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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING “I’m voting for Tim because I know him from when I worked at Legal Aid. He’s so nice and an unlikely politician.” “He’s a very ethical and moral person. Above all else he’s honest. He is going to tell it like it is.” “He is the ideal candidate to bring back the thoughts of the People. Rosalind took them away from us. He hears us and will bring them back.” “I want people to be statesmen and do what’s right…His family came out of the cotton fields of (Crittenden County) Arkansas, and I came out of the cotton patch. Anybody that grew up on a farm knows that being involved in agriculture teaches you values….We need this gentleman up there, because we need the Senate to be the Senate….I think Tim Barnes is a statesman who will do what’s right and vote his convictions.” “I’m voting for Tim Barnes after listening to him because I know he cares about us. He gives us quality time, not just face time.” “I’m voting for Tim Barnes because we need a state Senator who supports his constituents and stands by the people who elected him.” “We’re voting for Tim Barnes because he’s an outstanding person. We know him through his kids and family and they are really good people. His family is a reflection of him.” “Honesty in government is the foundation upon which we all live and when a politician has been there too long they think it is ok to not be honest. When that happens, it’s time for Tim.” “I’m voting for Tim because he’s a worthy candidate. We need candidates who remember who got you there. I know he won’t forget. If you have passion for it [service] you’ll go far, and he does.”
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SUPPORT ARTICLES
APSU Dems Endorse Tim Barnes for Senate At the Montgomery County Democratic Party Meet and Greet APSU on May 15 at Union Hall, College Democrats President Adam Haynes announced the organization membership’s” overwhelming” support for Tim Barnes for State Senate. “There comes a time that when you have to choose who you want standing beside you and we stand beside Tim Barnes” said Haynes, “Tim, you have our full faith and support.” Haynes said this was “a difficult decision”; initially the APSU College Democrats said that they would not be making any endorsements in partisan primary races. However it became clear that the active membership of the organization supported Barnes because of his stances on the issues and his eagerness to do the work of and to be the representative of the citizens of the 22nd Senatorial district, Haynes stated. The actions of Sen. Rosalind Kurita also played a pivotal role in the decisions of the members, Haynes indicated. “Since her vote for Ron Ramsey that cost the Democratic Party the leadership, we feel that she no longer shares the values and philosophies of her constituency.” — Adam Haynes The decision of the APSU College Democrats was done without the knowledge of the faculty advisor, Dr. Linda Barnes. Cite: http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/05/17/apsu-dems-endorse-tim-barnes-for-senate/
Tim Barnes Steps Off with Enthusiasm at Campaign Kickoff! Campaign kick-off is high energy showcase! With former Lt. Governor as guest speaker, Tim Barnes launched his campaign for the Tennessee State Senate District 22 seat with enthusiasm and high energy. The Machinists Union Hall was filled with over 130 enthusiastic supporters. Wilder spoke the need for a person committed to being a statesman, being true to the interests of the people. He told the supporters that Tim Barnes is that person. He further stated that there is a strong need for Tim’s integrity and commitment in the Senate. He reminded the audience that there is a time for bi-partisanship and a time to stand with the party. Ending with his standard rally call, “Let the Senate Be the Senate!” he urged the crowd, “Put this young man in the Senate!” State Rep. Joe Pitts introduced former Lt. Governor Wilder. Following Wilder, Kim Smith, Barnes’ campaign manager, acknowledged the support of the Machinist Union to the campaign. Machinist Union representatives and AFL-CIO officials presented campaign donation checks. Barnes thanked the union officials for their support but told the gathering that he is in this fight for them. He told of several instances where people told him of incumbent Senator Kurita warning that she had accumulated a massive war chest and that should he challenge her, he would be in for a beating. Barnes characterizes this kind of talk as arrogance, an attempt at intimidation and responded, “Bring it on!” In response, the crowd erupted in cheers of “Time for Tim! Time for Tim!” Barnes told the group that people will be hearing similar claims from both candidates of concern for the people’s issues. He pointed that while Senator Kurita boasts about the passage of the HOPE Scholarship Retention Reform legislation, she voted against its passage in the Senate. She boasts about passage of Home Health Care Reform, but she failed to vote for it in the Senate. Barnes pledged to remain true to his commitment to pursue the electorate’s issues, not his own personal agenda. Refreshments included barbecue pulled pork, baked beans, sweet vinegar coleslaw and assorted soft drinks. Supporters found volunteer sign-up sheets, T-shirts, lawn signs on hand, and cash donations were briskly exchanged.
