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Voters across Tennessee sent Resounding Message
(NASHVILLE, TN), November 6, 2008 – Every election cycle voters hear a familiar phrase from candidates on the stump. “This is the most important election in our lifetime” is not so much overused as it is true. November 4, 2008 was no exception. While most pundits and voters were focused on a historical national election, our own state made history of its own by electing a strong Republican majority in the State Senate and a one vote Republican majority in the State House. This has never been the case is our 212-year history. Prior to November elections, the Senate was divided with 16 Republicans, 16 Democrats and one Independent. The position of Lt. Governor, who serves as Speaker of the Senate, was won by former Republican Majority Leader Ron Ramsey two years ago with the help of a Democrat Senator from Middle Tennessee. This past August that same Senator won her Democratic primary by a slim nineteen votes, only to have her election voided by the State Democratic Executive Committee. Such moves at times bring swift retribution from those most impacted by that pivotal vote. With the 16-16-1 make-up, a Democratic-controlled Senate was imminent unless Republican gains were made in the elections. So what does this mean for Tennesseans? When the Legislature convenes on January 13 in Nashville, many key state positions and committee chairmanships will be different. Among those are Secretary of State, Comptroller and Treasurer, all of whom are elected from a combined majority of Senate and House. However, one of the most significant and less noticed by the voters will be Republican control over all 95 county Election Commissions statewide. My hope is what has been an inefficient and overly partisan Shelby County election commission, can now be managed in a more effective and business-like manner that will result in a smoother and more convenient election process in 2010. Serving in both the State Senate and State House has given me a unique view from both minority and majority sides of the aisles. I am looking forward to governing in a manner that will allow legislation that has been blocked by a Democratic controlled chamber to now be debated on the merits of the bill, and not simply defeated because of party affiliation. On the national level, voters demanded and won a change in Washington. In that same wave of change, voters across Tennessee sent a resounding message of change in our State Capitol. I look forward to this opportunity and take seriously the responsibility now placed before Republicans in the State Senate and House. ###
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