News
Bob Clement Addresses Party Faithful at DeKalb Democratic Rally (VIEW VIDEO HERE)
July 14, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
Former Nashville Congressman Bob Clement was the keynote speaker at Saturday’s DeKalb County Democratic Party Get Out the Vote Rally and Pot Luck Lunch held at the county complex.
Prior to his speech, Clement spoke with WJLE and talked about the 2018 elections and the Democrats chances at the state level.
“I think we have a real good chance. Phil Bredesen, who is running for the U.S. Senate and Karl Dean, who is in the race for Governor, are exceptionally good candidates. They are very qualified and have a lot of experience,” he said.
Many Democratic candidates, Clement said have had a hard time getting their message across in previous campaigns and that needs to change this year.
“It’s not easy these days for a Democrat. A Democrat often starts out behind and you’re an underdog the first day. You really have to fight hard to overcome the deficit to get ahead. I don’t think the Democrats have done a very good job getting their message across. That needs to change. We do have a big umbrella with conservative, moderate, and liberal Democrats and we need to unite after the primary and make some good things happen. I really believe the candidates need to spend some time and attention on rural needs and rural concerns. If we do that I think we will have a winning year in 2018,” Clement continued.
The former Congressman said he enjoyed his years in public life and felt like he helped make a difference.
“I miss being in the political arena. I always felt like I had a special gift when it comes to working with people to solve problems and break through the bureaucracy to get things done. Even as a Congressman I always attacked the issue. I never attacked my fellow colleagues, Democrat or Republican. I always tried to build bridges,” he said.
Clement said while he has considered getting back into politics, he is currently involved with a group working toward campaign spending reform.
“I have been tempted several times to get back into politics but they have about priced me out of the market. It has gotten so expensive. A lot of these characters try to buy the election rather than earn it. I am part of a group in Washington D.C. called “Issue One” and what we are trying to do is place a limit on campaign spending. I consider it to be a threat to our democracy. A lot of good qualified people are not running for public office anymore because they don’t have the money and feel like they can’t compete. It used to be if you had a good message and could articulate that message, organize, shake enough hands, and make enough speeches, you won elections. Now it’s how big your check book is. We’ve got our priorities out of order,” he said.
Clement represented Cheatham, Dickson and Davidson Counties in Washington as Congressman from 1987 to 2002. He served in the National Guard from 1969 to 1971, and remained in the reserves until 2001. In 1978 he ran unsuccessfully for Governor in the Democratic Primary but later served on the TVA Board of Directors and was elected to the Tennessee Public Service Commission. He came on as President of Cumberland University in 1983. Clement lost his first bid for a Congressional seat in 1982 but was elected to the U.S House of Representatives in 1988. He ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in 2002 and ended his career in politics after a narrow loss to Karl Dean for the office Mayor of Nashville in 2007. He is now a business consultant. His father is the late Tennessee Governor Frank Clement.
Clement co-authored a book, “Presidents, Kings and Convicts: My Journey from the Tennessee Governor’s Residence to the Halls of Congress,” which was published in October 2016. The book chronicles Clement’s years of being in Congress, serving in the military, and being President of Cumberland University.
“The book is about my life and career and growing up in the Governor’s residence but then I get heavy into US policy, the US Congress, and politics. I wanted to tell a story about my life and career and what I accomplished and the challenges ahead for this country and world,” Clement concluded.
While Democrats were conducting their rally at the county complex Saturday, the DeKalb County Republican Party held their own Get-Out the Vote rally with a picnic at Greenbrook Park featuring remarks from local and state candidates.
Cookeville Woman Injured in Saturday Crash
July 14, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
A 47 year old Cookeville woman was injured in a pickup truck crash Saturday morning on Floating Mill Road near Center Hill Lake.
According to Trooper William Jackson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tammy Melton was driving a 2003 Chevy Silverado when she went off the left side of the road and over an embankment. The truck struck three small trees before coming to rest against a larger tree.
Melton was transported by DeKalb EMS to Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department were also on the scene.
Voters to Decide Three City Mayoral Races August 2
July 14, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
Mayoral races are contested in Smithville, Liberty, and Alexandria in the August 2 elections.
Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss is seeking his 3rd term but he faces a challenge from Josh Miller, who currently serves as alderman. Curtis Rust, a political newcomer is also in the race to unseat Mayor Poss. Poss was first elected to a two year term in 2012 and then to a four year term in 2014. Miller is in his second term as alderman having served in that role since 2013.
Incumbent alderman and local attorney Gayla Hendrix and Brandon Cox, another local attorney and political newcomer, are unopposed for the two alderman seats up for election.
The terms for mayor and aldermen are each for four years.
Meanwhile a mayor and five aldermen will be elected in Liberty on August 2.
Incumbent Liberty Mayor Dwight Mathis will be seeking re-election to a second term but Darrell W. Johnson will be trying to unseat him. Mathis has served as mayor since 2013.
The alderman candidates, Dwayne Blair, J.D. Bratten, Derek Johnson, Jason H. Ray, and William Howard Reynolds, Jr., are all running unopposed.
The terms for Liberty Mayor and Aldermen are for four years.
Three aldermen are to be elected in Dowelltown on August 2 but only one candidate qualified, Ronald L. Griffith. The terms are for four years.
The Alexandria Mayor’s race will be contested on Thursday, August 2 during the Municipal Election although voters will find no name on the ballot.
Incumbent Mayor Bennett Armstrong will be seeking re-election to a second term but this time he is running a write-in campaign. He will face a challenge from Donna Davis, who is also a write-in candidate for mayor.
The term of office is four years.
Meanwhile three aldermen are also to be elected in Alexandria but only one name for alderman appears on the ballot, Lloyd Dale Dyer. Two other persons will be mounting a write-in campaign for alderman including Shane Blair, an incumbent, for a full four-year term and Bridgette Rogers, for a two-year term that fills a vacancy.
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