Thanks to a heads-up from a longtime friend in the blogosphere, now you do. The Constitution Party is holding its convention in Nashville. (Personal aside: the apparent frontrunner for the nomination formerly represented the congressional district where I spent my childhood, and earlier was a state senator—and a Democrat).

Former Congressman Virgil Goode is widely considered the front-runner for the top spot on the ticket, though it’s unclear at this moment who will serve as his running mate. Former Savannah State football coach Robby Wells is also seeking the party’s nomination.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, it’s not too late to defect and join this ticket. Think about it: “Goode & Pawlenty 2012″ has a certain sweetness to it.

The Constitution Party of Tennessee, which is the state-level affiliate, won ballot access (along with the Green Party of Tennessee) in a recent federal court ruling, although officials for the State of Tennessee have appealed the judgement. It is therefore undetermined whether the Constitution Party’s nominees for president will appear with the party label beside them, but as of right now they would.

To my knowledge, there are no state legislative or congressional candidates running as Constitution Party candidates in Tennessee.

(Updated to add paragraph 4.)

Fall of the Marceauxviet Union

The more famous Basil Marceaux’s scion had pulled a petition in the newly combined 28th House District, after having run against Rep. JoAnne Favors in what was the 29th a couple of cycles ago. However, his name was not in the final list. Rest assured: Basil the Elder is in the race, and will face incumbent Rep. Richard Floyd in the Republican primary in District 27.

Over the hills and far away

Rep. Gary Moore decided rather at the last minute not to seek re-election to the 50th House District seat. Nashville-Davidson Metro Councilmember Bo Mitchell is in as a Democratic Party pinch hitter. Three Republicans will vie for their party’s nomination.

Breeding grounds

The only Democratic Party candidate to file for the new 89th House District has had her residency questioned, and some view this with suspicion.

What is love?

Rep. G.A. Hardaway, whose 92nd District was moved to Marshall County (et al.), actually qualified as a primary challenger to Rep. Mike Kernell in the 93rd. But he had pulled petitions for several districts, so we were kind of hoping he’d show up more than once in the list. Which district is Roxbury Street in, anyway?

The indomitable Lady J

Jean Howard-Hill not only failed to return her qualifying petition for the U.S. House 3rd District seat, she sent a defiant press release stating her intent to add “Independent” and “write-in” (along with “feisty”) to the list of adjectives with which she distinguishes her Republican-ness.

Candidates who qualified have until this Thursday to change their minds. If any do, or if any other news pops up, this site will be updated.

However, more recent data show Dean staying put, which quieted would-be candidates Larry Grohn and East Ridge Mayor Brent Lambert. Dean will likely face a comparatively weak Democratic front from either Brock Bennington or Sandra Norris Smith, which means he’ll probably blow right through without too much upheaval.

But oh, there’s a storm brewing in the Senate race. On the GOP side, business developer Greg Vital, who was in before Dean was out, is looking like he’ll produce heavy, soaking rains (of campaign cash) while there may be plenty of bluster from rival Todd Gardenhire.

The super cell we’re really watching, though, is the Democratic primary, which got a boost in severity on Friday when Chattanooga City Councilman Andraé McGary announced his intent to run for the seat. With the new district lines, the Republicans are hoping for a change in wind direction, but tensions between the Democrats backing McGary and those backing David Testerman could cause major damage within the party, which will please the GOP regardless. A potential third Democrat, Quenston Coleman, has yet to return his qualifying petition.

In Nashville, the Senate District 20 vortex caused by retiring Sen. Joe Haynes has drawn a substantial pack of storm chasers. Scooter Clippard, Steve Dickerson, David Hall, and Rob Mortensen are among the Republicans; and James Baxter, Kevin Doherty, and Richard Exton are possible Democratic contenders.

Meanwhile, spotters reported that Hall’s son and daughter have pulled petitions in House District 50; or is that bull? Charles Williamson wants to be the nominee to take on Rep. Gary Moore.

In House District 60, former Metro Council member Rep. Jim Gotto is set to clash with current member Darren Jernigan.

We’re trying to establish communications with Lawrence and Giles Counties to see what the situation is on the ground there. A bungled party switch attempt blew Rep. Eddie Bass right out of the water, and it’s just not clear from here what is left in the wake of that rural storm system.

