New Faces in the Tennessee State Legislature
by TNAMB lobbyists, Jay West and Hope Jackson
When the Tennessee General Assembly reconvenes on January 9, 2007, there will be many new faces in the halls of Legislative Plaza. In the Senate, there will be seven new state senators. The House will have seventeen new members.
Dewayne Bunch, a Republican from Cleveland, TN; Paul Stanley, a Republican from Germantown, TN; and Bo Watson, a Republican from Hixson, TN, all successfully moved from the House seats they had held to the Senate. Bunch, an attorney and educator, previously served four terms as the state representative for the 24th district in Bradley County. Stanley, a financial advisor, served three terms in the House representing the 96th district located in Shelby County. Watson, a physical therapist, served one term representing House district 31, covering Hamilton and Rhea counties.
The other four new members of the Senate are Ophelia Ford, a Democrat from Memphis; Lowe Finney, a Democrat from Jackson; Reginald Tate a Democrat from Memphis; and Jack Johnson, a Republican from Brentwood.
Ford, served briefly in the senate last year after winning the seat in a special election after her brother John resigned from the seat following his indictment in the Tennessee Waltz bribery sting. The Senate then voted to void Ophelia Ford’s election due to voting irregularities by poll workers. Ford, however, regained her seat in the Senate after defeating her opponent in the regular general election. She will represent the 29th Senate district in Shelby County.
Finney, an attorney and relative of Former Gov. Ned McWherter, defeated Don McLeary, who had held the seat. McLeary was originally elected as a Democrat but switched parties to become a Republican in the spring of this year. Finney’s victory may allow the Democrats to keep the Republican majority from gaining control of the speaker’s seat that Lt. Gov. John Wilder has held since 1971.
Reginald Tate, an architect from Memphis, will represent the 33rd senate district in Shelby County. Tate replaces Kathryn Bowers, who briefly held the seat after Roscoe Dixon resigned in January of 2006. Both Bowers and Dixon were indicted in the Tennessee Waltz sting. Bowers is awaiting trial. Dixon is currently serving a 5 year sentence for bribery. Jack Johnson, a financial advisor from Brentwood, will serve as state senator in the 23rd senate district, the seat formerly held by Jim Bryson. Bryson, gave up the seat to run for Governor. Finally, there will be a new senator from the 30th senate district in Shelby County. The seat was vacated by Steve Cohen, who resigned after being elected to Congress. Cohen will fill the U.S. House seat Harold Ford, Jr. gave up to run for the U.S. Senate. Shelby County will hold a special election to fill the seat. The election for his seat will be on the same date as another vacated Memphis seat in the Legislature that had been held by Rep. Henri Brooks. Brooks resigned to join the Shelby County Commission in August. The primary for the special election is scheduled for January 25th and the general election for March 13.
In the House, there will be seventeen new faces. Eleven Republicans and six Democrats. The overall make-up of the House will remain the same. Eddie Bass, a Democrat, from Prospect, will represent the 65th House district covering Giles and Marshall counties. He is also the Sheriff for Giles County. Mike Bell, a Republican, from Riceville, will represent the 23rd House district (McMinn and Monroe counties). Bell is a beef cattle farmer and small business owner. In the 66th House district, Robert Bibb, a Democrat, from Springfield, will represent Robertson County. Bibb is an economic development officer for the Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association. Kevin Brooks, a Republican from Cleveland, will be the state representative for the 24th District (Bradley County). Brooks works in public relations and conference management. In the 31st House district, composed of Hamilton and Rhea counties, Jim Cobb, a Republican from Spring City will be the new representative. Cobb is a retired TVA manager.
Jim Coley, a Republican from Shelby County, will represent the 97th House District. Coley is a civics teacher at Bolton High School. In the 42nd House District, representing Putnam County, Henry Fincher, a Democrat, from Cookeville will be the new representative. Fincher in an attorney. Richard Floyd, a Republican from Chattanooga, will represent the 27th House District (Hamilton County). Floyd was a top executive with the local Coca-Cola Bottling Company prior to his retirement. Dale Ford, a Republican from Jonesborough, will serve as the representative for the 6th House district (Hawkins and Washington counties). He is a retired Major League Baseball umpire. Brenda Gilmore, a Democrat from Nashville, will represent the 54th House district. Gilmore also serves on the Metro Council. She is the Director of University Mail Services for Vanderbilt. Ron Lollar, a Republican from Shelby County will represent the 99th House district. Lollar is a county employee and a member of the Shelby County School Board. Jon Lundberg, a Republican from Bristol will represent the 1st House District covering Sullivan County. Lundberg, a former news broadcaster, is the founder and president of a media relations firm. In the 21st House District covering Loudon and Monroe counties, Jimmy Matlock will serve as state representative. Matlock, a Republican from Lenoir City, owns a tire service company. Steve McManus, a Republican from Cordova, will represent the 96th House District (Shelby County). McManus is an investment advisor. Joe Pitts, a Democrat from Clarksville, will represent the 67th House District (Montgomery). Pitts is a Vice President at Planters Bank. Kent Williams, a Republican from Elizabethton, will represent the 4th House District (Carter County). Williams is a restaurant owner and former TDOT employee. The final new face in the House will fill the seat for the 92nd House District. Henri Brooks, a Democrat from Memphis, resigned from her position after winning a seat on the Shelby County Commission.
