Rutherford County, like many other areas of Tennessee, saw massive voter turnout in our midterm elections Nov. 7, with almost half of all registered voters coming out to the polls. So here’s a little breakdown of who won what, just in case you haven’t had the guts to turn on your television lately. (Don’t worry, the political ads are gone.)
Bob Corker kept it red in Tennessee and in Rutherford County. Here Corker garnered 33,775 votes to Harold Ford Jr.’s 26,808, although his win wasn’t enough to stem the Democratic tide in Washington.
Democrats took majority in the House and Congress. This breaking wave of blue includes Bart Gordon, who easily defeated David R. Davis nearly two to one in Rutherford County.
Incumbent governor Phil Bredesen beat out Jim Bryson in every single county in Tennessee.
Voters got all hot and bothered about Constitutional Amendment No. 1, which was pretty much a reaffirmation of a statute already on the books. In Rutherford County 48,325 said yes to changing the language of the rule, making it nearly impervious to challenge in court. Only 12,289 of us disagreed.
An overwhelming majority also voted in favor of an amendment fixing property tax rates for people over 65. Let’s just cross our fingers and hope the General Assembly will get on it and put a complimentary law in place defining income maximums for this tax cap.
In the Tennessee State Senate 13th District Bill Ketron came out on top. Donna Rowland, John Hood, Kent Coleman, and Curt Cobb will serve their respective districts in Tennessee’s House of Representatives.
Retail package stores in Smyrna are still not permitted to sell alcohol. It was a pretty close race though, with 4,215 voting to allow it, and 4,426 voting against it.
So there’s a little election relief for you fine folks. And, nationally, I for one welcome our new Democratic overlords.