Barnes Gaining Support John Rodgers with the City Paper details the race between Speaker Pro Tem Rosalind Kurita and her Democratic challenger Tim Barnes. Rodgers notes the support of many of Kurita's Senate colleagues for her challenger: Wilder flew to Clarksville for an event for Barnes and contributed $250 to his campaign. In addition, Barnes’ campaign has received the financial support of former Gov. McWherter ($300 donation), his son Mike ($1,000), House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh ($200), Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle ($250), Nashville Sen. Harper ($125) and Memphis Sen. Beverly Marrero ($100). Perhaps even more important than the support of the Senate Democratic caucus members, is the support of the Tennessee AFL-CIO. In a low turnout election (which this is likely to be) having the backing of the most prominent labor union in the state of Tennessee could definitely push Barnes over the edge; not simply because they've maxed out to his campaign with $7,500 in contributions, but because of their ability to mobilize voters in favor of their candidate. Chances are, if this race comes down to Democratic primary voters, there is a very good chance Kurita will lose. Her only hope may be Republican crossover voters, but I haven't heard of any concerted effort on the part of Republicans to help Kurita keep that seat. No Republican has filed to run in that seat, so the winner of the primary will be the one to take the oath of office. Cite: http://seanbraisted.blogspot.com/2008/07/barnes-gaining-support.html
Sean Braisted wonders if Rosalind Kurita’s opponent’s fundraising will cause her to engage: Her biggest expense was to Fletcher and Rowley, the notorious Nashville political firm which specializes in negative advertising. So it will be interesting to see if Kurita feels threatened enough by her Democratic challenger to get down and dirty. Cite: http://politics.nashvillepost.com/2008/07/08/in-case-of-emergency-release-fletch/
A Comparison Kurita Can’t Really Care For Exploratory Gubernatorial candidate Kim McMillan on Senator Rosalind Kurita’s primary race with Tim Barnes: Cite: http://politics.nashvillepost.com/2008/04/30/a-comparison-kurita-cant-really-care-for/
Reading the Signs On Saturday, July 5, I had the opportunity to breeze through a few parts of Tennessee not in my usual routine, and, as I always do during election season, I had an eye out for political signage. I was surprised at how little there was, actually. The August 7 state and federal primaries are only a month away; early voting, at least here in Hamilton County, begins July 18. Are people going to know what's on the ballot? Of course, districts with contested primaries are the only ones likely to garner any attention at this time, but I did drive through a couple of those. I saw one sign near an entrance ramp to I-24 in Rutherford County. It was for Jim Woodard, a Democrat running in the state Senate District 14 race. But where were the others? There are quite a few contenders in this one. (District 14 was formerly represented by Jerry Cooper. His interim replacement, Steve Roller, arguably hasn't been in office long enough to gain the incumbent advantage, so it's almost like an open seat). Out in Cheatham County, only one small sign appeared along Tennessee Highway 12 on the way to Ashland City. Tim Barnes, who is challenging Senator Rosalind Kurita in District 22, was featured on that one. And that, my friends, is all I saw. Now, I'm all for taking the clutter down a notch or two, and having less printed material lining the roadways. But I hope that the lack of signs doesn't foreshadow a low turnout in August. Let's all go vote. By the way, tomorrow is the registration deadline. Do your duty! Cite: http://civicforum.chattablogs.com/archives/2008/07/reading-the-sig.html
