Tag Archives: Robin Smith

A redistricting hint

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In Robin Smith’s comments on talk radio this morning, she observed that Tennessee’s Third District, after redistricting, would be “very favorable” towards a challenger to the incumbent. She alluded to the idea that there would be only one mass media market—that would be Chattanooga—instead of the current multiple markets where it’s necessary to purchase campaign messaging.

Political analysts have concluded that one of the reasons U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann was able to defeat Smith was his strong showing in the northern counties of the current district, particularly in Anderson County.

Anderson, and its primary municipality Oak Ridge, are of course within the Knoxville broadcasting area, as are several of the other counties that lie past the extremely narrow strip that connects the two ends of the district.

You can be sure that current and potential challengers are looking at this information, and are assessing how a reconfigured district that is more concisely centered on Hamilton County could help them.

Of course, until the maps are revealed, and approved by the Legislature, all of this is talk. But something tells me that it’s not purely idle talk.

Robin Smith not running

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Robin Smith says she will not run for the 3rd District Congressional seat but will focus on her consulting business. More to come.

UPDATE 2: Weston Wamp, the young son of former U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp (who was in office until early this calendar year), has entered the race to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, and has attracted a fair showing of support.

Dr. Jean Howard-Hill rounds out the slate, as she is repeating her 2010 run for the GOP nomination.

Chattanooga attorney J.B. Bennett, Maj. Savas Kyriakidis (who ran as an independent in 2010), and former Tennessee College Republicans chair Tres Wittum are reportedly considering a run in this primary as well.

To date, no Democrats, independents, or third party candidates have declared in this race.

Candidates have until April to qualify for the August 2012 primary. The general election will be held on November 6, 2012.

UPDATE 1: The press release from Smith:

Chattanooga, TN- Robin Smith, 2010 Republican candidate for the 3rd Congressional District in an 11-candidate primary field, announced today her plans do not include pursuing the GOP nomination in next year’s primary race in August. “I will not run for the 3rd District Congressional seat in 2012,” Smith told WGOW’s Morning Press host team. “While every conversation I have had with supporters, advisors, and donors has been incredibly encouraging to run again, opportunities in the private sector and in working in the area of public policy are available that may never materialize again,” Smith continued.
The former Tennessee Republican Party Chairman that turned Tennessee “a deeper shade of red” in the unprecedented elections of 2008 ran in the open-seat vacated by former Congressman Zach Wamp in his run for Tennessee’s Governor. Smith raised approximately $723,000 from individual donors and conservative organizations losing by fewer than 1500 votes in the expansive district including parts of eleven counties, touching four separate states. “The new district that will result from the 2012 redistricting process will most likely be a very favorable district for a challenger to run against a newly-elected incumbent. However, the private sector opportunities could not wait until January’s unveiling of the new district lines,” Smith noted.
Responding to inquiries if this was an indication of her exit from politics, Mrs. Smith, quipped, “Ironically, a future run against candidates with a record versus the vagueness of blank slates may prove much easier. I’ve never been known to run for cover.”
With over twenty-one years of grassroots politics as her platform, Robin Smith highlighted her continued commitment to servant leadership: “Since toting a 6-month-old daughter on my hip as I volunteered in local politics, there has been one driving factor that remains my driving force…serve others with integrity and produce results that provide a lasting impact. Institutions are only as strong and honorable as those who serve.” Offering a bit of advice draped in humor, Smith concluded, “My kids know that I’ve never asked of anyone that which I wasn’t first willing to do. In other words, servant leadership leaves a legacy; climbing the ladder leaves tread marks!”

Robin Smith: I’ve decided to announce what I’ve decided

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Robin Smith will make her congressional intentions known on the popular morning talk radio program “Fred the Show” “The Morning Press” on Friday, December 2 at 8:30 a.m. A clip from her media announcement follows:

The former Tennessee Republican Party Chairman, having served for over two decades in grassroots politics, ran in the 3rd Congressional District open primary of 2010. Losing by less than 1500 votes in the district that touches four state lines and includes parts of eleven counties, Smith has been in an active process of meeting with advisors and supporters to make her decision about a second run for Congress. The Robin Smith for Congress campaign raised approximately $723,000 during the 2010 primary election from individual supporters and conservative organizations.

There’s also been (very unsubstantiated) talk about Smith possibly seeking a state House of Representatives seat instead.

Of course, the third option is that she decides not to run for any office at this time.

Analysis of the 3rd District race will follow shortly after the announcement. (Like, in the next day or two.)

UPDATE 2: The decision.

(Updated 12/2 to correct the name of the radio program.)

GOP aspirants eye East Hamilton prize

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Although redistricting plans have not yet been made fully public in Tennessee, a few potential candidates in Hamilton County have begun the arduous process of cautiously staking out what they believe (likely on good authority) will be new territory: an open Tennessee House of Representatives district in the eastern part of the county. Given the demographic makeup of the area, such a district would almost certainly be solidly Republican.

Among those the grapevine suggests might be interested are Mike Carter, a former General Sessions Judge, assistant to former County Mayor Claude Ramsey, and 2011 candidate to replace Ramsey; Wes Kliner, an attorney and former election commissioner; Ray Minner, an educator whose political forays include twice narrowly missing being elected to the Collegedale City Commission; and Robin Smith, former Tennessee Republican Party chair and 2010 candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. (It’s not clear whether the new district boundaries would include Smith’s residence; and she is still reportedly deciding whether a rematch with U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann is her 2012 focus.)

Attempts to confirm these and other active rumors are underway, and updates will be posted as more information becomes available. In the meantime, let me be clear that the above is simply hearsay at the moment, and is not intended as breaking news. It’s just what we sometimes like to talk about here.

UPDATE 11/23: Robin Smith does not live in the proposed new district, so strike her from the list. Also, there is another potential candidate—more to come.

Smith: ‘I’ve decided I will make a decision’ by end of month

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Former Tennessee Republican Party chair Robin Smith reaffirmed to Nooga.com that, by the end of November, she will have made a move either into or definitively away from the 2012 GOP primary race for U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee’s 3rd District.

Some might see Smith’s recent trip to Washington, D.C., where she met with “‘individuals, encouragers, and donors,’” as providing a hint at which direction she may be leaning. It could just as well be a signal that someone talked her out of it, but it seems like she would just go ahead and announce a declination to run and get on with the holidays. Please note that I’ve been wrong before.

Others thinking about becoming candidates in this race include Chattanooga attorney J.B. Bennett and Army officer and restaurateur Savas Kyriakidis (the latter ran as an independent in 2010); and there is a draft movement to entice former Tennessee College Republicans president Tres Wittum to run.

The Nooga article correctly observes that redistricting could change the 3rd District’s boundaries; but in terms of an impact to potential candidates, that only mildly affects where to go to ask for votes. Hamilton County is where half the voters live (in the current district), and it’s not going anywhere. A candidate is not required to live in the district in order to run or to serve.

The incumbent, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, was elected in 2010 after having narrowly defeated Smith in a crowded primary. Two candidates have declared as Fleischmann’s opponents in the Republican primary: Dr. Jean Howard-Hill and Weston Wamp.