Live from Music Row Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Clint Brewer in-studio to comment upon the recent lawsuit filed by Democrats in response to recent redistricting in Middle Tennessee.
Leahy: We are joined in studio by our very good friend, all-star panelist, recovering journalist, a very talented and experienced public affairs expert, Clint Brewer. Good morning, Clint.
Brewer: I should just get up and leave after that. (Leahy laughs) I’m not going to do any better than that. Thank you, Mike. Nice to see you.
Leahy: What was the drive in like?
Brewer: Terrible.
Leahy: It was really bad.
Brewer: It’s awful. It’s dark. It’s raining. There’s wind blowing sideways.
Leahy:Â And it wasn’t any better when I came in from the Spring Hill-Thompson Station area from the Leahy zero-dark-hundred this morning. It took me a little bit longer. I had to go below the speed limit just because you’ve got to be careful when it’s out there raining like this.
Brewer: And then once you sort of break the Davidson County line, you’re greeted by teeth-jarring potholes on I-40.
Leahy: Teeth-jarring potholes! I would say that’s a good description. Clint, people have been wondering who our special guest is at 6:30.
And I think I will tell everybody right now: Former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, Beth Harwell, will be with us at 6:30. I wonder what she might want to talk about.
Brewer: I can’t imagine.
Leahy: What on Earth could she possibly want to discuss with us?
Brewer: It could be anything.
Leahy: Could be anything. But it’s important, whatever it is. So stick around at 6:30. Hey, speaking of other news, I saw this story posted at TNJ: On the Hill by former AP reporter Erik Schelzig. You know Erik.
Brewer: I do know Erik.
Leahy: Yeah. Here’s the story: “Read the Democrat lawsuit seeking to halt the GOP’s redistricting plan.” Okay, well, you know …
Brewer: Not unexpected litigation.
Leahy: Not unexpected, but there is a little bit of a curveball here. Here’s the lead from Erik: A lawsuit filed on behalf of Tennessee Democrats seeks to halt the Republican redistricting plan for state House and state Senate. What’s missing from that sentence?
Brewer: Any federal offices. No House races, no congressional races.
Leahy: They’re not filing a lawsuit for U.S. House races.
Brewer: I don’t know the intricacy of it legally, but I find it curious they didn’t file it in federal court.
Leahy: You’ve been paying attention. Yes. They filed this in state court.
Brewer: What county?
Leahy: In Chancery Court of Tennessee for the 20th Judicial District. I suppose we could find out the 20th Judicial District. I’m guessing Davidson County would be the friendliest venue.
Brewer: Or Memphis.
Leahy: One of those.
Brewer: I’ll have to look it up. I don’t know my judicial districts.
Leahy: I’ll let you check it out. Where is the 20th Judicial District of Tennessee? My guess is it’s either Shelby County or Davidson County. But the only really good argument that can be made …
Brewer: It’s Davidson County.
Leahy: I’m shocked. I’m shocked. Yeah.
Brewer:Â That’s where these decisions were made. And the legislation was passed.
Leahy: It’s in the Chancery Court of Tennessee. The plaintiffs are Akila Moore, Telise Turner, and Gary Wygant. I don’t know who they are.
Brewer: I saw another headline out of Chattanooga that said private citizens.
Leahy: Private citizens. Okay. And they can. Versus Bill Lee, governor and Trey Hargat, Secretary of State, and Mark Goins, Tennessee coordinator of elections. There’s a complaint here.
What I found interesting is the attorneys for this lawsuit filed in state court. If it’s filed in state court there’s no mention then of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which is typically what people who challenge these redistricting would cite in federal court.
Brewer: I’m certainly no election law expert, but what it sounds like is that they hope to get some kind of temporary restraining order in order to sort of throw the primary process into chaos.
Leahy: Yes, indeed. For the state House and state Senate.
Brewer: Yes. Because if you’re the Democrats, the number of seats that you control is so small.
Leahy: At present.
Brewer: What is that going to do to the Democrats? Not a lot.
Leahy: Even if they got a redistricting in the state legislature, maybe they pick up three or four more seats. They’re playing the long game.
Brewer: I actually would argue with you that they’re playing the short game. I think they’re just trying to throw some distraction into the primary process.
Leahy: Ah-ha! Their attorneys are David Garrison, Scott Tift, and John Spragens. I think you know one of them.
Brewer: Spragens was a former journalist, a former staffer for congressman Jim Cooper. Generally a nice guy.
Leahy: But from what I can tell, none of those three are what you would call legal heavyweights that would cause your opponents to tremble in fear.
Brewer: I would have to do more research. (Leahy laughs) I know Mr. Spragens happens to be a very intelligent person.
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Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510. Listen online at iHeart Radio.