Girls Gone Wilder: Kurita Impedes The Senate From Being The Senate In what has to be a relatively unprecedented move, former Lt. Governor John Wilder travels all the way from Fayette County to Clarkville to campaign for Democratic state Senate candidate Tim Barnes and holler at his opponent, Democrat incumbent State Senator Rosalind Kurita: It was Kurita who cast the deciding vote to end Wilder’s run as Senate speaker in January 2007, enabling Republican Ron Ramsey to claim a key post that had been controlled by Democrats for 140 years. At the time, Kurita said the change would end the “stagnant environment” that had blocked progress in the Senate and the state. Kurita also stepped up to the role of Senate Speaker Pro Tempore after casting the vote against Wilder. Both Wilder and Barnes stopped short Thursday of pointing to that pivotal vote as the single reason why they’re working together to replace her in the Senate’s 22nd district. “I’m not going to criticize Senator Kurita for voting for a Republican,” Wilder told an audience of about 100 people at the Barnes barbecue event. Instead, he said the Tennessee Senate needs “statesmen,” implying that Barnes brings more integrity to the job, and is more in touch with the voting public’s wishes, than Kurita. “His (Barnes’) family came out of the cotton fields of (Crittenden County) Arkansas, and I came out of the cotton patch. Anybody that grew up on a farm knows that being involved in agriculture teaches you values,” Wilder said. “We need this gentleman up there, because we need the Senate to be the Senate.
And here's why, from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville: “There comes a time that when you have to choose who you want standing beside you and we stand beside Tim Barnes” said Haynes, “Tim, you have our full faith and support.” Haynes said this was “a difficult decision”; initially the APSU College Democrats said that they would not be making any endorsements in partisan primary races. However it became clear that the active membership of the organization supported Barnes because of his stances on the issues and his eagerness to do the work of and to be the representative of the citizens of the 22nd Senatorial district, Haynes stated. The actions of Sen.Rosalind Kurita also played a pivotal role in the decisions of the members, Haynes indicated. “Since her vote for Ron Ramsey that cost the Democratic Party the leadership, we feel that she no longer shares the values and philosophies of her constituency.” — Adam Haynes Cite: http://dailydocket.blogspot.com/2008/05/kurita-can-be-beat-in-primary.html
Nathan Moore's Thoughts The bill in question has a provision sponsored by Sen. Rosalind Kurita (D-Clarksville) that explicitly prohibits attorneys from advertising that they specialized in DUI cases, from advertising a discounted rate for DUI defense, guaranteeing a certain judgment in the case or claiming that the attorney had more expertise than another on drunken driving defense. Well, guaranteeing an outcome is already prohibited by the rules of ethics. The rest of it simply reeks from a variety of directions. But why did Senator Kurita introduce this obviously unconstitutional bill? In response to the [Attorney General's] opinion, Kurita said she’ll “have to find another way” to curtail drunk driving. Kurita sponsored the amendment because she said she was tired of seeing suspected drunk drivers not be convicted. Her response to increasing DUI convictions is to curtail the accused’s right to counsel, which is dubious on a variety of fronts, including the commercial speech aspect that Attorney General Bob Cooper noted in his opinion. Anyhow, what’s the real reason for Kurita’s amendment? Her opponent in August’s Democratic primary, Tim Barnes, is an attorney whose practice area includes DUI defense. I hope he kicks her derriere. Cite: http://moorethoughts.com/2008/05/02/rosalind-oh-rosalind/
Kurita’s DUI Lawyer Advertising Ban Comes Less Than Constitutionally Correct An Attorney General’s opinion, sought after Senator Rosalind Kurita amended a bill creating an online registry of repeat DUI offenders to also ban advertising by lawyers purporting to specialize in DUI law, suggests that the constitutional concerns raised immediately after the amendment was attached were well founded: In addition, Cooper opined that Kurita’s amendment “raises significant First Amendment concerns.” “DUI defendants have a substantial interest in learning as much as possible about the attorneys who will represent them,” the opinion states. Kurita sponsored the amendment because she said she was tired of seeing suspected drunk drivers not be convicted. Kurita’s opponent in August’s Democratic primary, Tim Barnes, is an attorney whose practice area includes DUI defense.
