TennWatch » Races of 2010

GOP Sweep in Shelby County (of Contested Races)

AlphaPatriot — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:53:08 +0000

Results of the contested races in the Shelby County General Election:

Republican Mark Luttell easily took County Mayor over Democrat Joe Ford (57.8 to 41.5)
Democrat incumbent Steve Mulroy easily bested Republican challenger Rolando Toyos for County Commission District 5 (65.5 to 34.5)
Republican David Lenoir took the County Trustee office away from incumbent Democrat Regina Newman, who was unanimously elected by the county commission to serve as interim Trustee last September (49.3 to 46.4)
Republican Bill Oldham beat Democrat Randy Wade, although Wade has yet to concede even though he lost by over 7,000 votes (51.9 to 48.0)
Republican Jimmy Moore easily defeated Democrat Ricky Dixon for Circuit Court Clerk (55.4 to 44.6)
Republican Kevin Key eked out a win over Democrat incumbent Minerva Johnican for Criminal Court Clerk (48.7 to 45.7)
Republican Joy Touliatos gratifyingly tromped Democrat snake-oil-salesman Shep Wilbun for Juvenile Court Clerk (51.4 to 43.9)
Republican Paul Boyd beat Democrat Sondra Bection for Probate Court Clerk (52.1 to 47.9)
Republican Wayne Mashburn handily beat Democrat Corey Maclin for County Clerk (54.8 to 45.0)
Republican Tom Leatherwood stomped Democrat Coleman Thompson for Register of Deeds (58.4 to 41.6)

Republicans won 9 of the 10 contested races in Shelby County, often by surprisingly wide margins against Democrat candidates with establish name recognition (e.g., Joe Ford and Shep Wilbun). Congratulations to the Shelby County GOP leadership for believing that the party could do this well in a county dominated by Democrats (57 percent of the voters voted in Democrat primaries during early voting).

Also deserving note, my heartfelt congratulations go out to personal favorite and acquaintance Heidi Shafer for being elected to the County Commission (District 1, Position 2).

Technorati Tags: Races of 2010, Tennessee Politics, Shelby County General Election, Mark Luttell, Shelby County Mayor , Joe Ford , Steve Mulroy , Rolando Toyos , David Lenoir , Regina Newman, Bill Oldham , Randy Wade, Jimmy Moore , Ricky Dixon , Kevin Key , Minerva Johnican , Joy Touliatos , Shep Wilbun , Paul Boyd , Sondra Bection , Wayne Mashburn , Corey Maclin , Tom Leatherwood , Coleman Thompson , Heidi Shafer

Machines Lose in Shelby County

AlphaPatriot — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:56:02 +0000

The Ford machine has won a lot of races in Shelby County. A lot of races. Including one on Thursday for state Senate District 29, won by incumbent Ophelia Ford.

But yesterday Joe Ford was handily defeated for County Mayor by Sheriff Mark Luttrell by a whopping 16-point margin:

The result denies Memphis’ Ford family of something oft-imagined but never achieved — an elected Mayor Ford.

Luttrell, the Republican nominee, got 58 percent of the vote in a county where 57 percent voted in Democratic primaries during the 16-day early-voting period. That it was the closest county mayor race since the first contest, in 1975, was no consolation to Ford (42 percent), who also lost a 1999 bid for Memphis mayor.

In other news, incumbent US Rep. Steve Cohen fought off a challenge for the 9th Congressional District’s Democrat primary by five-time Memphis Mayor and self-proclaimed deity, Willie Herenton. This margin was even larger: 79 to 21.

Both Ford and Herenton are members of political machines with vast reach and influence. But both lost on Thursday.

But the real winners are the citizens of Shelby County. Finally.

Technorati Tags: Joe Ford, Mark Luttrell, Steve Cohen, King Willie Herenton, Shelby County Elections, Elections of 2010, Tennessee Politics

AlphaPatriot’s Election Picks for 2010

AlphaPatriot — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:13:24 +0000

Election day is August 5th, but early voting starts tomorrow (July 19 – 31). The list of offices and candidates available from the Shelby County Election Commission runs a full 7 pages, so hopefully you’ve done your homework.

