Senator Rosalind Kurita Responds To Challenge of Her Election
Posted on September 10, 2008 at 6:01 pmRosalind Kurita has officially filed her retort with the Democratic Executive Committee to a challenge to her August 7th reelection.
Her opponent, Tim Barnes, submitted his petition contesting his defeat by 19 votes to on August 25.
“I won. The election has been certified and he has not proved any of his allegations. I would like to move forward so that I can get back to work for the people of my district,” said Senator Kurita.
Kurita’s attorney said “Tim Barnes failed to prove that he got more votes than Senator Kurita. He failed to prove that poll workers were quote: “ganging up on him.” He failed to prove his ‘Pottygate” allegation that Senator Kurita broke the law by using a restroom near a polling place.”
“It is time to move on. I do not want to see our Tennessee Democratic Party have a black eye. We don’t need to become a national embarrassment,” said Kurita.
The contest hearing of the primary will be heard this Saturday in front of the Democratic Executive Committee in Nashville.
SEE ALSO:
The full press release.
Clarksville Leaf Chronicle
Barnes To File For Recount Monday
Posted on August 24, 2008 at 11:29 pmThe man Senator Rosalind Kurita beat by 19 votes will wait until the eleventh hour to file:
Barnes had earlier said his petition to the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee would be filed by Wednesday or Thursday of the past week.
“We’re still working on getting people with affidavits to come forward to tell of the irregularities they saw and experienced,” Barnes told The Leaf-Chronicle.
Over the past couple of weeks, election commissions in Montgomery, Cheatham and Houston counties have all certified the Aug. 7 election results, showing that incumbent state Sen. Rosalind Kurita defeated Barnes by 19 votes.
The combined vote across the three counties on Election Day was 4,477 votes, or 50.06 percent, for Kurita, to 4,458 votes, or 49.93 percent, for Barnes.
Kurita has maintained that the vote speaks for itself, and that Barnes threatens to divide local Democrats by contesting the election.
“It is my hope that calmer and wiser heads will prevail,” Kurita said Friday.
Barnes, by rule, had five days from Monday, when the last vote in Montgomery County was certified, to contest the election. That means today is the fifth day
“Technically, the civil procedure deadline is (today), but because it’s a Saturday, we’ve got until Monday to file,” he said.
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TNGOP To Rep. David Davis: Good Call
Posted on August 15, 2008 at 10:41 amThe folks over at the Tennessee Republican Party are glad that Rep. David Davis decided not to turn the next meeting of the state executive committee into a circus:
Tennessee Republican Party officials today praised U.S. Rep. David Davis’ decision not to contest the results of the August 7 primary in Tennessee’s First Congressional District.
“Congressman Davis’s decision to let the voters of the First District, rather than a parade of lawyers, courts and committees, have the final say on who they wish to represent them in Congress represents the best traditions of American democracy,” said Robin Smith, Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party.
“State law permits voters to declare at the polling place which party’s primary they wish to participate in, a system that allows Tennesseans to vote for the man or woman they believe is best for the job and, unless an election result has been compromised by actual voter fraud such as false identity or votes cast by the dead, we believe the will of the voters as expressed at the ballot box on election day should be respected,” Smith said. “David Davis has served his community honorably and with distinction first as a state legislator, then as a member of Congress, and now by his decision to let the people’s vote stand without challenge.”
SEE ALSO:
R. Neal
The Hill
Davis’s plans for the future.
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Cooler Heads Prevail: Rep. David Davis Will Not Ask For A Recount
Posted on at 9:46 amThough, he wants you to know, that he totally would have won if he had:
“I am announcing today that even though I have the law on my side, I have decided not to pursue an election contest with the Republican Primary Board. I love East Tennessee and I love America, therefore it is in the best interest of everyone concerned that I concede the election to my primary opponent. I have contacted Mr. Roe and made him aware of my decision.
“May God Bless the First Congressional District and may God Bless America.”
SEE ALSO: Angelia reacts.
Ray’s Reasoning For Recount
Posted on August 14, 2008 at 1:51 pmAs has been reported, 8th District state Senate candidate and incumbent Sen. Raymond Finney has petitioned the Tennessee Republican Party for a recount in his election defeat to state Rep. Doug Overbey.
However, at this link, you can see a confidential copy of the official petition for recount outlining the Senator’s reasoning for making the request.
Lt. Governor Ramsey Thinks Rep. Davis Should Let It Go
Posted on August 13, 2008 at 8:01 amNo matter how it happened, it happened, and Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey thinks David Davis should recognize the reality that he lost his bid for a second term in the First Congressional District:
Davis blamed crossover Democrats on Friday for helping Roe to a 486-vote victory in last Thursday’s GOP primary. On Monday, Davis claimed there were “voting irregularities” in the primary and said he had hired a national law firm to see whether he can legally challenge the primary election.
Davis also cited a Tennessee law that prohibits crossover voting “unless you intend to have loyalty to that party.”
Ramsey, however, said he has reminded Davis that Tennessee has an open primary system.
“You declare the way you are voting when you walk into a voting booth,” the Blountville Republican said. “It would be very hard to prove that there was concerted effort to get Democrats to vote in a Republican primary or vice versa. Even if you could prove that, I don’t see it’s illegal.”
RECOUNT: State Senator Ray Finney Won’t Go Down Without A Fight
Posted on August 11, 2008 at 8:01 pmFrom the Daily Times:
State Sen. Raymond Finney filed a petition for a recount of Sevier County votes in Thursday’s Republican primary for the 8th District Senate seat.
In a tight race, State Rep. Doug Overbey, who holds the 20th District House seat, outpolled Finney 10,175 (48.0 percent) to 10,036 (47.4 percent) in the primary to pick the GOP candidate for the general election in November, according to the state’s vote tally.
The 8th Senate District is made up of Blount and Sevier counties.
Finney carried Blount County 6,918 to 5,722. But Sevier County voters put Overbey on top, casting 4,453 ballots for the state representative and 3,118 for the senator. Jim Bishop of Sevier County received 977 (4.6 percent).
After the unofficial votes were announced Thursday night, Finney said he would request a recount because of voting irregularities in Sevier County.
On Monday, he said he had already acted on that request.
“I have filed a petition for recount,” Finney said.
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