Kurita’s Primary Opponent’s Legal Practice Includes DUI Defense John Rodgers points out that it just so happens that Senator Rosalind Kurita’s Democratic primary opponent is a lawyer who somes [sic] takes DUI cases. Kurita, yesterday, attached an amendment to a bill which hampers the ways in which such lawyers can advertise: Part of Barnes’ area of legal practice includes DUI defense, although he is not a certified specialist. Barnes advertises that he does DUI defense work, as well as several other areas, in the Yellow Pages, in a local newspaper and on radio stations. While Barnes says his ads don’t promote what Kurita’s amendment bans — and therefore may not be affected — Barnes said Kurita’s move had “three or four constitutional problems.” “Even a fundamental understanding of the Constitution would inform somebody that that’s an amendment that you can’t have — that’s a First Amendment right,” Barnes said. Barnes said the only DUI attorney he could recall who noted a DUI specialty was the late “DUI Mike” Fox. Kurita said Barnes’ advertising activities didn’t have “any bearing” on her amendment. “I certainly would not want that to color my intensity on this issue,” Kurita said of cracking down on drunken drivers. “I can’t help extraneous activities.”
Wilder helps Barnes kick off Senate bid Wilder — who for 36 years sat as Tennessee's lieutenant governor and Senate speaker — flew into Clarksville from his Fayette County home to throw his support behind Barnes during a kick-off event for the local candidate at the International Association of Machinists Union Local 1296 Lodge in St. Bethlehem. It was Kurita who cast the deciding vote to end Wilder's run as Senate speaker in January 2007, enabling Republican Ron Ramsey to claim a key post that had been controlled by Democrats for 140 years. At the time, Kurita said the change would end the "stagnant environment" that had blocked progress in the Senate and the state. Kurita also stepped up to the role of Senate Speaker Pro Tempore after casting the vote against Wilder. Both Wilder and Barnes stopped short Thursday of pointing to that pivotal vote as the single reason why they're working together to replace her in the Senate's 22nd district. "I'm not going to criticize Senator Kurita for voting for a Republican," Wilder told an audience of about 100 people at the Barnes barbecue event. Instead, he said the Tennessee Senate needs "statesmen," implying that Barnes brings more integrity to the job, and is more in touch with the voting public's wishes, than Kurita. "His (Barnes') family came out of the cotton fields of (Crittenden County) Arkansas, and I came out of the cotton patch. Anybody that grew up on a farm knows that being involved in agriculture teaches you values," Wilder said. "We need this gentleman up there, because we need the Senate to be the Senate. Barnes also got backing Thursday from 67th District state Rep. Joe Pitts, D-Clarksville, who introduced Wilder to the crowd. Barnes said he invited Wilder to his campaign kick-off to show appreciation for his long tenure of service in state politics. "I think so much of him, and a lot of my supporters want to show their appreciation to him as well," Barnes said. "Lieutenant Governor Wilder has always tried to do the right thing, irrespective of parties, and he's set the right example that I intend to follow," he said. Leading Barnes' summer campaign is Kim Smith, former chairwoman of the Montgomery County Democratic Party. She said Barnes' "loyal, caring leadership" is what will set him apart from Kurita in the eyes of local voters. "We need someone in the Senate who will take heed to what we, the people, say, especially when it comes to issues of labor and public education," said Smith, a teacher. "Senator Wilder knows there is a time to compromise, and a time to stand your ground. It's not just time for change, it's time for Tim Barnes," Smith said. Barnes, who gained financial and verbal endorsements Thursday from the Machinists union and AFL-CIO, accused Kurita of trying to use intimidating tactics to discourage him from entering the race. He said he'd been hearing rumors that Kurita has been commenting to various insiders that she was going to use her "$300,000 (campaign war chest) to give it to me with both barrels. "I say to her, 'Bring it on,'" Barnes said. He urged voters Thursday to look less at the issues "because we're both going to be saying basically the same things." "Instead, ask yourselves, which of us cares more about people? I do care about people. No one has an entitlement to the Senate seat in District 22. It belongs to you, the people," he said to an audience that chanted, "Time for Tim." Cite: http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080627/NEWS03/806270345/1002/NEWS01
