Tag Archives: Andy Berke

Keenly aware

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(Programming Note: Gentle reader, you are not forgotten. Being a grownup calls for occasionally having to put down the blogging toys for uncomfortable stretches of time.)

Meanwhile, the Chattanooga municipal elections are charging past at a good clip, and I don’t much like not being able to discuss them, and everything else that’s going on in local and state government, with you.

Fortunately for Chattanooga voters, the cool kids over at the Lamp Post Group and Nooga.com have created a new interactive voter guide complete with a social component. It’s called Keen Citizen, and you are advised to check it out.

Oh, my thoughts on the election? Well, I agree with pretty much every editorial writer and pundit who has expressed disappointment in former Sen. Andy Berke, the ostensible far-and-away frontrunner in the mayoral election, for being so light on specifics about his likely future term.

Can he get away with it? Sure. Do I still wish we could have a frank and somewhat detailed discussion about the city’s current issues and future direction? Of course. I’m not discounting the times Berke has held community discussions on crime and other topics; but the campaign message itself could have been clearer about his goals.

The Chattanooga City Council elections merit their own separate posts. Maybe by the time Election Day gets here, we’ll have had a chance to chat about them.

Thanks for being responsible citizens.

A Capitol farewell

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For a variety of reasons, a number of Tennessee state legislators will not be returning to take part in the 108th General Assembly next term. Some have lost primary elections, while others have decided not to run for re-election.

Two retiring senators shared parting thoughts with their constituents this week. Sen. Andy Berke is running for mayor of Chattanooga, while Sen. Mike Faulk decided not to run for personal and family reasons. Continue reading →

Democrats unite behind Paul Smith at fundraiser

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Even though some of the local Democratic Party faithful expressed their displeasure with Chairman Paul Smith by refusing to attend, the Choo Choo Imperial Ballroom was fairly filled with cheering supporters on Wednesday at the party’s annual Kefauver Dinner. Organizers said the event was sold-out.

Smith and his longtime friend, former Senate Majority Leader Ward Crutchfield, each received several ovations from the crowd at the urging of speakers ranging from Sen. Beverly Marrero of Memphis to Crutchfield’s daughter Missy, who heads the Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture, and who emceed the event.

The majority of those in attendance seemed willing to forgive and forget the elder Crutchfield’s 2005 arrest and 2007 conviction on federal bribery charges, though some were seen keeping their seats while the rest stood.

A few party stalwarts privately hinted that Smith may face a leadership challenge at the next re-organization meeting (to take place in Spring 2013), even as they asserted that the current rift is more personal than political. One member expressed a desire to see younger people move into party leadership, but said that the fundraiser is a time to emphasize party unity, adding that the re-organization will be the time to “air the dirty laundry.”

Missy Crutchfield used some of her time at the lectern to rather openly lobby mayoral candidate Sen. Andy Berke to continue the department she administers, which was created in 2005 by current Mayor Ron Littlefield, should he win the March 2013 election. (She also alluded to a common perception that Berke is a shoo-in by referring to the election as a “coronation.”)

D. Bruce Shine, a Kingsport attorney and former staffer for Estes Kefauver, gave a biographical sketch of the Tennessee Congressman, U.S. Senator, and vice presidential candidate. Other speakers included Rev. Kenneth Love, Rep. JoAnne Favors, Sen. Beverly Marrero, and U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen. Collectively they extolled the virtues of organized labor and excoriated Republican-led legislative changes such as the requirement for voters to show photo identification at the polling place.

Candidates in the November election were recognized on the podium: Favors, Frank Eaton, Dr. Mary Headrick, Jim Lewis, Andraé McGary, and Sandy Norris Smith all were declared “winners” by Love. Following their recognition, candidates in the 2013 municipal election were invited to stand.

The annual Kefauver award, chosen by the party chair, was presented to Sandy Lusk, Missy Crutchfield, Jane Bowen-Forsythe, and Roger Graham.

Full disclosure: I was not able to stay through the entire event, and therefore missed the keynote speech by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis). Times Free Press reporter Shelly Bradbury covered it through its conclusion.

Your weather on the tens

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Sen. Andy Berke caused an upper-level disturbance in District 10 when he announced that he will not seek re-election. At first the drop in barometric pressure was slight, since it appeared that Rep. Vince Dean would move in and thus push the volatility over to House District 30.

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.

Vital signs

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Chattanooga businessman Greg Vital has made it known that he intends to seek the 10th District Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Andy Berke—the same seat that Rep. Vince Dean was thoroughly expected to seek. However, as the Chattanooga Times Free Press also reports, Dean is being encouraged by House Speaker Beth Harwell and Majority Leader Gerald McCormick to stay put.

This would mean a shake-up in the developing GOP primary for House District 30, which would be an open seat if Dean were to run for the Senate. East Ridge Mayor Brent Lambert and Larry Grohn have picked up petitions, and there has been talk of a couple more candidates. Not many Republican candidates would be likely to stay in it against the incumbent, though. Two Democrats have also picked up papers to run: Brock Bennington and Brian White.

Collegedale resident Ray Minner, who has also been considering a run in the 30th after redistricting placed him in that district, says there is something telling in the GOP leaders’ actions:

Doesn’t anyone besides me find it very, very curious that “the two top House Republicans,” who have surely known for quite a long time that Vince Dean was planning to run for the Senate, said nothing, and even allowed him to make his announcement and pick up papers. Then suddenly, when Greg Vital decides HE wants that seat, they start to lean on Vince to stay in the House. Coincidence? Only the most naive would think so.

Meanwhile, it looks like voters in the new 28th District will have a contested primary in both of the two major parties. Democratic Reps. Tommie Brown and JoAnne Favors were placed into the same minority-majority district, and each has said she will seek the nomination. Two Republicans have also pulled petitions: Johnny Horne, who has run unsuccessfully for local and state offices in years past; and Basil Marceaux Jr., who previously ran in the old 29th District against Favors.

That’s not, by the way, the Basil Marceaux (“dot com”) you may be thinking of. The elder Marceaux is running for the state House as well, but in the 27th District, where he will challenge incumbent Rep. Richard Floyd in the GOP primary. (Trivia time: can anyone name other instances in which a parent and child were running in neighboring legislative districts in the same election?) Marceaux will be on the ballot on Super Tuesday too, as a candidate for Hamilton County Mayor.

In the new 29th, which covers eastern and northern Hamilton County, former sessions judge Mike Carter has so far drawn no opponents for the open seat. If this stays true, he will have pulled off quite a feat, given the rich swath of Republican votes it holds. The qualifying deadline is noon on April 5th.

The primary elections will be held on August 2nd.