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March 20, 2008
Our Wilder years will soon be behind us (for realz - see update 2)
Sean Braisted links to a subscription-protected article in the Nashville Post that indicates what we have all known was inevitable, but undoubtedly comes as a mild shock to many: longtime state Senator and former Lt. Governor, John Shelton Wilder of Mason, Tenn., will retire from the Senate.
Governor Wilder (we still call him that out of respect, not to mention habit) is listed among the longest-serving elected single-office holders in the world; some say he comes in at number one. He was our Lieutenant Governor from 1971-2007.
He is known for his quirky sayings, such as "the Senate is the Senate" -- and for a political agility that resulted in his holding onto the powerful spot for decades.
Will the Senate really be the Senate after he leaves? We'll have more retrospectives later in the week.
UPDATE: The Nashville City Paper casts doubt on yesterday's story. (HT: Braisted)
UPDATE 2: Sean Braisted gives us the official press release.
UPDATE 3: And here's the video.
State Senate Elections | By joe lance | 07:33 PM
Comments
It will be interesting to see how many credible dems step forward in this race. Theres three solid democrat counties in that district. Crockett,Haywood and Hardeman. If State Rep Gresham is the nominee she will carry her home county along with Hardin,Wayne and Chester. That leaves McNairy as the toss up but the problem there for the dems is its a very reliable county for the GOP when it comes to statewide elections and the prez race and they control the county mayors seat as well in that county. Bottom line is theres probably not enough votes in Crockett,Haywood and Hardeman to offset the edge that Gresham will build up in the five other counties. Its shaping up to be a good year for the GOP in the state senate.
Posted by: dan t at March 18, 2008 10:56 AM
This is One West Fayette County Republican that will not Vote for Ms. Gresham.
Posted by: mickey at March 20, 2008 01:19 PM
There are two other Republicans in the race: Tim Linder, a Selmer physician, and Bob Schutt, former mayor of Savannah. Schutt has run for this seat before. It's a stretch to declare Gresham the nominee at this point.
Posted by: Floyd at March 20, 2008 05:03 PM
I asked Ms. Gresham why she voted for the Smoking Ban in restaurants and she said that the lobby was just too much for her, they were too powerful. Doesn't sound like she will stand her ground. And previously when I went to her office to talk about Trade Policies (yes U.S.A. not state) and she stood by G.Bush, on trade, the war, so many things. Too much a GOP tool and afraid to stand against the big money lobby, for my taste.
Posted by: mickey at March 20, 2008 07:56 PM