Three Members of the Tennessee General Assembly Voice Support for Amy Coney Barrett

Three members of the Tennessee General Assembly co-signed a letter this week calling for the swift confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.

This, they said, because of her support for limited government, free markets, and federalism.

The three Tennessee legislators — State Rep. Martin Daniel (R-Knoxville), State Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma), and State Sen. Shane Reeves (R-Murfreesboro) — co-signed the letter alongside several other state legislators nationwide. The Arlington, Virginia-based American Legislative Exchange Council published the letter on their website Monday.

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Tennessee Bill to Regulate 911 Calls Reportedly Held Up for Summer Study

The sponsor of legislation that would make 911 calls and transmissions confidential reportedly wants more time to work on the bill, specifically this summer. This, according to the Tennessee General Assembly’s website and the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government. That bill is HB 335. According to the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, the sponsor of that bill is State Rep. Rick Tillis, R-Lewisburg. “The bill, HB 335, would have created an exemption to the Tennessee Public Records Act for all 911 calls, making them only available for use by law enforcement, the courts and other governmental agencies,” according to the TCOG. “The Tennessee Press Association and Tennessee Association of Broadcasters lobbied against the bill, pointing out that access to 911 calls have led to numerous news stories uncovering problems within the 911 system. They have also been used to document natural disasters, such as when the Knoxville News Sentinel used 911 calls to shed light on what happened during the devastating Gatlinburg wildfires a few years ago.” The TCOG went on to say “the transmissions of 911 calls also have helped ferret out government coverups.” According to the bill summary, the bill prohibits “using such calls, transmission, or recordings for any purpose…

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Tennessee Legislature to Weigh Letting Parents Watch School Bus Videos

Tennessee lawmakers will review a bill this week that, if enacted into law, will allow parents to view school bus videos if they hear of physical harm, harassment, intimidation or bullying involving their child. The bill’s sponsor is State Sen. Shane Reeves, R-Murfreesboro, according to the state of Tennessee’s website. “The policies must require that photos or video footage be viewed under supervision of the director of schools, the school principal, or a school official,” according to Reeves’ bill.  Reeves sponsored the bill because he said a Lewisburg mother faced roadblocks finding out what happened to her kindergartener on the bus, according to the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government’s website. “Brooke Wilkerson said she was concerned when her young daughter told her about a ‘secret tickling game’ on the bus that she wasn’t supposed to talk about. Later, her daughter said she had to wipe off her mouth after a friend kissed her. Wilkerson said she later found out the other student was 12,” according to the TCOG. “Wilkerson went to school officials and the Marshall County Sheriff’s office to try to find out more, but could not get anyone in authority to do a complete review of all the…

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Shane Reeves Wins 14th State Senate District Special Election in 2 to 1 Blowout Victory

Murfreesboro businessman Shane Reeves, a Republican, won a crushing victory over Democrat Gayle Jordan in the 14th State Senate District special election on Tuesday by more than a two to one margin. The final numbers were a blowout victory for Reeves, who won 71 percent of the vote to 28 percent of the vote for Jordan, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s election website. Reeves received 13,139 votes, while Jordan received only 5,179 votes. He is expected to be sworn in as a member of the Tennessee State Senate this week, and will join the deliberations of the Tennessee General Assembly, which is now in session. With Reeves’ victory, Republicans now hold 28 seats in the 33 member Tennessee State Senate, while Democrats hold only five. Tennessee Republican Party Scott Golden introduced Reeves at the victory celebration held at the Five Senses Restaurant in Murfreesboro Tuesday evening. “We had an amazing team. Matt Herriman, my campaign chairman, has an amazing future with this party,” Reeves said. “Gregory Gleaves did a lot of great mail for us,” he added. “We had an amazing ground team. Daniel,Tyler, Taylor, raise your hands guys! Thousands and thousands of phone calls, thousands and thousands…

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Franklin Graham: ‘Shocked By Profoundly Incorrect’ Atheist Democrat Running Against GOP’s Shane Reeves

Franklin Graham and Shane Reeves

Evangelical leader Franklin Graham expressed shock on Monday at the “profoundly incorrect” comments made by atheist Democratic candidate Gayle Jordan, who faces the GOP’s Shane Reeves in the State Senate 14th District special election happening today. “USA TODAY has a story about an atheist running for public office in Tennessee—the election is tomorrow,” the Christian leader wrote on Facebook Monday afternoon, adding: I was shocked by her profoundly incorrect comment about it – she said, “It’s incidental to who I am.” I’m afraid the opposite couldn’t be more true. There’s nothing more significant to who we are. There’s nothing more important than faith in God and trusting in His Son Jesus Christ. Atheism and secularism may be trendy and “progressive,” but denying God is devastating for a life or for a nation. God’s Word tells us that one day “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).   Republican Shane Reeves and Democrat Gayle Jordan are battling it out at the polls today as voters in the 14th State Senate District decide who will represent them in the…

