The opportunity to run as a Republican in Tennessee got a little harder after rule changes for potential candidates.
Party bylaws changed in August require candidates to be “actively involved” in the state Republican party, county party or a recognized auxiliary organization and reside in his or her registered county. Candidates must also either have voted in three out of the last four statewide GOP primaries to be a bona fide Republican, which dates back to August 2012, or have any individual vouched for by the state GOP chairman as a bona fide Republican.
While in favor of the changes, claiming it holds the party “more responsible,” Lenoir City Councilwoman Jennifer Wampler said just how active a person needs to be in the party leaves room for speculation.
“I wish if they were going to include that that they had made it more clear,” Wampler said. “... I think in the last few elections you’ve had a lot of people that have not necessarily had the views of a conservative or even for that matter if you were a liberal. You’ve not had those views but suddenly because you feel like that’s a spot that you can be elected to you claim to have those, where your voting record will show that you have not.”
Wampler was appointed to Lenoir City Council after her husband, longtime Councilman Harry Wampler, passed away last year. She is a member of the Loudon County Republican Party.
State Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden in a recent statement claimed the party will welcome new supporters but hopes the changes will ensure primary voters have “strong Republicans” on the ballot.
Had the changes been in place when state Rep. Kent Calfee, R-Kingston, ran for office, he might not have been eligible.
“... Stupidity on my part when (Barack) Obama ran the first time and Hillary (Clinton) ran the first time, I voted in the Democrat primary, which I hadn’t done in many years, and I voted for one I thought the Republican nominee could have the easiest time beating,” Calfee said. “My son told me, ‘Dad, you’re wasting a vote. Tennessee’s so red it’s not going to matter.’
“Well, I never thought I’d ever run for office again and, of course, in the county government we all ran as independents,” he added. “If it hadn’t been for that, I would have been solid Republican.”
Calfee said the change could be a “two-edged sword” for the Republican Party.
“I think it was working pretty good before, and, of course, they mention exemptions, like if people had moved from another state and didn’t have a voting record here and what have you,” Calfee said. “Like I said, I could argue either side, which I think I just have, but I think it’s kind of a two-edged sword.”
The Loudon County Republican Party will hold an informational meeting on changes at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Loudon County Courthouse Annex.
“Time will tell. Of course, it’s one of those things that you can change back if it’s not working,” Calfee said. “We’ve changed some legislation since I’ve been in Nashville that we’ve come back and reversed it the next year or strengthened it or weakened it. It’s something that’s not set in stone. It can be changed at a later date.”
