Tag: Debbie Deaver

Huge Turnout at Williamson County GOP Victory Party

Tennessee Star Staff

FRANKLIN, Tennessee–A huge crowd turned out for the Williamson County GOP Victory Party held at the Cool Springs Marriott in Franklin on Saturday night. More than 300 people attended the event, which featured speeches from Rep. Mark Green (R-TN-07), Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Glen Casada, and State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), among others. Blackburn, Casada, and Johnson are all residents of Williamson County. Though not a resident of Williamson County, Green is a resident of the 7th Congressional District he represents in Congress, which includes much of Williamson County. The event’s success was a tribute to the organizational leadership of outgoing Williamson County Republican Party Chairman Debbie Deaver, a grassroots conservative leader who began her tenure with a stunning victory two years ago over a more established opponent in February 2017. Deaver’s victory was one of the first stories reported by The Tennessee Star, which launched just days before, on February 6, 2017. Musical entertainment for the event was provided by State Sen. Johnson and his band, the Austin Brothers.    

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Williamson County Election Commission Refers Two Cases of Alleged Democrat Vote Fraud to the District Attorney

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The Williamson County Election Commission has referred materials related to an investigation into a report that seemed to show at least two Democrats – both of whom are currently running for elected office – voted in the Republican primary to the District Attorney for further investigation and possible prosecution. State law requires that in order to vote in a party primary, the voter must be a “bona fide member” of that party or “declare allegiance to the political party.” “It is unlikely that a current Democratic candidate for office would meet either of those requirements,” the Williamson Country Republican Party said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon. The Party’s Chair, Debbie Deaver added, “It appears likely two Democratic candidates for office have committed voter fraud, so I’m pleased to see the Election Commission refer this very serious matter to the District Attorney’s office.” The statement continues: Since the beginning of early voting through Tuesday, April 24, 2018, a total of 651 people who voted in the March 2016 Democratic presidential preference primary have cast early voting ballots in the current May 2018 Williamson County primary elections. Of those 651 people who voted in the 2016 Democratic primary, 344 of them…

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Williamson County Election Records Show Democratic Candidates Voted in GOP Primary – An Effort Intended to Stop Republican Julie Hannah?

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Anne McGraw and Bill Peach

Early voting is underway in local elections across the state and runs through April 26, with the Election Day itself occurring May 1. In deep red Republican Williamson County there has been some concern among conservative Republican leaders that local Democrats may cross over to vote in the Republican Primary. Because Tennessee does not have party registration, voters can pick which primary in which they choose to vote each election, although Tennessee state law does require that the “choice” is a legitimate expression of party allegiance. Those concerns have been confirmed as at least two high profile Democrats have already voted “as Republicans” in the Republican Primary during early voting.  One of the two has qualified as a candidate for the State House as a Democrat in the Democratic Party primary slated for August 2; the other is currently running as a Democrat for a county office in the May 1 primary and therefore did not vote for herself in the Democratic Party primary in which she is a candidate. Bill Peach (pictured, right) has run previously for the State House as a Democrat against Jeremy Durham and failed to get 30% of the vote in 2014. He is a candidate again,…

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Williamson County Mayor, Business Leaders Push for Sales Tax Increase; GOP Chair Calls It ‘A Band-Aid’

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A panel consisting of Williamson County officials and business leaders held an open forum meeting Monday, when, within a discussion of the strong growth and expensive ‘to-do’ list of the county, the specter of a sales tax increase was once again raised, a proposal Williamson County Republican Chair Debbie Deaver calls “a Band-Aid.” The panel meeting – dubbed ‘FrankTalks’ – is a regular occurring program. The Williamson Herald reported Monday’s meeting was paneled by Franklin Mayor Ken Moore; Lisa Wurth, Benchmark Realty and former president of the Williamson County Association of Realtors; Ellie Westman Chin of the Williamson County Convention & Visitors Bureau; and Richard Herrington, Franklin Synergy president and chairman of Williamson Inc. Matt Largen, president and CEO of Williamson Inc., also participated The current local contribution to the state sales tax in Williamson county is 2.25 percent. While lauding the growth of the county with the addition of several medium and large businesses and the people who follow, the panelists seem to support a half-percent increase  – which represents a hefty 22 percent hike, resulting is a new tax rate of 2.75 percent. Lisa Wurth said property taxes are only paid by property owners, “but we have a lot of apartment dwellers,” the…

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Williamson County Republican Party Wants to Awaken the Sleeping Giant