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Marsha Blackburn and Scott DesJarlais Speak at Rally for GOP State Senate Candidate Shane Reeves

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) and Rep Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) spoke at a rally in Murfreesboro of enthusiastic Shane Reeves supporters on Saturday, three days in advance of Tuesday’s special election in the 14th State Senate District. The seat was vacated in November when former State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) resigned to accept a position with the Trump administration. Reeves is the Republican candidate in Tuesday’s election, in which he faces the far left self proclaimed atheist Gayle Jordan, the Democratic candidate. The rally was followed by a Day of Action by Reeves’ supporters, who knocked on doors and called voters on behalf of their candidate. Tennessee Republican State Party Chairman Scott Golden also spoke on Reeves’ behalf at the rally. The race has drawn attention in recent days as political observers look for signs that the purported “Blue Wave” of Democratic victories hoped for in the 2018 midterm elections by Democrats has begun to show up in Tennessee. One data point that might support that notion was the surprisingly narrow victory of former Republican State Rep. Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) over his Democratic opponent in the December special election to replace former State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) in Wilson County.…

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Tennessee GOP Mounts Full Court Press to Defeat Self-Described ‘Liberal Atheist Activist’ in 14th State Senate District Special Election

With the 14th State Senate District special election set for just six days from now on Tuesday March 13th, Tennessee Republicans are mounting an all-hands-on-deck attack on Democrat Gayle Jordan as she faces off against Republican Shane Reeves in the contest to determine who will replace former State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), who resigned in November to take a position in the Trump administration. Jordan, the Democratic candidate, is a self-described “hippie liberal atheist activist” who officiates same sex weddings and jokes about “doing her part to destroy the fabric of American society.” Since 2016 Jordan has served as the Executive Director of Recovering from Religion, a Kansas City-based non-profit that works to lead Christians away from faith. As of this writing, the Recovering from Religion Twitter account features Jordan on its cover image. In their announcement of Jordan, they noted that she took particular pride in her fundraising prowess and that she was “instrumental in bringing in a $13 million soccer complex to her hometown in Tennessee:” Recovering From Religion Names New Executive Director Kansas City, KS—Recovering from Religion is delighted to announce that Gayle Jordan has been named as its Executive Director beginning January 2016. Jordan brings extensive organizational…

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Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Rep. Scott DesJarlais to Rally for State Senate Candidate Shane Reeves This Saturday

The Shane Reeves campaign announced Tuesday that Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), a candidate for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate, and Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) will host a rally Saturday morning, March 10, for Republican Shane Reeves to help build momentum for the State Senate District 14 special election candidate. “I know Shane Reeves will fight to foster an agenda that will create jobs and promote prosperity for state senate district 14,” Rep. Blackburn said in a statement. “We need a conservative businessman in Nashville who will stand with President Trump here in Tennessee. Shane will represent well the values and beliefs of the 14th district and I look forward to showing my support for him on Saturday in Murfreesboro,” Blackburn added. “Having known Shane for over six years, I’m confident he will immediately contribute to the legislative process bringing an expansive knowledge of business and healthcare to the table,” Rep. DesJarlais, who is seeking re-election to his seat in Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District, said. “I look forward to joining team Reeves this Saturday to support his campaign and ensure republican voters understand the urgency and importance of getting out to vote next Tuesday,” DesJarlais added. Here are the…

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Anti-Skullduggery Act Invoked in Sumner County Commission GOP Primary Marred by Allegations of Candidate Intimidation

The little-known and rarely used “Anti-Skullduggery Act of 1991” has been invoked by Sumner County officials in the already contentious Republican primary in the 7th District of the Sumner County Commission. The colorfully named law, enacted as TCA 2-5-101(h)(1) provides that if a qualified incumbent dies or properly withdraws on the last day for withdrawing, additional candidates may qualify within seven days of the original withdrawal deadline. Effectively, the Anti-Skullduggery Act allows a seven day extension for new candidates to qualify and an additional four days after the new qualifying deadline to withdraw. According to Sumner County Administrator of Elections, Lori Atchley, the purpose of the Act is to prevent an incumbent from setting up their replacement with a last minute qualifying petition and withdrawal by the incumbent. In the case of the Sumner County 7th Commission District, single-term incumbent commissioner JoAnne Kemp intends to move out of the county in a relatively short timeframe, and, as such, withdrew her name as a qualified candidate. Unintentionally, Kemp’s withdrawal occurred on the final day, thereby legally requiring the Sumner County Election Commission to extend a qualifying and withdrawal period limited to the 7th County Commission district. The original filing deadline for the May 1…