If you want a little help, I’ve provided my picks below as well as a (prettier and better formatted) PDF that you can download and take with you to the polls. I’m sorry I don’t have time this election season to research more of the races nor even publish my reasons for making the choices that I have. Life is busy these days.

If you want to know where to vote early, click here. If you are going to wait for election day, click here to find your precinct.

Most importantly, vote.

AlphaPatriot’s Picks for

Tennessee State and Federal Primary Election

and

Shelby County General Election

5 August 2010

GOVERNOR

Bill Haslam Republican

Joe Kirkpatrick Republican

Basil Marceaux, Sr. Republican

Ron Ramsey Republican

Zach Wamp Republican

Mike Mcwherter Democrat

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

– 7^TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Marsha Blackburn Republican

Greg Rabidoux Democrat

– 8^TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Stephen Lee Fincher Republican

George Flinn Republican

Ron Kirkland Republican

Randy Smith Republican

Ben Watts Republican

Roy Herron Democrat

Kimberlee E. Smith Democrat

– 9^TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Charlotte Bergmann Republican

Jim Harrell Republican

Kevin Millen Republican

Steve Cohen Democrat

Willie W. Herenton Democrat

TENNESSEE SENATE

– 29^TH SENATORIAL DISTRICT

Robert Hill Republican

Ophelia Ford Democrat

– 31^STSENATORIAL DISTRICT

Brian Kelsey Republican

Ivon L. Faulkner Democrat

– 33RD SENATORIAL DISTRICT

Reginald Tate Democrat

TN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

– DIST.83

Mark White Republican

– DIST.84

Joe Towns, Jr. Democrat

Mitzi Turnage Democrat

– DIST.85

Edgar A. Babian Republican

Eddie Jones Democrat

Johnnie R. Turner Democrat

– DIST.86

Harold Baker Republican

George T. Edwards, III Republican

Barbara Cooper Democrat

– DIST.87

Karen D. Camper Democrat

Justin H. Settles Democrat

– DIST 88

Larry J. Miller Democrat

– DIST.89

Clay Shelton Republican

Jeanne Richardson Democrat

– DIST.90

John J. Deberry, Jr. Democrat

– DIST.91

Arnold Weiner Republican

Lois M. Deberry Democrat

– DIST.92

G. A. Hardaway, Sr. Democrat

– DIST.93

Tim Cook Republican

Mike Kernell Democrat

– DIST.95

Curry Todd Republican

– DIST.96

Steve Mcmanus Republican

– DIST.97

Jim Coley Republican

– DIST.98

Ulysses Jones, Jr. Democrat

– DIST.99

Ron Lollar Republican

Tom Stephens Republican

STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

COMMITTEEMAN DISTRICT 28

Frank H. Colvett, Jr. Republican

Mitchell Morrison Republican

J. M. Bailey Democrat

COMMITTEEWOMAN DISTRICT 28

Sherrye Crawford Republican

Anne Edmiston Republican

Gale Jones Carson Democrat

COMMITTEEMAN DISTRICT 29

Terry Roland Republican

Henry Hooper, Ii Democrat

COMMITTEEWOMAN DISTRICT 29

Kelley Hankins Republican

Rhonda O’dell Republican

Joyce Moore Adams Democrat

COMMITTEEMAN DISTRICT 30

John L. Ryder Republican

Kevin Gallagher Democrat

David Winslow Upton Democrat

COMMITTEEWOMAN DISTRICT 30

Vicki J. Towles Republican

Annabel Woodall Republican

Maura Black Sullivan Democrat

