Posted on 05/08/2002 5:19:09 AM PDT by GailA
Voters oust 2 GOP commissioners amid anti-establishment fever By Michael Erskine erskine@gomemphis.com May 8, 2002
Incumbent Republicans Clair Vander Schaaf and Morris Fair were unseated Tuesday in a precedent-breaking County Commission primary election that featured a race decided by one vote.
The sea change at the 13-member commission, which will feature at least five new faces, was of tidal wave proportion.
Until Tuesday, no incumbent commissioner had been unseated since Democrat Julian Bolton ousted Minerva Johnican in 1982.
The upsets came as several hot-button issues were pushed to the forefront by Republican challengers, including commission votes in favor of a downtown arena, two tax increases and a 50 percent pay raise.
"There was an anti-establishment mood in the Republican primary and I was associated with the establishment," said John Ryder, who lost a bid for the Republican nomination for the open seat in District 5.
The Democratic primary for District 5 was the closest race of the evening, decided by the narrowest margin possible - one vote.
"One vote is as good as a thousand," said winner Joe Cooper, who edged out attorney Guthrie Castle by a vote of 1,313 to 1,312.
"I'm glad I had just a little more gas in the engine in the end," Cooper said.
Incumbent Democrats Walter Bailey, Bolton and Cleo Kirk all easily won their primaries and effectively gained re-election. None faces opposition in the Aug. 1 general election.
In addition, commission appointee Joe Ford, a Democrat, effectively won election by defeating his sister, Ophelia Ford. The two were vying for the seat of their late brother, Dr. James Ford.
Those Democrats join Republican Commissioner Marilyn Loeffel, who drew no opposition in either the primary or general election.
Vander Schaaf, 59, the second-longest serving member on the commission, was crushed by Joyce Avery for the Republican nomination in District 4 Position 1.
Vander Schaaf, a home builder who has served since 1976, said the anti-arena, anti-tax sentiment of voters was too much to overcome, especially for him and his fellow Republicans.
"It's understandable. I feel some of the same frustrations," he said.
Vander Schaaf said he was surprised at Avery's margin of victory in collecting more than 70 percent of the vote, but added, "I actually didn't expect to win."
Avery, past president of the Shelby County Republican Women's Association, said voters were ready for a change in her district.
She said late Tuesday that she was ecstatic.
"Throughout the campaign I stayed on the issues and the people listened," said Avery, 63, who celebrated with family and friends at her home.
"I am humbled that so many people would put their trust in me."
Avery will face Democrat Robert Koenig and independent Henry Burchett in the August general election.
Fair, 72, the commission's current chairman, was upset by barbecue restaurateur John Willingham.
The two tangled in the primary four years ago when Fair was victorious. This time, Willingham, 69, received the concession phone call.
Willingham attributed his victory - on the eve of a crucial commission vote on the arena financing package today - to several things.
"The arrogance of going ahead and not doing the (arena) referendum was one. The second thing was to raise their taxes," Willingham said. "For a job well done, which was lousy . . . they give themselves a raise in pay."
The two primaries in District 5 were two of the most watched because the district could determine party control on the commission.
The single-member seat is considered somewhat of a tossup between the two political parties. Currently, the Republicans hold a 7-6 edge.
In the Republican primary, political strategist and attorney Ryder was upset by financial adviser Bruce Thompson.
"I'm obviously a better manager than a candidate," said Ryder, the choice of current District 5 Commissioner Buck Wellford and many high-ranking party members.
Thompson attributed his victory to his "outstanding team of volunteer workers."
"I don't think I could be any happier," he said.
David Lillard easily captured the Republican nomination for District 4 Position 3, the seat left open by fellow Republican Tommy Hart. Lillard will likely be the overwhelming favorite when he faces independent candidate Brian Yaworsky in August.
In the other open seat, vacated by appointee Bridget Chisholm, Deidre Malone was victorious in the Democratic primary for District 2 Position 3. She faces three independent opponents in August.
Malone, 39, is vice president of marketing for the fund-raising arm of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
In other races, Republican incumbents Linda Rendtorff and Tom Moss won their respective nominations and face opposition in August. Democrat Michael Hooks won his party's nomination and faces opposition as well.
- Michael Erskine: 529-5857
NO Mr. Ryder there is NOT an anti-establishment mood in party faithful. There is an ANTI-TAX mood. We are tired of being taxed into economic enslavement by the RINO arm of the GOP to fund more PORK projects and give themselves 50% pay raises!
It is too bad the folks in Rendtorff's district didn't BOUNCE her, she voted for the pay raise, the tax hikes and the arena just like Vander Schaff and Fair. Moss is an iffy appointed commissioner, now elected commissioner. I for one didn't vote for him as he is UNRESPONSIVE to the tax serfs in his district.
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