Rutherford County votes bright red on Election Day on The Murfreesboro Post

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Rutherford County votes bright red on Election Day

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By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer

Posted: Sunday, November 9, 2008 8:10 am

While the rest of the country turned a bluer shade of purple, Tennessee became a darker red.

The Democratic Party had a good Election Day nationwide as it took a larger lead in the House of Representatives and Senate plus the presidency, but in Tennessee the Republican Party took control of the General Assembly for the first time since Reconstruction.

One local race in the 48th House District gave the Republicans a 50-49 majority in the State House.

State Sen. Jim Tracy held onto his seat against Democratic challenger Jean Ann Rogers, helping to give the Republicans a 19-14 majority in the State Senate.

Tracy received 55.32 percent of the vote in Rutherford County and performed even better in Bedford and Moore counties, garnering 59.2 percent of the vote district-wide.

The 48th House District, formerly held by Democrat John Hood, went to the Republicans in a close race between Joe Carr and Tim Tipps.

Carr pulled out a victory by a few hundred votes. Carr got 51.43 percent to Tipps’ 48.39 percent. Carr gained 13,955 votes to Tipps’ 13,130.

Also Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34th House Dist.) held on to her seat against the Democratic challenger Dr. Rishi Saxena. Rowland received 24648 votes to Saxena’s 12,998, carrying 65.41 percent of the vote.

Bucking the trend were Democrats Reps. Kent Coleman (49th Dist.) and Curt Cobb (62nd Dist.).

Coleman pulled out a win against Republican challenger Rick Womick in a race that became progressively more negative in the final stretch.

Coleman took the lead in early voting, and Womick couldn’t make up the difference in the end. Coleman took 15,655 votes or 52.74 percent to Womick’s 14,006 votes or 47.18 percent.

Cobb may have lost to Republican challenger Barbara Blanton in Rutherford County, but he took the vote in Lincoln and Bedford counties where most of the district lies.

Cobb received 55.1 percent of the vote district-wide compared to Blanton’s 44.9 percent.

With control of the General Assembly, Republicans now have the authority to appoint the state’s constitutional officers, as well as set the state’s agenda and plot its course into the future.

“It will be the first time in the history of the state of Tennessee that we will be appointing the secretary of state, treasurer or comptroller,” Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville said.

Republicans will also appoint a new state election commission and could reform the state’ s judicial selection process and replace it with the direct election of appellate judges.

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

Tagged under ELECTION

Member Opinions:

By: vdanr on 11/14/08
So, tell me how this will be good for ALL citizens of Rutherford County.