COMMITTEEMAN DISTRICT 31

William D. Boyer Republican

Kelly B. Gilmer Republican

Todd Payne Republican

Rick Rout Republican

Arnold Weiner Republican

Dave Cambron Democrat

Dwayne Thompson Democrat

Joseph A. Weinberg Democrat

COMMITTEEWOMAN DISTRICT 31

Mary Chick Hill Republican

Rieta Selberg Republican

Adrienne Pakis-Gillon Democrat

COMMITTEEMAN DISTRICT 32

David M. Conner Republican

Walker Ferrell Republican

John Wilkerson Republican

Roger W. Warmath Democrat

COMMITTEEWOMAN DISTRICT 32

Paula Sedgwick Republican

Elizabeth A. Weimer Republican

Gladys Crain Democrat

COMMITTEEMAN DISTRICT 33

Layne Provine Republican

Sidney Chism Democrat

COMMITTEEWOMAN DISTRICT 33

Beth Webb Republican

Hazel Moore Democrat

CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE

DIVISION 4

Michael G. Floyd

Gina Carol Higgins

Lorrie K. Ridder

DIVISION 8

Rhynette Northcross Hurd

Joedae Jenkins

Venita Martin

Robert “Bob” Weiss

CRIMINAL COURT JUDGE

DIVISION 3

Latonya Sue Burrow

Bobby Carter

Claiborne H. Ferguson

Larry H. Nance

Gerald Skahan

Glenn Wright

COUNTY MAYOR

Mark Luttrell Republican

Joe Ford Democrat

Leo Awgowhat Independent

COUNTY COMMISSIONER

DIST. 1, POS. 1

Mike Ritz Republican

DIST. 1, POS. 2

Heidi Shafer Republican

DIST. 1, POS. 3

Mike Carpenter Republican

DIST. 2, POS. 1

Walter Lee Bailey, Jr. Democrat

DIST. 2, POS. 2

Henri E. Brooks Democrat

DIST. 2, POS. 3

Melvin Burgess Democrat

DIST. 3, POS. 1

James M. Harvey, Sr. Democrat

DIST. 3, POS. 2

Sidney Chism Democrat

DIST. 3, POS. 3

Justin Ford Democrat

DIST. 4, POS. 1

Chris Thomas Republican

DIST. 4, POS.2

Wyatt Bunker Republican

DIST. 4, POS.3

Terry Roland Republican

DIST. 5

Rolando Toyos Republican

Steve Mulroy Democrat

COUNTY TRUSTEE

David Lenoir Republican

Regina Morrison Newman Democrat

Derrick Bennett Independent

GENERAL SESSIONS CRIMINAL COURT JUDGE

DIVISION 7

Bill Anderson, Jr.

Taurus M. Bailey

Mischelle Alexander Best

Wm. D. “Billy” Bond

Damita Dandridge

Bryan A. Davis

Erica Gatewood

Rhonda Wilson Harris

Dennis R. Johnson

Cathy Hailey Kent

Herb Lane

Rick Mckenna

Sherrie Miller-Johnson

Derek Renfroe

Janet Lansky Shipman

Terrance Tatum

Tim J. Thompson

Randall B. Tolley

Karen Tyler

Carolyn S. Watkins

DIVISION 10

Chris Turner

Lee Wilson

SHERIFF

Bill Oldham Republican

Randy Wade Democrat

CIRCUIT COURT CLERK

Jimmy Moore Republican

Ricky W. Dixon Democrat

CRIMINAL COURT CLERK

Kevin Key Republican

Minerva Johnican Democrat

Jerry Stamson Independent

JUVENILE COURT CLERK

Joy Touliatos Republican

Shep Wilbun Democrat

Julia Robinson Wiseman Independent

PROBATE COURT CLERK

Paul Boyd Republican

Sondra Becton Democrat

COUNTY CLERK

Wayne Mashburn Republican

Corey Maclin Democrat

Tom Leatherwood Republican

Coleman Thompson Democrat

SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

DIST. 1

Snowden “Butch”Carruthers

Charlene White

DIST. 3

Lara A. Mcintyre

David Reaves

DIST. 5

Ken Hoover

David A. Pickler

DIST. 7

Ernest L. Chism

JUDICIAL RETENTION QUESTIONS

Shall SHARON GAIL LEE be retained or replaced in office as a Judge of the Tennessee Supreme Court?