In Memphis, redistricting caused Mississippi floodwaters to pool heavily in Senate District 30, as Sens. Jim Kyle and Beverly Marrero are forced into a primary match.

So far, no watches or warnings are posted for House Districts 10, 40, 80, or 90; but keep your browser tuned right here as things could change rapidly in most of these areas over the next week or two.

On Thursday morning, Americans Elect Tennessee delegate volunteers Ronn Huff and Chris Farrar will file the Americans Elect petition with the Tennessee Elections Division for a line on the ballot for the 2012 presidential election. Americans Elect collected the signatures of 72,662 voters in Tennessee – far surpassing the state requirement of 40,039 – in support of more choice on the ballot this November.

Volunteers Huff and Farrar, a Democrat and Republican, respectively, are enthusiastic that a fundamental change to the nominating system will open up the political process in Tennessee and across the country, giving voters the chance to elect leaders who represent people, not parties.

Hawk’s wife said she was holding their 11-month-old daughter when she was struck. — WCYB.com

Hawk is resigning his House Environment and Conservation Committee chairmanship. — WCYB.com

The Tennessee Democratic Party used a photo showing an apparently injured Mrs. Hawk in a press release, causing somewhat of an outcry on Twitter.

Please remember two things as this troubling story unfolds: any of us accused of a crime is legally innocent until proven guilty, and there are human beings going through a lot of pain. A third thing to keep in mind is the welfare of a small child.

Earlier post

The federal ruling that lowered certification barriers and automatically placed the Constitution Party of Tennessee and the Green Party of Tennessee on the ballot will be appealed, according to a report in the Johnson City Press (behind paywall). An AP story on WRCBtv.com says that attorneys for the state have asked for a stay on the ruling while they prepare an appeal.

If I may step across the thin grey line from straight reporting/linking into opinion: I do not understand what danger the state has to so vigorously protect against. After all, even with the most recent victory, it is not like there is a rash of Constitution and Green candidates filing to run for election under their parties’ banners.

Yes, the Democratic and Republican parties themselves have something to gain by keeping rival institutions from forming; but does the State of Tennessee answer to and get its marching orders from those political parties, or from the people? Right. And if the people see fit to form additional political parties and field candidates to seek office, the state should not place burdensome hurdles in the way that deny citizens equal protection under the Constitution.

I welcome illustrative comments that would attempt to persuade me to see the state’s point of view. Given the absence of threat by these minor parties to the status quo, I am just not seeing it. Furthermore, even if the rise of powerful alternatives were imminent, state officials should have no interest other than ensuring the consistent application of election laws.

The reason is a sad one: Faulk’s mother is gravely ill. Here is the senator’s press release:

Senator Mike Faulk announced today during one of his Student Town Hall meetings that he will not be a candidate for reelection to the State Senate.

“My ailing mother and my business need me more than the Senate needs me. Most folks understand the need to care for a gravely ill parent.,” Faulk said. “Being at her side is a higher priority of mine than campaigning for reelection for the next 8 months.”

In regard to his business, Faulk added: “For the past three years, having time to work in my business after first doing my Senate responsibilities has been a struggle. As a solo attorney, I need to work much, much more over the next four years to keep my business going.”

Faulk also noted his term-limits pledge was a part of his decision. “As Candidate Faulk, I told folks I’d serve a term or two. I’ll be keeping that promise by becoming Citizen Faulk,” said the Senator.

“Serving in the State Senate has been the highest honor of
my lifetime. Every single day I’ve learned something new about the special privilege I’ve been given. I will be eternally grateful for that privilege,” Senator Faulk added.

If you wanted a textbook example that shows the kind of fallout redistricting (as done by a partisan method) can have, here you go. Naifeh was at one time one of the most powerful people in the state. He is said to have personally shepherded many bills through the Legislature’s lower house—and quashed perhaps many more—via his strong control of House subcommittees.

In a move not terribly unlike his longtime Senate counterpart, the late Lt. Gov. John S. Wilder, Naifeh managed to hang on to power for one more session after Republicans in 2008 gained a one-seat majority in the House, even if he had to give up the gavel itself to Rep. Kent Williams. After the 2010 election, it was all over.

Now the district Naifeh has represented for nearly four decades has been drawn so that a well-placed Republican challenger might easily have defeated him; so apparently the old fox has decided to seek new hunting grounds.

And that brings up a question that surely is on some minds today: there will still be a coon supper this year, right?