Four Republicans have filed paperwork to replace Mark Norris in a special election in Tennessee’s 32nd State Senate District, according to The Daily Memphian.
Norris was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as a federal judge earlier this year.
The primary will be held on January 24, with early voting beginning on January 4.
The general election is scheduled for March 12.
Tipton and part of Shelby County make up that district.
“Former state Rep. Steve McManus, former Shelby County Commissioner Heidi Shafer, former Shelby County Commissioner George Chism and Covington businessman Paul Rose turned in their paperwork at Shelby County and Tipton County election offices,” The Daily Memphian reported.
“Shafer and Chism were the last to make public commitments to the race. McManus entered the fray first and already has a campaign billboard along I-40 in Memphis, while Rose previously said he was committed and made a formal announcement recently.”
Shafer served two terms as a Shelby County Commissioner. Shafer told The Tennessee Star she believes West Tennessee “is getting left behind in a burgeoning economy, particularly when it comes to economic incentives and infrastructure.”
“We have had some really strong previous folks from West Tennessee (in the state legislature) so it’s not like we haven’t been represented, but I think we need different tactics. Part of the problem has been that we are not speaking with one voice. We are all trying to onesy-twosey it,” Shafer said.
Representatives from counties like Tipton, Shelby, and Fayette, Shafer went on to say, try too hard to stand on their own, despite having many of the same problems, especially when it comes to needing new business.
Shafer told The Star that she grew up on a farm, she still co-owns a farm, and she can represent both urban and rural economies.
“My track record of cutting taxes and making government work for people is what I want to bring to Nashville,” Shafer said.
“I think people spend way too much time working to support government and I think it’s time government works for the people instead.”
Shafer is currently the chief operating officer for Skin Clinics and chief marketing officer with Flinn Clinic, a radiology office company, The Daily Memphian reported.
Another candidate, Democrat Eric Coleman, also filed to run for Norris’ seat, the website said.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