Wendy Wilson

FRANKLIN, Tennessee — If conservatives want to make a difference, they have to get more involved. That was the theme of a book discussion Thursday at the Embassy Suites hotel hosted by the Williamson County Republican Party. A handful of people gathered at the hotel restaurant to consider the lessons in the 2012 book, “Waking the Sleeping Giant: How Mainstream Americans Can Beat Liberals at Their Own Game” by Timothy Daughtry and Gary Casselman. Thursday’s event was part of a series of discussions that will focus on the book. Debbie Deaver, chairman of the party chapter, said many conservatives are afraid of appearing mean, which holds them back. But Daughtry and Casselman show conservatives how they can be engaged without being ugly, she said. “You don’t have to be a jerk,” said Deaver, who finds the authors’ take especially refreshing and unique because of their background as psychologists. Hannah Tiblier, secretary for the party chapter, said the authors have a good grasp of individual and group dynamics. “They understand human nature,” she said. The book also ties in with a message that Deaver has been trying to communicate to local Republicans, which is that politics matter at all levels, including…

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Williamson County Republican Party Starts Meetup Group

Wendy Wilson

The Williamson County Republican Party has started a Meetup group to keep local voters informed and provide a way for people to get to know each other. Meetup.com is a popular online social networking website that facilitates offline group meetings. The point is to bring together people with shared interests. Meetup groups are geared around a wide variety of topics and activities, including hiking, reading and dining out. Some focus on politics or religion. Debbie Deaver, chairman of the Williamson County Republican Party, said she started the Meetup group to offer “a fun way for people to connect with their like-minded neighbors.” “We want our members to be able to share an appetizer with someone, have an adult conversation and not be concerned about being politically correct or worried that they will be culled from the group if they don’t agree with all the talking points,” she said. “You can expect polite, but lively banter at our events.” In addition to social outings, there will also be educational events. Educational events might include a conversation with an author, a town hall with an elected official or a lecture by a visiting professor, Deaver said. The group will hold a Mix &…

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Conservative Grassroots Victory in Williamson County as Debbie Deaver Wins GOP Chair Election

Tennessee Star Staff
Tennessee Star

FRANKLIN, Tennessee–Long-time conservative grassroots activist Debbie Deaver swept to victory over establishment favorite Tom Miller at a packed session of the Williamson County Republican Convention on Tuesday night. “Tonight the Williamson County Republican Party had a choice for leadership,” conservative activist and Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips, a resident of Williamson County who was in attendance, told The Tennessee Star. “The choice was between a Republican and a liberal. The party chose well,” Phillips said. An overflow crowd of more than three hundred Republican voters in Williamson County waited in long lines to get inside the Williamson County Administration Building for the evening’s votes. One former chairman of the Williamson County Republican Party told The Star it was the largest crowd he had ever seen gathered to vote for a new county chairman. Not everyone who showed up was selected as a delegate to the convention. The evening began when the attendees gathered in twelve separate groups, corresponding to the voting district of the county in which they reside. Each district selected a maximum of 30 delegates who were authorized to vote. A total of 262 delegates and 7 provisional delegates were selected. After all the delegates were credentialed,…

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Showdown in Williamson County: Conservative Grassroots Debbie Deaver Vs. Establishment Tom Miller in Fight for GOP County Chair

Christina Botteri
Tennessee Star - Deaver v Miller

For some, Tuesday, Feb 28 might be just another National Chocolate Soufflé Day, but to the Williamson County Republican Party loyalists, it’s time to pick a new GOP Chair. The election in 2015 of outgoing Chairwoman Julie Hannah was a great victory for the conservative grassroots. Of the two candidates running to replace her, many activists believe Debbie Deaver represents a continuation of Hannah’s high-energy, principled leadership. Party insiders agree the choice between the two candidates emerging from the Willamson County GOP Convention earlier this year is stark:  Establishment-supporting, Moderate Tom Miller, or conservative crackerjack, Deaver. Miller served as a Franklin alderman-at-large from 1997-2003, then was elected the Mayor of Franklin for a single term in 2003. However, although Miller enjoys a nearly ubiquitous reputation as a “nice guy,” some Republican activists fear the longtime Realtor and Franklin resident will “do nothing” but take orders from the Establishment Party Leaders in Tennessee like Governor Bill Haslam, and Senators Bob Corker and Llamar Alexander. “If Tom Miller is elected to the Williamson County Chair, we will go from being a strong conservative party organization, to simply being a big-government, liberal tax-and-spend organization,” said activist and Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips.…

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