Stewart Rollering Up In Fourteen

By Kleinheider Posted on June 2, 2008 at 8:22 am

Eric Stewart, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in District 14, has a brand new website with lots of bells and whistles including Twitter and YouTube Channels:

However, what intrigues Post Politics most about this Democratic candidate’s bold attempt to unseat an incumbent Democratic Senator, is not so much the web-savvy of his campaign, but the money that funds it.

In a report filed in April, Stewart reported just under $40,000 in campaign contributions — contributions which do not include a $50,000 loan from the candidate himself.

It would seem as though Mr. Stewart is for real and looking to get at the specially elected Sen. Steve Roller before his incumbency gets ensconced with a full term.

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Tags: District 14, Eric Stewart, Steve Roller, Tennessee State Senate  

Rounding Up The Senate Races

By Kleinheider Posted on May 26, 2008 at 12:43 pm

R. Neal, in a comphrensive analysis piece taking a look at all the state senate seats up for election in 2008, zeroes in on a race in District 14 that could be very interesting in both the primary and the general:

 Long serving Sen. Jerry Cooper resigned in December following a bank fraud scandal in which he was ordered to pay $120,000 in fines although he was acquitted of federal fraud charges. Warren County Commission appointed now incumbent Democrat Steve Roller on a narrow 12-10 vote after nine ballots.

Roller faces two challengers in the Democratic primary. Eric Stewart is an insurance man and former Franklin County Commissioner with a high-powered campaign staff. Tullahoma businessman Jim Woodard appears to be running a low profile campaign.

Republicans looking to pick up a seat are running Mike Niederhauser, Lynn Sebourn, and James Threet. Of the three, only Lynn Sebourn appears to be running a serious campaign. He is on the Tullahoma Municipal Planning Commission and has been involved in the GOP party organization.

Roller reports $22,000 on hand for the first quarter, with no contributions and no expenditures. Sebourn reports $3400 on hand for the first quarter, with $50 in contributions and a $4000 loan to his own campaign and $615 in expenditures. Stewart’s report is not listed on the state website, but his campaign reports $90,000 on hand. Woodard and Threet do not have reports listed, and Niederhauser’s report is all zeroes.

The mostly rural 14th district is strong for Democratics. Republican might have a slight chance here if Cooper’s ethics problems are on the minds of voters. Also, Roller hasn’t been in office long enough to get much incumbent advantage. Fundraising reported by Stewart’s campaign appears to strongly favor him. With a Democratic incumbent, a strong Democratic challenger, and the district’s Democratic tradition, we will be optimistic and predict this seat will stay in the D column.

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Tags: Eric Stewart, Jerry Cooper, Lynn Sebourn, Steve Roller  

Post Politics: 11 April 2008

By Kleinheider Posted on April 11, 2008 at 3:03 pm

In somewhat of a surprise, State Rep. Joe Towns was certified yesterday by the Shelby County Election Commission as a candidate in the 9th District Congressional Primary. Towns name had been left off the initial list of candidates after questions arose over the validity of his qualifying signatures. Those questions were resolved and Towns will join Rep,. Steve Cohen, Nikki Tinker and two others on the Democratic primary ballot. Ford family scion, Jake Ford, is running as an independent. No Republican candidate qualified.

Sen. Andy Berke warns that the border battle between Georgia and Tennessee over water rights is anything but over.

A new study contends that 13 Tennesseans died every day in 2006 due to lack of health insurance.

The Tennessee Republican Party celebrates today, Tennessee Tax Freedom Day.

Congressman Bart Gordon argues that the financial burden for reconstruction in Iraq should fall on Iraqis, not U.S. taxpayers.

Brentwood mourns City Commissioner’s sudden death.

A Hillary Clinton delegate joins the race to succeed the retiring State Rep. Phillip Pinion.

Some members of our armed forces abroad will be issued handheld lie detectors for use in the field in the War on Terror.

Tickets go on sale this morning for the appearance of Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart at the Ryman on May 9.

State Sen. Steve Roller, appointed in January to the seat left vacant by the retiring Jerry Cooper, has announced intention to run for re-election, according to a Senate Democratic Caucus press release.

Former Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee discusses his plans for the future and blames evangelical leaders’ reticence to support his campaign early for his coming up short in the race for the Republican nomination.

The Donkey’s Mouth discusses the influence of neoconservatism on the political ideology of John McCain.

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey likes his judges like he likes his Democrats.

Andy Sher reports that the state Senate voted 29-0 Thursday for legislation that would overhaul the fee structure charged by Tennessee’s 95 county clerks.

The federal deficit is at an all-time high.

East Tennessee Congressman Jimmy Duncan, one of only six GOP members of Congress to oppose the Iraq War’s initial authorization, has not heard anything recently from Gen. David Petraeus that would cause him to change his antiwar stance.

The Associated Press is in search of the perfect modern journalist.

Sen. Lamar Alexander makes the case that Davidson County is in dire need of an immigration judge due to the success of the 287(g) program.

Joe Powell gets deep into the proposed AT&T compromise cable bill and discusses some of the devilish details.

DUI suspects in Tennessee could soon see police given the power to administratively revoke their license at the scene of their alleged crime.

Rex Hammock on the political news value of Twitter.

The Tennessee Attorney General files action against a Kingsport dog breed breeder.

This Is Huge: State workers update Wikipedia while on the taxpayers clock.

A blogger defends jealousy as a motivator in the quest for social justice.

Rep. Steve Cohen praises the Memphis Tigers from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Tennessee Republican Party Communications Director Bill Hobbs is still railing against Department of Finance and Adminstration public information officer Lola Potter over her refusal to give him access to information on his terms.

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Tags: Andy Berke, Bart Gordon, Jimmy Duncan, Joe Towns, Jon Stewart, Michael Huckabee, Steve Roller