Opponent Barnes May Benefit from Kurita Showdown with Senate Dems A confrontational meeting last week between state Senator Rosalind Kurita (D-Clarksville) and other members of the Democratic caucus in the Senate ended with old wounds exacerbated and with the probability that Kurita's primary opponent this year, Tim Barnes, will be the recipient of some concerted party support, sources tell the Flyer. The meeting - of the admonitory sort that politicians refer to irreverently as a "come-to-Jesus" affair -- took place at the request of Democratic caucus chairman Joe Haynes of Goodlettsville during the last week of the 2008 legislative session. It was a day after Kurita had voted with Senate Republicans to defeat a key Democratic-backed bill to amend eligibility requirements for lottery-funded Hope scholarships. She was taken to task by several caucus members for that vote and for other breaks with the party majority but vigorously defended her right to cast her votes as she saw fit. She was then asked if she would at least pledge to support the caucus' candidate for Senate Speaker at the beginning of the next legislative session, in January 2009. She declined to make such a commitment. The backdrop for the meeting and for the raising of the Speakership issue, in particular, was the bad blood that has existed between Kurita and key Senate Democrats since her fateful decision in January 2007 to break ranks and vote for Republican Ron Ramsey as Speaker and Lieutenant Governor. As a result of Kurita's action, the 36-year hold on the position by octogenarian John Wilder (D-Somerville) was ended, while she herself was rewarded by Ramsey with the position of Senate Speaker Pro Tem. Wilder subsequently announced his retirement after the session which has just ended. But other Democrats - notably Jim Kyle (D-Memphis), the party's leader in the Senate - hope to regain the Speakership for the party if this year's elections result in a Democratic majority in the 33-member body. Relations between Kyle and Kurita have ranged from merely tense to overtly hostile ever since her vote for Ramsey. Last week's meeting increases the likelihood that Barnes, a Clarksville attorney who was the Democratic standard-bearer in a 2006 race for the state House of Representatives , would have stepped-up organizational and financial support from party members. Barnes made a point, during the session, of visiting Democratic legislators' offices to introduce himself. Asked about relations between Kurita and other Democrats, Lowe Finney, a first-term Democratic senator from Jackson, cited a phrase once used by former Governor Ned McWherter in another context: “He said, ‘Nothing more embarrassing than being bitten by your own dog,’ Well, I worked hard to get to the Senate to work for Democratic causes, and I feel , like a lot of others, that I’ve been bitten.” Finney said Kurita had deserted the party on several key votes during the last two years and predicted that, if state Democrats saw Barnes to be making serious headway, he could well end up with significant support within the party – “especially from labor and lawyers’ groups, who've taken it on the chin.” Kyle pointed out that Barnes had already been endorsed by the state Labor Council and by the College Democrats of Austin Peay University, located in Clarksville. Another influential Clarksvillie Democrat , former House majority leader and current gubernatorial hopeful Kim McMillan, told the Flyer last month that either Kurita or Barnes would be an acceptable Senate nominee in District 22. McMillan, never considered close to Kurita, may now come under pressure to tilt toward Barnes, whom she actively supported in his unsuccessful House race against a Republican incumbent. The Democratic primary will decide the outcome in District 22, since no Republican had filed for the seat. Cite: http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A43856
Daily Dose for July 14, 2008 "Support" For Tim Barnes -- The Nashville City Paper reports that State Sen. Rosalind Kurita is facing some-kind of challenge from Clarksville attorney Tim Barnes after Kurita cast a controversal vote that landed the Republican Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey with his seat and later backed Republican plans on changes to the Tennessee Plan for electing judges and a GOP-backed lottery plan. Still, the fundraising numbers show Democrats aren't willing to get too far out for Barnes. Among the high-profile donors, Mike McWherter is the only $1,000 contributor. Still, there are impressive names on the list: Former Gov. McWherter ($300 donation), House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh ($200), Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle ($250), Nashville Sen. Harper ($125) and Memphis Sen. Beverly Marrero ($100). Cite: http://www.tnpoliticsblog.com/2008/07/support_for_tim_barnes.php
