State Rep. Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma), who told The Tennessee Star last week he was “100 percent in the race for Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District” provided Rep. Diane Black chooses to run for governor, spoke at the Jackson County GOP Reagan Day Dinner Thursday night at the Center Grove Community Center in Gainesboro. The event featured Tennessee Republican State Party Chairman Scott Golden as the main speaker.
Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden (left) and State Rep. Judd Matheny (right) (click to enlarge)
Matheny made news again this week on Tuesday when he appeared on 99.7 FM WTN with Dan Mandis and tore into the Metro Nashville Council’s proposed ordinance that would, in effect, turn Nashville into a sanctuary city:
“It’s the most egregious move against public safety that the city of Nashville could possibly expose its citizens, and emergency services and social work to,” Matheny said.
“It’s completely antithetical to the United States Constitution, and America. And the city of Nashville – with all due respect – they need to remember that the City operates at the pleasure of the State,” Matheny added.
“Plus, I’m telling you, the General Assembly in Tennessee will cut off funding to Davidson County if they pursue this,” Matheny stated.
Matheny spoke briefly before Golden, and told the audience about his law enforcement career, which began in 1991 in nearby Baxter, Tennessee.
He also provided more details of his personal background, which includes eight years of military service and fifteen years as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives.
Matheny focused his comments on his track record as a conservative member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, noting his legislative career was devoted to protecting the constitutional rights of Tennesseans.
State Rep. Judd Matheny chats with a member of the Jackson County GOP at the Reagan Day Dinner.(right) (click to enlarge)
He pointed out that he was a leader in the successful effort to pass a joint resolution in both the State Senate and Tennessee House of Representatives to file a lawsuit against the continuation of the federal refugee resettlement program in the state on Tenth Amendment grounds.
He also described his efforts to expand Second Amendment rights in the state, as well as his work to stop the state’s dangerous reliance on funding from the federal government for various state programs, which always comes with “strings attached.”
Featured speaker Golden addressed the hot topic of Metro Nashville Council’s proposed ordinance at Thursday night’s gathering.
“The Tennessee Republican Party is focused on growing our local county parties and electing Republicans who support the ideals and principles of our party across the state,” Golden told the audience.
“I applaud all our Republican elected officials who have started to put pressure on Mayor Barry and the Metro Council in an effort to prevent Nashville from becoming a sanctuary city,” he added.
“Sanctuary cities do not reflect our party’s platform or principles and they do more harm than good. While Republican officials and legislators work to ensure Tennessee remains a safe place to live, work, and raise a family I look to the leaders of the Tennessee Democratic Party, Karl Dean and Craig Fitzhugh, for their stance on this very controversial issue,” Golden concluded.
Jackson County is part of the 6th Congressional District, which Matheny will seek to represent in the event Rep. Black opts to run for governor.
Jackson County is in the center of the 6th Congressional District.(right) (click to enlarge)
