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May 19, 2009
Brock: 2010 "most important election year for Tennessee Republicans ever"
In a letter to his fellow Executive Committee members on Saturday, Oscar Brock, now a candidate for Tennessee Republican Party chair, highlighted the prized redistricting pen as a key goal he seeks to help the party attain if elected.
If the GOP can hold on to its lead in the state Senate, and pick up "just a couple seats" in the House, the party will control the redrawing of district lines for all 132 General Assembly and nine U.S. Congressional districts following the 2010 census. This is a huge goal.
Obviously, the Democrats are going to do everything possible to prevent the above from happening. The margins in both houses of the Legislature are slim, and the right gubernatorial candidate on either side could, one would think, help a few down-ticket races in his or her party's favor.
I asked a couple of Democratic Party members for a reaction to the weekend's news, including how the change in GOP leadership could affect state elections in 2010.
Sean Braisted, a Young Democrats activist and blogger in Nashville, writes that it is "hard to gauge the level of impact the state party has on local elections. I think the respective caucuses have more impact on the state legislative elections. What will be interesting to see is whether [Robin Smith] takes Bill Hobbs with her. If so, that could have an impact on their web presence." (Hobbs, meanwhile, tells Post Politics that he plans to stay with the state party organization.)
Jeff Brown, who was recently elected Chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, says that he doesn't "think that Ms. Smith's stepping down will have much of an impact on the 2010 elections. From recent statements I've read by the potential candidates, it sounds like more of the same." Brown elaborated, "I only hope that the next chairman will seek a more congenial and civil level of debate than what we have seen in the past, rather than the petty rhetoric that all too often drives people away from politics, regardless of party."
In terms of the gubernatorial contest, Brown says that "[t]here is no doubt that the race for Governor will increase interest and turnout in general for the elections. While that may well influence House and Senate elections, it is really too early to tell whether that would favor one party or another."
Oscar Brock's letter to his fellow Republicans goes on to state that "[t]he destiny of the Tennessee Republican Party and the future for the people of Tennessee are in our hands. We cannot afford to let this opportunity slip through our fingers.... Together we must talk about personal values and job growth and health care and education. Together we can talk about fiscal responsibility, low taxes, and smaller government."
Back to Jeff Brown: "I believe that most Tenneseans are interested in hearing about detailed solutions to complex issues such as fixing the economy, overhauling healthcare, becoming energy independent, and having an honest day's work for an honest day's pay really mean something....We plan on taking our ideas to the people in all 95 counties in an unprecedented scale of grassroots organization, and let them tell us what's most important to them, what issues they want to see addressed."
Whatever your party, whichever your cause, 2010 will indeed be a landmark election year in Tennessee. We might as well start paying attention now.
Elections , Political News | By joe lance | 11:28 PM