RETAIN

REPLACE

Shall JOHN W. McCLARTY be retained or replaced in office as a Judge of the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Division?

RETAIN

REPLACE

Technorati Tags: Tennessee Politics,Shelby County Politics,2010 Tennessee State and Federal Primary Election,2010 Shelby County General Election,Races of 2010,AlphaPatriot’s Picks

New Heidi Shafer YouTube

AlphaPatriot — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:30:51 +0000

I like this one:

Technorati Tags: Heidi Shafer, Shelby County Commission Race, Tennessee Politics, Shelby County Politics

Heidi’s YouTube Commercial

AlphaPatriot — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:33:33 +0000

Imaginative, humorous bit of campaigning:

I know her! Click and support Heidi.

Technorati Tags: Shelby County Politics, Tennessee Politics, Heidi Shafer, Conservative Issues

Ford Jr. Drops Out of NY Senate Race

AlphaPatriot — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:01:37 +0000

It was expected that Harold Ford Jr. would take part in the Democrat primary for the NY Senate. But it turns out that Ford won’t be running. He explains why in an op-ed in the NY Times:

I’ve examined this race in every possible way, and I keep returning to the same fundamental conclusion: If I run, the likely result would be a brutal and highly negative Democratic primary — a primary where the winner emerges weakened and the Republican strengthened.

I refuse to do anything that would help Republicans win a Senate seat in New York, and give the Senate majority to the Republicans.

While loudly proclaiming his independence throughout the article, Ford ends up taking one for the good of the party. One wonders what the party will do for Ford to reward such dedication and loyalty. I don’t think we’ll have to wait too long to find out.

Technorati Tags: Harold Ford Jr, New York Senate, Races of 2010

Kyle Drops Out of Govnr Race

AlphaPatriot — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:54:24 +0000

State Senate Democrat Leader Jim Kyle has withdrawn from the race for governor due to money problems:

Kyle reported earlier in February that his campaign had raised more than $740,000 and had $580,000 in cash on hand. Kyle had loaned his own campaign $300,000.

The amount represented a “wall” Kyle said he couldn’t surmount once the legislative session began in January. Legislators are banned by state law from holding fundraisers during a legislative session.

“We got a lot of endorsements. We had as much money as our opponents – at least the Democratic opponents,” Kyle said. “We felt like we had a lot going our way. Then the session began. … It just seemed to me that every week the campaign kept running slower and slower and slower. My time being devoted to what I have to do up here, I just wasn’t getting where I need to go.”

The two candidates still seeking to become the Democrat on the final ballot field are Jackson businessman Mike McWherter and former state legislative leader Kim McMillan of Clarksville.

Of the two, I am leaning towards McWherter because I would rather have a businessman in charge rather than a politician. But a glance at both candidate’s websites shows what is wrong with politics today — long on rhetoric and no solid recommendations for solutions to improving schools, jobs, agriculture, or the economy.

Technorati Tags: Tennessee Governors Race, Tennessee Politics, Tennessee Democrats

Gov. Frist?

AlphaPatriot — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 07:41:32 +0000

Bill Frist is rumored to be considering a run for Tennessee Governor in 2010. With his name recognition and personal wealth, he’d be hard to beat.

Other names being floated:

The list of possible 2010 Republican candidates could include U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Brentwood, state Rep. Beth Harwell of Nashville, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale, state Sen. Majority Leader Ron Ramsey and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga. Also, former state Sen. Jim Bryson, who lost the governor’s race this year, hasn’t closed the door on another run.

Interestingly, even with being stuck on the ass-end of the state in Memphis I recognize all the names except Haslam, but I couldn’t tell you whether I’d vote for any except Blackburn.