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Daily Dose for March 14, 2006
Daily Dose
Senate Moves Next Steps in Voiding Ford Election -- A Senate panel formalized procedures on how to move forward with the invalidation of Ophelia Ford's special election. Ford won her Memphis seat in the State Senate by just 13-votes, 12 of which have already been found to have been cast invalidedly. 44 voters whose residences in Senate District 29 have been challenged, have been asked to confirm their address via a notarized affidavit to the state. The voters have until April 5 to respond and language of the bill indicates a failure to respond will be taken to indicate the respondent did not have residency in the District at the time of the election. After review of responses, the committee will vote to either void Ford's election or formally seat her. Ford has been provisionally seated since her special election in September.
Senate Passes Recount Legislation -- Earlier Monday, the Senate approved a bill triggering an automatic recount in any Tennessee election with a margin of victory within one-half of 1 percent of the total votes cast in that election. Under current law, recounts occur only if an election contest is filed and the judge or legislative body in charge of deciding the contest orders a recount. The House will take up review on the bill starting tomorrow.
State Staff Collecting Contributions to Lobbyist Dinner -- Several legislators have staff collecting cash donations for the Rural Middle Tennessee House Democratic Caucus' feature event this year featuring lobbyist John Lyell. Rep. Joe Fowlkes (D-Cornersville), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has a staff member collecting the money at his office, as do Rep. Stratton Bone (D-Lebanon) and Rep. Gene Davidson (D-Adams). Folkes says there is nothing illegal about asking for money during the legislative session or in the Capitol, because the money is not going to a political campaign. However, critics have questioned why staff are receiving cash for tickets for the event so soon after Tennessee Waltz showed lobbyists slipping legislators cash donations under the table. Some of Rep. Folkes colleagues have also questioned why the Representative used floor time to plug the event.
Commission to Fill Seat District 30 Seat -- The Hamilton County Commission will name a replacement for Rep. Jack Sharp at its meeting on March 30. The likely replacement is Republican East Ridge Mayor Vince Dean. Bob Johnson, former East Ridge mayor and current Erlanger hospital board chairman, has also suggested he is interested in the seat. Sharp also served as East Ridge Mayor before joining the Legislature. Rep. Sharp died on Sunday after a long fight with cancer.