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Shane Reeves Easily Defeats Joe Carr in 14th State Senate District GOP Primary

Murfreesboro businessman Shane Reeves easily defeated former State Rep. Joe Carr (R-Lascassas) in the 14th State Senate District Republican special primary election on Thursday by almost a two to one margin. The final tally was 4,720 votes for Reeves to 2,556 votes for Carr, a 65 percent to 35 percent victory for Reeves. As was anticipated, the overall turnout of 7,276 voters in the Republican primary was low. Carr conceded and congratulated Reeves at about 8:55 p.m., a little less than two hours after the polls closed at 7:00 pm. Reeves now faces Gayle Jordan in the March 13 special general election. Jordan was unopposed in the Democratic primary, where she received 574 votes. Reeves is heavily favored to win the general election in this traditionally Republican district. Reeves’ victory was comprehensive and across the board, as he won all five counties in the district: In Bedford County, Reeves won 1,107 votes to Carr’s 405 votes, a 73 percent to 27 percent margin. In Lincoln County, Reeves won 696 votes to Carr’s 506 votes, a 58 percent to 42 percent margin. In Marshall County, Reeves won 606 votes to Carr’s 401 votes, a 60 percent to 40 percent margin. In…

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Joe Carr: Contribution to Shane Reeves Campaign Came from Tennessee’s Chief Lobbyist for Pro-Abortion Planned Parenthood

Shane Reeves, State Senate candidate in the GOP 14th District special Republican primary election on January 25th, filed his financial disclosure forms with the State of Tennessee yesterday and at least one of his contributions is raising eyebrows. A $500 donation is recorded as being received on November 16, 2017 from the lobbying firm of Smith, Harris & Carr PAC. According to  Reeves’ rival for the GOP nomination, former State Rep. Joe Carr (R-Lascassas),  one of the named principals in the firm, Anne Carr (no relation), is the registered lobbyist for Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood. Joe Carr questioned Reeves’ pro-life claims when he was endorsed by the Tennessee Education Association (TEA). The TEA’s national affiliate, the National Education Association, which TEA helps fund, is a large donor to Planned Parenthood. During the 2014 election cycle NEA funneled over $790,000 in teachers’ dues money to Planned Parenthood. “Shane has shown a disturbing pattern throughout this campaign of saying one thing and doing another, which makes him completely unsuited to represent the conservative values of this district in the legislature,” Carr pointed out. “If we can’t trust him to MEAN what he says during the campaign, how can we trust him…

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Joe Carr: TEA Endorsement of Shane Reeves Proves He is Not a Conservative Republican

A mailer sent by the Tennessee Education Association (TEA), a political and financial ally of the liberal activities of the National Education Association (NEA), announced the group has endorsed Murfreesboro businessman Shane Reeves in the 14th State Senate District special Republican primary election set for January 25. Reeves faces former State Rep. Joe Carr (R-Lascassas) in the GOP primary. The winner will be the Republican candidate in the March 13 special general election. Both the TEA and the NEA endorsed Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential cycle. The NEA is also an active supporter of Planned Parenthood’s abortion operations, and has declared that anyone who believe in the 2nd Amendment and the NRA are “going to hell.” “If the pro-abortion, anti-gun, pro-Hillary Clinton TEA/NEA is for Shane Reeves, that should tell Republican voters in the 14th District everything they need to know to vote against him and his not-so-secret liberal agenda,” conservative Republican Joe Carr said in a statement reacting to the endoesement, adding: Just last week, the NRA gave Shane a high rating based on his response to their questionnaire. Maybe they should actually look at who is backing him as a better indication of where he…

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State Senate Candidates Joe Carr and Shane Reeves Go Head-to-Head in WGNS Radio Forum

WGNS radio in Murfreesboro hosted a listener-run debate between former State Rep. Joe Carr (R-Lascassas) and Murfreesboro businessman Shane Reeves on Friday. The two men are competing for the Republican nomination in the special election primary for the 14th State Senate District scheduled for next Thursday, January 25. The seat opened up in November when former State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) resigned in November to take a job with the Trump administration’s Department of Agriculture. Radio host Bart Walker laid out the ground rules for the debate, stating that all of the questions would be provided by the listeners, either via text or phone call, and that the candidates were not required to speak on every issue. “If you think to yourself, ‘Man, I just don’t want to answer that question,’ just be quiet. You don’t have to say a thing,” he said. One of the first questions, submitted by a listener via text, dealt with the gubernatorial race: “Who are you supporting for Governor?” Joe Carr answered first, and said he is supporting Mae Beavers for Tennessee’s next top executive. After Reeves did not offer an answer, moderator Walker began to ask the next question, but Carr interrupted, saying “Well…

