Posted on 07/26/2006 4:37:16 PM PDT by SmithL
NASHVILLE — Sen. Kathryn Bowers is facing bribery charges in one of the biggest corruption scandals in Tennessee history, but the Memphis Democrat doesn't expect that to keep her from winning her primary on Aug. 3.
"I'm very confident that I have the support of the people," Bowers said. "I have a very intelligent constituency that understands that a person is innocent until proven guilty."
Bowers, one of five current or former lawmakers indicted in the federal investigation called Tennessee Waltz, is the only one seeking re-election. Two of the former lawmakers have been convicted, and Bowers is awaiting trial.
Despite her situation, Senate Democrats are counting on Bowers, or at least some other Democrat, to hold onto her seat in the Nov. 7 general election to give them a shot at retaking control of the Senate.
Currently Senate Republicans have an 18-14 majority with one seat vacant. Democrats control the House 53-46.
Bowers said she's confident about winning her primary and the election because she has a proven track record.
"People know about the work I've done in the past," she said. "We're getting a lot of support ... some people are even volunteering to help campaign."
Ed Cromer, editor of the Tennessee Journal, a weekly newsletter on state politics, said the indictment will be on the minds of many voters when they go to the polls and that it won't be easy for Bowers.
"If you're under indictment for bribery, that can't be a positive development, so it's going to be tough," Cromer said.
Bowers has three Democratic opponents in the primary — John A. Brown, real estate agent Steve Webster, and a radio talk show host, Jennings Bernard, who oddly enough has a connection to another state Senate race.
Ophelia Ford was named winner over Republican Terry Roland by 13 votes in the special election in September for the District 29 Senate seat in Memphis. The seat was vacated by Ford's brother, John Ford, who resigned last year after he was indicted in Tennessee Waltz.
The Senate eventually overturned the special election results amid allegations of election wrongdoing that included voting by felons and nonresidents of the district as well as dead-voter ballots.
Bernard had said he voted in District 29, the district of his childhood home, even though he no longer lives there.
But he later told a television station in Memphis that he voted for neither Ford nor Roland — instead casting his ballot for the eccentric and perennial candidate Prince Mongo.
Despite the controversy, Cromer said Ophelia Ford has a good chance to retake her seat because it's a majority-black district and because she hasn't been accused of doing anything wrong.
"I think she's in a very strong position to win both in the primary and general election," he said. "It's a very Democratic district and she has not been accused of any wrongdoing."
Tennessee Democratic Party spokesman Mark Brown agreed.
"All the controversy was about how the election was handled by other people," he said. "I think she will pull through."
Party leaders are paying close attention to the primary because they believe it will set the stage for a number of contentious races on Nov. 7, and Republicans are hoping to take control of the House.
The closest House Republicans have gotten was a 49-49 split with Democrats in 1969-70, and they elected a Republican speaker when a Knoxville Democrat sided with them. The last GOP House speaker, Bill Jenkins, was later elected to Congress. Jenkins plans to retire after this term.
Some Republicans say it's been much longer since they fully controlled the House — 142 years.
"This party has never been in a position where they were just four seats short of controlling the state House," Republican Party Chairman Bob Davis said. "We've got an opportunity that doesn't come around very often, and we've got an opportunity to capitalize on it."
Senate Republicans may also be able to control who the next Senate speaker will be if they're able to maintain or gain seats.
Sen. John Wilder, D-Mason, has been speaker since 1971. He has survived both dissent within his own party as well as a brief 1996 GOP majority when two senators elected as Democrats switched parties.
In 2004, two Republicans defected to help re-elect him speaker. Senate Majority Leader Ron Ramsey is expected to challenge Wilder for the speaker seat when the General Assembly convenes in January.
But Sen. Jim Kyle of Memphis said he's confident the Democrats will win the two seats necessary to take over the Senate.
"I think we have an excellent chance," said Kyle, the only Democratic minority leader in Tennessee history. "I'm very optimistic."
Republican Sens. Curtis Person of Memphis, David Fowler of Signal Mountain, Jeff Miller of Cleveland and Jim Bryson of Franklin have declined to run for re-election. Bryson is the leading GOP candidate for governor.
Those in the House who have decided not to run again include Democratic House Majority Leader Kim McMillan of Clarksville and Tre Hargett of Bartlett, a former House Minority Leader.
Tim Storey, an election analyst at the National Conference of State Legislatures, said many of the races will probably be close if they reflect what's happening nationally.
"The bottom line is, it's extraordinarily competitive," Storey said. "It's ridiculous how close it is between the two parties nationally."
If she were to come to Illinois she would fit right in with all the other crooks. Illinois has a history of importing candidates from TN (and MD and parts unknown).
We currently have 3 adjacent suburban congressional districts (6, 8 and 10) where NONE of the Democrat candidates live in the district. They're all sent to run in the district by the likes of Rahm Emmanuel and the Chicago machine.
ping
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