MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Wednesday, December 2, 2009 2:49 pm

The local Democrat and Republican parties are looking to save the county a little cash this year by forgoing their traditional primary elections.

Rutherford County Democratic Chairman Jonathan Fagan said the party is leaning toward a caucus because most of the seats open for election are uncontested on his side.

“In these tough economic times, $100,000 could save jobs in the county. And if four families’ breadwinners can be saved by us holding a caucus, that’s what we’ll do,” he said.

Fagan also said he doesn’t want to commit $100,000 to a primary where there aren’t multiple candidates for a seat.

Republican Chairman Rick Womick has similar sentiments.

“The county is in such a pinch right now we’ve decided to do a caucus and save the county money,” Womick said, adding holding a caucus could save the county between $50,000 and $60,000.

Womick said the Rutherford County Republican Executive Committee will meet Dec. 12 to make the decision official.

“We’ve got quite a few candidates but it doesn’t make sense to have a primary for unchallenged candidate,” he said.

The parties have until Dec. 18 to officially decide to hold caucuses to select candidates for the general election in August 2010 for county mayor, trustee, sheriff, circuit court clerk, county clerk, register of deeds, all the county commission, county school board zones 1, 4 and 7, and road board zones 2, 4 and 5.

The caucuses will be held before Feb. 18, 2010 when the names must be submitted to the Rutherford County Election Commission.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.