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Slow Start to Early Voting in 14th District State Senate Special Election

The war of words is heating up between former State Rep. Joe Carr (R-Lascassas) and Murfreesboro businessman Shane Reeves in their battle for the GOP nomination for the 14th District State Senate seat vacated by former State Senator Jim Tracy(R-Shelbyville) late last year. Thus far however, there is no sign that the fiery rhetoric is translating to turnout in early voting. Early voting began on January 5 and runs through January 20, 2018. Primary Election day is January 25th with the primary winner advancing to the March 13, 2018 Special General Election. The first week of early voting (with the January 12 snow and ice storm closing polling locations early) have only produced 1,432 total votes in the Republican primary election in the five counties involved: Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore and Rutherford. Only 190 votes have been cast in the Democratic Primary, where Gayle Jordan is the sole candidate. The icy conditions on January 12 have raised increased concerns among both political camps that similar conditions on Election Day mean locking in votes during the early voting period is even more crucial. In 2011, State Senator Kerry Roberts won a Special Election to fill the vacancy created after then-State Senator Diane…

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Joe Carr Earns An ‘A’ Rating from Gun Rights Giant NRA, Questions Rival Shane Reeves’ ‘Aq’ Score

In a statement released on Thursday, Murfreesboro businessman Shane Reeves attacked former State Rep. Joe Carr’s (R-Lascassas) initial “question mark” rating from the National Rifle Association, contrasting it with his own “A” rating. Both men are vying for the Republican nomination in the January 25 special primary election in the 14th State Senate District. Former State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) resigned from the seat in November to accept a position with U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Trump administration. On Friday, Carr hit back. “Today I am pleased to announce that the NRA has scored my record and gave me an A, just as I expected,” Carr said in a statement. “My score is not qualified with a “q”, indicating it is based on responses to a questionnaire, but on my actual RECORD and RESULTS as a legislator. The mudslinging and misinformed attack from Shane Reeves, and his attempt to create an issue over the NRA delay in recording my score — through no fault of my own — is just another example of ‘his shoot first aim later’ approach in his campaign,” Carr continued. “Earlier this week Shane Reeves launched a mudslinging attack against Joe Carr concerning the National…

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State Senate Candidate Shane Reeves Promises to Donate His Legislative Per Diem to Charity if Elected

Murfreesboro businessman Shane Reeves, a Republican candidate in the 14th State Senate District special election, is promising to donate his legislative per diem to charity if he is elected. Legislators within 50 miles of the Capitol currently receive mileage reimbursement for travel at a rate of 47 cents per mile and $59 per day for meals and incidental expenses while in Nashville on legislative business. “I am a conservative family man and businessman that plans on taking this same conservative approach to Nashville as a State Senator,” Reeves said in  statement released on Friday. “Since I am seeking to work for the people of the 14th district, my travel expenses from Murfreesboro to Nashville should fall on me– not the taxpayers. I am pledging today to make the ‘Conservative Per Diem Pledge’ and donate all of those funds back to the 14th district taxpayers,” Reeves added. Reeves did not disclose exactly which charity would benefit from his contribution of the per diem reimbursements if he is elected. The statement continued: Lawmakers across Tennessee receive reimbursement for the expenses they incur for driving back and forth from Nashville and for nights away from home. Some lawmakers have been known to take…

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State Senate Candidate Shane Reeves Made No Contributions to President Trump’s Campaign in 2016

Shane Reeves’ initial mail pieces and television spots in the special election for the 14th District State Senate seat vacated by former State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) highlight his support for Presidential Donald Trump and his anti-Establishment agenda.  However, an examination of Reeves’ record finds scant evidence of support for President Trump either during the Tennessee Presidential primary election or during last year’s general election. While Reeves has a record of supporting moderate candidates in Tennessee and nationally with campaign contributions, including Tennessee Senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, and 2012 Presidential nominee Mitt Romney, there is no record at the Federal Election Commission of Reeves making any contribution to President Donald Trump in 2016. Reeves has also made a contribution to, and endorsed, self described “moderate” Republican candidate for Governor Randy Boyd. As reported by The Tennessee Star in November 2016, then ECD Commissioner Randy Boyd directed a million dollar “fast track” grant to Reeves’ company.  Then, once Boyd left ECD to pursue his campaign for Governor, Reeves donated $5000 to Boyd through his PAC — and endorsed him during a campaign stop in Murfreesboro. The Boyd-Reeves connection is particularly relevant to Reeves’ campaign claim of support for President…