Dems vying for state Senate tally 2Q fundraising NASHVILLE - State Senate Democratic candidates say they have raised more than $735,000 in the second quarter in their effort to tip the balance back in their favor in the General Assembly's upper chamber. Democrats and Republicans each hold 16 seats in the Senate, and there is one Independent. Half the Senate's seats are up for election this fall. "I think a lot of people were waiting to see what might happen, and this tells them that we're viable and that we've got candidates that are credible," Sen. Joe Haynes, D-Goodlettsville and chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, said Tuesday. "I'm excited." According to caucus figures, Senate Democrats' top fundraiser in the quarter was Randy Camp with $200,000. The former state personnel commissioner is running to fill the vacated seat of former Senate Speaker John Wilder, D-Mason. Haynes called Camp's haul "just remarkable," especially because he is unopposed in his party's primary. Three are vying for the Republican nomination in the West Tennessee Senate district that Wilder held for more than four decades. Murfreesboro optometrist Jean Anne Rogers, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, raised $95,000 - including $15,000 of her own money. Meanwhile, Gallatin attorney Jim Hawkins raised nearly $87,000 in the quarter in his effort to unseat Republican Sen. Diane Black, also of Gallatin. Black and Tracy are finishing their first four-year terms in the Senate after ousting Democratic incumbents in 2004. Black, who is also the chairwoman of the Senate Republican Caucus, said she didn't yet have fundraising totals for all GOP Senate candidates. The reporting deadline for the quarter ending June 30 is Thursday. But she said challengers have an advantage during the first half of election years because sitting lawmakers are banned from fundraising during the legislative session. This year's session ran from January through most of May. "The incumbents now will have a lot more time to raise some money," she said. "That's the game." Black said she expects to report a total of about $195,000 on hand by the end of the second quarter, while Tracy is expected to have more than $200,000. The Democrats' totals include almost $63,000 raised in the quarter by attorney Tim Barnes in his effort to unseat Sen. Rosalind Kurita of Clarksville. No Republican is running for the seat. Kurita drew the ire of fellow Democrats last year when she broke ranks to vote for Republican Sen. Ron Ramsey's successful bid for Senate speaker. Ramsey's win ended Wilder's 36-year run in charge of the upper chamber. Kurita reported about $23,000 raised in the quarter, but her efforts were also hampered by the fundraising ban for incumbents during the session. She also still had more than $205,000 on hand at the end of the quarter, according to her report. Cite: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/09/dems-vying-for-state-senate-tally-2q-fundraising/
Prominent Democrats go after one of their own — Kurita Prominent Tennessee Democrats from former Gov. Ned McWherter to Sen. Thelma Harper are trying to throw out of office the Democratic state senator who helped Republicans win control of the body. In one of the most intriguing primary election battles in the state, Sen. Rosalind Kurita (D-Clarksville) is trying to fend off an intra-party challenge from Tim Barnes, a Clarksville attorney. Whoever wins captures the Senate seat as there’s no Republican opposition. Many well-known members of the Democratic establishment in Tennessee want to help Barnes’ cause. That’s because Kurita enraged Tennessee Democrats in 2007 when she unexpectedly crossed party lines and cast a key vote to help elect Republican Ron Ramsey Senate speaker and lieutenant governor, pulling the speaker’s chair out from underneath 36-year veteran John Wilder. After her vote, Ramsey appointed Kurita to the Speaker Pro Tem position, the Senate’s No. 2 leadership spot. As a result, Democrats want revenge. Wilder flew to Clarksville for an event for Barnes and contributed $250 to his campaign. In addition, Barnes’ campaign has received the financial support of former Gov. McWherter ($300 donation), his son Mike ($1,000), House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh ($200), Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle ($250), Nashville Sen. Harper ($125) and Memphis Sen. Beverly Marrero ($100). Barnes said the support from prominent Democrats is not surprising given Kurita’s vote for Ramsey, which he described as being part of a “pattern” of Kurita’s pursuit of “hidden” and “selfish” agendas. “The Ramsey vote was merely a part of that,” Barnes said. “To some people, it’s a big part and to other people, it’s just a small part. “But I think that really this race has shaped up to be more of the comparison of the values between Rosalind Kurita and myself and who can be trusted and who is out for the constituents and who is out to pursue a self-serving agenda.” In response, Kurita maintained that she is “trying to help people” and that she has strong support in her district from people who appreciate her work. Sen. Joe Haynes, the chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus who is not campaigning against Kurita, said the prominent Democrats campaigning for Barnes are trying to remind Kurita of their disappointment in her vote. “I understand their concerns about Sen. Kurita and why they’re doing it,” Haynes said. “I think they’re trying to send a message.” Added Haynes: “I have tried to be conciliatory towards her. I would like to see her — if she is successful in being re-elected — to once again be a strong part of the caucus and rededicate herself to help us.” Kurita wasn’t known as a shaky Democratic vote until she voted for Ramsey in January 2007. That vote came after she failed to gain traction against Harold Ford Jr. in the 2006 U.S. Senate campaign for the Democratic Party’s nomination and got little support from fellow Democrats in her annual quest to have more popularly elected positions in Tennessee. Asked about the prominent Democrats campaigning against her, Kurita took the high road. “I have no idea if that’s true or accurate,” Kurita said. “I certainly haven’t seen them. But I have seen lots and lots of my friends and my folks and I’m going to continue to work hard doing what I do.” For Barnes to defeat Kurita, he’ll have to overcome a big monetary disadvantage. For the quarter that ended June 30, Kurita had about $205,000 in cash on hand after raising nearly $23,000 from one fund-raiser. Barnes raised almost three times that amount — about $63,000, he said — but had about $40,000 on hand at the end of the second quarter. Lotto Love? During the waning days of the legislative session, Democrats received added motivation to go after Kurita when she sided with Republicans on reforming the state’s lottery scholarship program, casting key vote after key vote that propelled the GOP-backed plan. That Senate Republican-backed lottery scholarship plan included allocating about $90 million for a program to develop more energy-efficient schools. Kurita is a longtime supporter of alternative fuels and energy efficiency. “In my district, what’s important is helping build schools in a way that can be energy-efficient, and of course I would support that,” Kurita said, noting she represented one of the highest-growth areas of the state where school construction and funding is a priority. Barnes said he’s in favor of energy-efficient schools as well, but says he would have sided with a separate, Democratic-backed lottery scholarship proposal. That Senate Democratic proposal wouldn’t have funded the energy program but would have had more lottery dollars for HOPE scholarships. “I am opposed to taking money that I feel like is earmarked for families trying to send their children to college,” Barnes said. Judicial jousting In addition to the lottery, Kurita also riled fellow Democrats when she voted with the Republicans to deny Wilder’s attempt to save a key cog of the Tennessee Plan, which is the state’s method for selecting Supreme Court and appellate court judges. Wilder considered the Tennessee Plan the signature piece of his 44-year legacy. But Senate Republicans, trying to force changes to the plan’s parts, held up the renewal of a necessary piece — a nominating panel that submits potential judges and justices to the governor to choose among. After the nominating panel’s renewal stalled, Wilder tried to call the renewal legislation straight to the floor of the Senate, bypassing the committee system. Kurita voted with all of the Republicans to deny Wilder’s move. Kurita said she considered the vote a “procedural” one and it shouldn’t indicate how she stands on the Tennessee Plan. She wouldn’t say specifically what her stance is, saying she’s a nurse and not an attorney. Barnes, an attorney, said he considered the Tennessee Plan a “great plan” and said the state should keep it. Cite:
CWA Endorses Tim Barnes for State Senate CWA Area Rep Barry Stewart meets with Tim Barnes and pledges our support to his campaign. After careful consideration and screening by our Legislative Committee and the Middle Tennessee Central Labor Council, CWA Local 3808 endorses Tim Barnes District 22 in the State Senate. Election day is August 7.
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