TMP Reports
Posted: Sunday, August 24, 2008 8:17 am

Now that the dust has settled from the Aug. 7 state primary and the results have been certified, it’s time to take a look at the candidates who want to represent Rutherford County in Tennessee’s General Assembly.

State House of Representatives, 48th District

The 48th District covers western and southern Rutherford County, including Christiana, Lascassas, Kittrell, Milton, Walter Hill, Buchanan and areas of Murfreesboro.

In a closely contested race on both sides of the aisle, Republican Joe Carr and Democrat Tim Tipps won their party’s nomination in the district race. John Hood held the seat for six terms.

Joe Carr is the owner and operator of Virtual Edge, LLC, an energy conservation consulting company based in Murfreesboro.

Carr ran on a fiscal conservative platform of immigration reform, education reform and lower taxes.

Tipps is a real estate appraiser for Appraisal Source of Tennessee in Murfreesboro.

He is also a 10-year veteran of the Army National Guard and former banker, who touted his values of faith, family and community.

State House of Representatives, 34th District

The 34th District is made up of western Rutherford County, from the Barfield Community to La Vergne. Dr. Rishi Saxena won the Democratic nomination in the District and will vie against Republican incumbent Donna Rowland.

Saxena is a practicing cardiologist in Murfreesboro, who supports healthcare for all and opposes a state income tax and the outsourcing of local jobs.

Donna Rowland was elected to the state House in 2000, where she has served as a member on the House Children and Family Affairs, House Consumer and Employee Affairs committees, as well as the House Family Justice and House Employee Affairs subcommittees.

Rowland is a fiscal and social conservative, who has campaigned and voted against a state income tax, for pro-life issues, for the Second Amendment and taken a pro-business stance in the House.

State House of Representatives, 49th District

The 49th District State House of Representatives covers northwestern Rutherford County from Walter Hill to La Vergne and portions of northern Murfreesboro. Rick Womick won the Republic nomination in the 49th House District and will face Democratic incumbent Kent Coleman.

Womick is a staunch social and fiscal conservative, who believes the main issues facing Tennesseans are the economy, education, health care, energy independence and illegal immigration. He is also against a state income tax and wants to reduce or eliminate state sales tax on food.

Womick has worked as a public school teacher and high school football coach, as well as serving in the U.S. Air Force before becoming a commercial airline pilot and air marshall.

Coleman has represented the 49th District for three consecutive terms and has served as vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee and chair of the House Judicial Administration Subcommittee. He has also served as a member of House Finance, Ways and Means Committee, House Judicial Administration Subcommittee and House Constitutional Protections Subcommittee.

Coleman has used his time in office to work to improve schools, fix TennCare, protect seniors and children, and opposed a state income tax.

State Senate, 16th District

The 16th District is made up of most of Rutherford and all of Bedford and Moore counties.

Murfreesboro optometrist Jean Ann Rogers won the Democratic nomination for the 16th Senate District seat, which is currently held by Jim Tracy, a Shelbyville Republican.

Rogers is running on a platform of family values, education, affordable health care, senior citizen rights, open government and opposition to a state income tax.

Gov. Phil Bredesen appointed Rogers to the State Board of Education in 2005.

Tracy is a fiscal conservative and said the focus of his campaign will be on moving our economy forward, improving education and illegal immigration reform.

On the economy, Tracy supports lower taxes and less government to create more, high paying jobs in the 16th District.

Tracy serves as the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and sits on other committees including the Education Committee, the State and Local Government Committee, the Commission on Aging and Disability, and the Long Term Care Advisory Council.

State House of Representatives, 62nd District

The 62nd District of the State House of Representatives is made up of all of Bedford and parts of Lincoln and Rutherford counties, including Eagleville.

Barbara Blanton beat out her Republican Primary challengers to battle the Democratic incumbent, State Rep. Curt Cobb in November.

Blanton has served on various Bedford County boards, including serving as president of Rotary Club of Shelbyville and chairwoman of Bedford County Republican Party.

She has advocated for health issues, education, immigration reform and children's issues, as well as pro-life legislation and is currently a member of the Tennessee Right to Life Association.

Cobb has served in the house since the 103rd General Assembly and sits on the House Transportation, House Public Transportation and Highways, Joint Fiscal Review, Joint Fiscal Review Contract Services and Joint Business Tax committees. He has also served as secretary of the House Commerce Committee and chairman of the House Utilities, Banking and Small Business Subcommittee.

He is also the owner of Cobb Realty and Auction, LLC, where he works as both a real estate broker and auctioneer.

More Information …

Rutherford County Republican Party - www.rutherfordgop.org

Rutherford County Democratic Party - www.rutherforddemocrats.com

34th District State House Candidates

Dr. Rishi Saxena - www.drrishisaxena.com

Donna Rowland - www.donnarowland.com   

48th District State House Candidates

Joe Carr - www.joecarr48.com

Tim Tipps - www.timtipps.com or e-mail tim@timtipps.com

16th District State Senate Candidates

Jean Ann Rogers - www.JeanAnneRogersForSenate.com

Jim Tracy - www.jimtracy08.com