One of the pillars of our government is the ability for voters to elect the officials who will represent them. This past Thursday, August 4th, votes cast in District 13 resulted in a tie.
When the election results are certified on August 15, the Sumner County Commission will have an important choice to make:
Return the decision to the voters of District 13 by calling for a November runoff election; or
Take that choice away from the voters by deciding the winner themselves.
The residents of District 13 deserve to select their own representation – not have it chosen for them by a commission of individuals who live outside the district.
It’s time to email our County Commissioners and ask that they return this choice to the people of District 13 by sending this election to a November runoff. Below is a complete list of commissioners, including email addresses. You are also encouraged to attend the County Commission meeting on Monday, August 15 at 7 p.m. in the Sumner County Administration building.
terry.wright@sumnercountytn.gov
billy.geminden@sumnercountytn.gov
Larry.Hinton@SumnercountyTN.gov
Alan.Driver@SumnerCountyTN.gov
steve.graves@sumnercountytn.gov
jerry.foster@sumnercountytn.gov
leslie.schell@sumnercountytn.gov
Danny.Sullivan@SumnerCountytn.gov
baker.ring@sumnercountytn.gov
Luke.Tinsley@SumnercountyTN.gov
Deanne.Dewitt@SumnercountyTN.gov
Brian.Stewart@sumnercountytn.gov
Gene.Rhodes@SumnerCountyTN.gov
Shellie.Tucker@SumnerCountyTN.gov
Merrol.Hyde@sumnercountytn.gov
Jerry.Becker@SumnerCountyTN.gov
Chris.Taylor@SumnerCountyTN.gov
paul.goode@sumnercountytn.gov
caroline.krueger@sumnercountytn.gov
Scott.Langford@SumnercountyTN.gov
Jeremy.Mansfield@SumnerCountyTN.gov
Michael.Guthrie@SumnerCountyTN.gov
Justin.Nipper@SumnerCountyTN.gov
Additional Information
- State law provides two options to the County Commission to resolve the tie: 1) Decide amongst themselves who the winner should be; or 2) Decide to return the choice to the voters through a special election. Here is the full text of the current law.
- No current commissioner represents District 13 since it was formed during the 2020 redistricting. This means there is no one on the current commission who lives within this district and knows the will of the people in this district.
- A November runoff election will not be costly our county since we already have a November general election scheduled. The runoff election could take place on the same day which would save the county money and increase turnout for the special election.
- The non-partisan choice is to return this election to the registered voters in District 13. To choose either the Republican or Democratic candidate as the winner undermines the rights of citizens to elect their representation.