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Former State Rep. Billy Spivey Joins Race to Replace Former State Senator Jim Tracy in Special Election

Former State Rep. Billy Spivey (R-Lewisburg) announced today that he is a candidate for the Republican nomination in the special primary election scheduled to replace former State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) in the 14th State Senate District. “Over two terms in the Tennessee House, I took on Common Core. I took on policing for profit, I took on the Hall Tax. And I won,” Spivey said in a statement released to The Tennessee Star early Thursday morning. “Not by being a bully and not by playing the games of the Establishment. I won these battles by listening, thinking, and standing on principle,” he added. “This is the passion and record that I now hope to bring to the Tennessee Senate,” the former State Rep. continued. “These are the reasons that I humbly request the votes of the good people of District 14, and promise, if elected, to bring true conservative, anti-Establishment change to Nashville . . . where we all know it’s desperately needed,” Spivey concluded. As The Star reported on Wednesday, the Republican and Democrat primaries will be held on January 25, and the general election will be held on March 13, “according to a writ of election issued…

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Special Election Dates Announced to Fill Jim Tracy’s Tennessee State Senate Seat

Special election dates have been set to fill the state Senate seat vacated by former state Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville). Primaries have been set for Jan. 25, with the general election set for March 13, according to a writ of election issued by Gov. Bill Haslam. Joe Carr and Shane Reeves are vying for the Republican nomination for the District 14 seat. Carr is a former state representative who ran unsuccessfully in primaries to unseat U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and U.S. Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-6). Reeves is a businessman who formerly owned the Reeves-Sain Family of Medical Services and currently owns TwelveStone Health Partners. Democrat Gayle Jordan has also joined the race. The lawyer and farmer ran unsuccessfully against Tracy in 2016. Tracy resigned from the Senate in early November to accept an appointment as state director of rural development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. District 14 covers Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall and Moore counties and part of Rutherford County. Early voting for the primaries begins Jan. 5 and early voting for the general election begins Feb. 21.

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State Senate Candidate Shane Reeves’ Company Received $1 Million Grant from TECD Approved by Randy Boyd in 2016, Reeves Family PAC Donated $5,000 to Gubernatorial Campaign in 2017

Tennessee political observers are questioning whether former commissioner of Tennessee Economic and Community Development (TECD), and current Republican candidate for governor, Randy Boyd used his previous office as a platform to prepare a gubernatorial campaign by directing state grants to local officials and businesses who might, and in many cases have, support his run for governor. One example cited by those observers involves State Senate candidate Shane Reeves. In July 2016 Randy Boyd, then-commissioner of TECD,  approved a $1 million “Fast Track Economic Development Fund” grant for Murfreesboro based TwelveStone Health Partners, whose founder and and CEO Shane Reeves is a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 14th District State Senate special election prompted by the resignation of State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville). Soon after Boyd left his state position to run for governor, the Reeves Family PAC, which lists Shane Reeves as the sole officer, donated $5,000 in April, 2017 to the Randy Boyd gubernatorial campaign. Reeves also personally endorsed Boyd during a campaign stop in Murfreesboro that same month. Randy Boyd resigned as commissioner of TECD in January 2017 and announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor in March. In October, the Randy Boyd for Governor campaign announced that “50 of the 95 county mayors…

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14th District State Senate Special Election Candidate Shane Reeves ‘Won’t Be Available at Least the Next Couple Weeks’ for Tennessee Star Interview

Matt Herriman, campaign manager for Shane Reeves’ State Senate campaign in the special election in the 14th State Senate District to replace State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), tells The Tennessee Star that Reeves “probably won’t be available at least the next couple of weeks” for an in person interview with The Star “as our schedule is packed as we jumpstart this campaign.” You can read Herriman’s complete response to our request for an interview here: Thank you for your email request to meet with Shane. Unfortunately, he probably won’t be available at least the next couple of weeks as our schedule is packed as we jumpstart this campaign. He will be on the road all across the district. If you’d like, for deadline purposes, to send your questions to me, I’ll get them in front of Shane and back to you as soon as I can. You are also welcome to use any photo from the website for your story. Thanks again for reaching out. The 14th State Senate District covers parts of Rutherford County, all of Moore, Marshall, and Bedford Counties, and the northern two-thirds of Lincoln County. The Republican primary is expected to be held in January, with…

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