigation. He also has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Tennessee law school. In the Tennessee General Assembly, he represents Blount and Sevier counties.    

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Longtime State Senator Douglas Henry Dies

Wendy Wilson

  Former state Sen. Douglas Henry, a conservative Democrat and the longest serving member of the Tennessee legislature, died late Sunday at age 90. Henry, who served in the House from 1954 to 1956 and the Senate from 1970 to 2014, is being remembered today for his folksy and courteous manners and his ability to reach across the aisle and befriend political opponents. “He epitomized what it truly means to be a public servant and had a keen understanding of the constitutional principles on which our state and federal governments are founded,” said Sen. Doug Overbey (R-Maryville) in a statement. “He was a mentor and friend, and will be sorely missed by all with whom he came into contact.” Henry, who grew up in Belle Meade, was the father of six and had many grandchildren. His wife of 67 years, Loiette  “Lolly” Hume Henry, died in December. After his brief tenure in the House, he worked as an attorney before returning to politics in 1970, when he won a seat in the Senate where he represented District 21. In 2014, the Tennessee State Library and Archives produced a video about his life. The video tells how as a boy Henry loved…

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