Dear Friend,
Today I am making an important announcement, one that I wanted to share with you - one of my friends and strongest supporters - before it’s out in the news media. After much prayer and thoughtful consideration, I have decided not to seek a third term to the state Senate.
I have had no higher honor than representing West Tennessee families in the state legislature. I am proud to have worked to improve health care for senior citizens, cut the sales tax on food and provide great opportunities for young students and veterans to attend college. I thank my wife, Tiffany, for her support all these years.
Although I am leaving the Senate at the end of next year, I will remain your Senator for Dyer, Crockett, Lake, Lauderdale and Madison counties until the November election. I will work even harder in my last session, and I will be available to serve you in any way I can. I remain,
Respectfully yours,
Paid for by Friends of Lowe Finney | Teresa Luna, Treasurer
PO Box 1432 | Jackson, TN 38302
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
The news gets worse: Lowe Finney is not running for re-election to the Senate
Senator Lowe Finney (D-Jackson, District 27) sent out an announcement that he is not seeking re-election to his seat, which used to represent Madison, Gibson and Carroll Counties, but now represents Madison, Crockett, Dyer, Lake and Lauderdale Counties. If this is for a run for higher office, then this may be a good thing. However, from the tone of this letter to his constituents, it appears as though he is leaving politics, and that is NOT of the good:
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
The sad times continue with news of the Ethics Complaint
As we are still mourning the passing of the legend that was Rep. Lois DeBerry, it was rather sad to see that the long-rumored House Ethics Committee complaint against Randy Wade had to be filed by our Congressman, Steve Cohen.
If you read the complaint at this link, you will see that what Randy did was in fact a violation of House Ethics rules, a violation that the Congressman himself warned Randy about. Randy, who retired in February as a staffer, can face no penalties, as he is no longer a staffer.
He used his title as a Congressional staffer to endorse a candidate (G A Hardaway in House District 93), which is against House rules. Period. If Randy had endorsed Mike Kernell, it would have been just as much of a violation of House rules. Period.
I like Randy and Steve is a friend of mine going back over 30 years, I am proud to say. They were a terrific team together, and I know Steve did all he could within the law to help Randy in his Sheriff's race in 2010, but it just was not to be. That's why this is a sad situation, reminiscent of a divorce more than anything else.
Supposedly Randy is going to work against Steve Cohen next year if someone is silly enough to try to do what no one since Harold Ford Jr. in 1996 has been able to do, which is to beat Steve in a primary. That, too, is sad, because it just looks petty, and Randy is a better person than that, or so I have always believed. Besides, if the 18-year Mayor of Memphis, Dr. W.W. Herenton, couldn't beat Steve, how will anyone else?
This has not been the best of years for Steve Cohen, and I know all of this has taken its toll on him. I would urge him to continue to fight for our city, as he has done since 1982 (24 years in Nashville, 6 in Washington. We will have your back, Congressman, as you have had ours.
If you read the complaint at this link, you will see that what Randy did was in fact a violation of House Ethics rules, a violation that the Congressman himself warned Randy about. Randy, who retired in February as a staffer, can face no penalties, as he is no longer a staffer.
He used his title as a Congressional staffer to endorse a candidate (G A Hardaway in House District 93), which is against House rules. Period. If Randy had endorsed Mike Kernell, it would have been just as much of a violation of House rules. Period.
I like Randy and Steve is a friend of mine going back over 30 years, I am proud to say. They were a terrific team together, and I know Steve did all he could within the law to help Randy in his Sheriff's race in 2010, but it just was not to be. That's why this is a sad situation, reminiscent of a divorce more than anything else.
Supposedly Randy is going to work against Steve Cohen next year if someone is silly enough to try to do what no one since Harold Ford Jr. in 1996 has been able to do, which is to beat Steve in a primary. That, too, is sad, because it just looks petty, and Randy is a better person than that, or so I have always believed. Besides, if the 18-year Mayor of Memphis, Dr. W.W. Herenton, couldn't beat Steve, how will anyone else?
This has not been the best of years for Steve Cohen, and I know all of this has taken its toll on him. I would urge him to continue to fight for our city, as he has done since 1982 (24 years in Nashville, 6 in Washington. We will have your back, Congressman, as you have had ours.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Rep. Lois DeBerry has died
From Deidre Malone comes the sad news:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Carter Malone Group,
The Passing of Tennessee State Representative Lois M. DeBerry
(MEMPHIS, TENN – July 28, 2013) For more than 40 years, Lois M. DeBerry served the citizens of the 91st District of Tennessee and the entire State. Today, she passed comfortably surrounded by family and friends. Representative DeBerry represented this community with passion and dedication across the nation and world. For her, there was no greater cause than serving. Children, her community, and most importantly her family, were her passions.
Her husband, Charles Traughber, son, Michael Boyer and other members of the Traughber/DeBerry family, have shared her for so many years with the world and ask for privacy at this time.
Arrangements are pending and will be announced when they are finalized.
About Rep. Lois M. DeBerry
Representative DeBerry grew up in Memphis and graduated from Hamilton High School and LeMoyne - Owen College. She was the first African-American female elected to the State Legislature from Memphis and Shelby County in 1972, and began her service in 1973. She was the longest serving member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Representative DeBerry was the first female Speaker Pro-Tempore and the only African-American to serve in that capacity to date.
In addition to her son, she was a surrogate mother and mentor to many.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Two things of note today!
One, if you are in the Memphis area, go to the Germantown Democratic Club meeting tonight at Coletta's Restaurant, 2850 Appling Road; Dinner will begin at 6 P.M. and the speaker starts at 6:45. Who's the speaker, you ask? None other than our own VIBINC, Steve Ross, who will discuss the new County Commission districts. Nobody is more prepared than he is, so it will be informative and fun.. I gotta work late tonight, so I can't be there, but you should go!
Next, stop what you are doing and go read NEWSCOMA right now. Go ahead, I'll wait.
Again, she asks the right questions, but will the TNDP have the right answers? I like this part right here:
Ok, that's all for the moment, I will try to get back here more often.
Next, stop what you are doing and go read NEWSCOMA right now. Go ahead, I'll wait.
Again, she asks the right questions, but will the TNDP have the right answers? I like this part right here:
A lot of folks I talk to discuss the wealth of Haslam and it is a fair discussion. He has a great deal of money and how much is something that no one truly knows. It’s hard to fathom what kind of money would be needed to set up a serious gubernatorial challenger. And it’s not just democrats raising eyebrows but moderate republicans as well.Bingo. It's time for the TNDP to wake up and realize that GOP-lite will not work any more. Until we find candidates that EXCITE and INSPIRE people, we are screwed.
And then I think about Wendy Davis from Texas. I think that what it really takes is someone opposing what is happening in this state right now just as she did. She stood up for something she believed in.
Ok, that's all for the moment, I will try to get back here more often.
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