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GoogleThe lone Democratic candidate, Ty Cobb II, has said he will be unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.
The house seat, representing all of Bedford, part of Lincoln and a small part of Rutherford counties, is currently vacant due to the resignation of Curt Cobb, who was named Bedford County Clerk and Master. Early voting is now under way for the Democratic and Republican primaries, which will be held Aug. 27. Brown, presumptive Democratic nominee Cobb and the Republican nominee will face each other in the Oct. 13 general election.
The debate will be carried by radio stations and cable television systems in Shelbyville and Fayetteville. Dr. Carl Bailey will be the moderator and will ask questions provided by residents of the district. Each candidate will be given two minutes to respond and a 30-second rebuttal. The debate is expected to last about an hour and will be followed by a "meet and greet" session.
Transportation to SCHS will be available from the First Baptist Church parking lot on Depot Street at 5:30 p.m. Passengers will be brought back to the church following the event.
Bedford County administrator of elections Summer Leverette told Bedford County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night that early voting for the primaries has been "extremely slow," with only 230 votes cast between Aug. 7 and 11.
Leverette said the state is reimbursing Bedford County for the cost of the unplanned, and therefore unbudgeted, special election.
Walters, a car dealer from Fayetteville, has criticized Marsh for repeatedly voting in the Democratic primary. He made the accusation at a meeting of Lincoln County Republican Party.
"Mr. Walters' challenge raised the question of how effective Mr. Marsh could be in representing the Republican Party in the Tennessee House of Representatives," said a report of the meeting which was faxed by the Walters campaign to local media.
Marsh, a trucking company owner, told the Times-Gazette that since the Bedford County Democratic primary is often the only competitive election for county-wide offices, it's the only way a concerned citizen can have any say on which candidate is elected to local office. "It's the only way you vote," he said, "because that's what they all are."
In many years, the local Republican party has not even requested that a party primary be held for local offices.
Marsh said he stands by his decision to participate in the local party primaries.
"I'm not ashamed of it one little bit," he said. "I'm an American -- I want to vote."
He said that jobs, industry and roads should be the key issues in the election.
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Pat Marsh said "It's the only way you vote," and "because that's what they all are." referring to democrats on the ticket. There is nothing wrong with voting for democrats 10 out of 12 times if your a democrat. I have seen the voting record of Pat Marsh and it's not an "accusation" it is a fact. There were conservative republicans available on the ballots and when Marsh said that he had to make choices between local democrats on the ballot, that is not the truth. The February 2008 election only had two local elections and they were running unopposed. Marsh voted for a democratic presidential candidate in the primary, those were the only choices in the election.
I agree with Mr. Marsh's statement. Most of the time all of our local candidates in Bedford Co. run under the democratic ticket and have done so for years and if you don't vote under the democratic ticket then you have no say so in your local government. I have an issue with Mr. Walters, why is he so concerned about about Mr. Marsh's voting record. I believe he should be more concerned with the issues such as education, roads, healthcare, etc... Tuesday night should grant us this opportunity. Stop playing dirty politics and stick to the issues Mr. Walters.
True, Pat Marsh voted in some Democratic primaries. Having found myself in the same position as him (regarding voting in the Democratic primaries), I can sympathize with his desire to make his voice heard. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Mr. Walters, who has failed to vote in any primaries- Democrat or Republican.
Disclaimer before I make my comments, I am not affiliated with or associated with Casey Walters campaign for office. I am a local Shelbyville resident with an opinion.
Casey Walters has my vote for this office for many reasons that I will explain below.
I feel his viewpoints and opinions are a breath of fresh air when we have so many career politicians belittling the American citizens and their opinion at this time. The mindset of the politicians that we currently have in office on the state and federal level, for the most part, is that we the citizens are too stupid to understand what is best for us. Case in point, the current arrogance of those politicians attempting to push this government run health care plan down our throats.
I believe that Casey is for the people. I have personally talked with him when he came into my office at work about a month ago. I asked him all of the hard questions, and he was not aloof and responded to each question I asked. There was no bone of presumptuous nature to me in his responses to my questions.
I liked his answers to my questions.
So then I did a little research on him and went to his web site. The first thing that struck me about his comments about himself and what he stands for was that it was honest and POLITICALLY INCORRECT!!!
What a lovely thought; a politician that has an opinion and is not afraid to piss off the special interest groups and the lobbyists.
By golly, I kinda get the impression that Casey thinks that his constituents are his lobbyists. What a novel idea!!! (Insert sarcasm here).
Go to his website and check out, maybe you will feel the same as me or maybe not.
http://www.caseywaltersrep.com/
Ok, in fairness lets take a look at Pat Marsh's website.
http://marshfortennessee.com/
I don't see the same honesty and openness there on Pats website. I really don't see any personality there at all. I do get from Pats website that he is a good man and has worked hard to become successful within our community. However, I don't get any sense of him, the person, what he stands for other than we should be good republicans.
Personally, I don't freaking care what party a person represents anymore; I want a person to represent the community, the people. I want a politician to be able to say what is on their mind, and not beholden to the old political parties that have forgotten to represent the people.
Brett the Retired One.
For now!!!! lol
Alleycat and truthier, I made it public that I haven't voted in any primaries in my press release to the Times-Gazette, I have nothing to hide. My phone number is on the website for anyone to call and ask me where I stand on any issue not listed on the website. I wouldn't consider "some" truthier 10 out of 12, that is deception. The democrats that he is referring to in the local elections were road superintendent and assessor of property which were running unopposed. The only choices in the democratic primary for Feb 2008 were; BARACK OBAMA, HILLARY CLINTON, JOE BIDEN, CHRIS DODD, JOHN EDWARDS, MIKE GRAVEL, DENNIS KUCINICH and BILL RICHARDSON. I'm curious allycat how this is dirty politics to show public information to voters who want to know the truth, especially about a republican candidate who votes for people like this that have so much to do with our economy being in the shape it is now. I'm assuming you want to know the truth about your district which is why I'm guessing your reading the news section in the Times Gazette online. I have stuck to the issues with everyone I have spoken with and am very clear where I stand on all the issues unlike other politicians. I'm not going to tell voters what they want to hear for their votes, I'm going to tell the truth which is what all politicians and aspiring politicians should do. If you want someone elected who is going to fight for you and listen to you and your concerns, I'm ready to work for you. Casey Walters
Who really cares if Pat Marsh votes for Democrats or Republicans . . . I tend to vote for a variety of candidates from different parties because I vote for the actual candidate and not along some silly party line. I respect individuals who think for them self and vote for the best candidate no matter what party they might be from.
Sounds like Casey Walters is doing a bit of political pandering (negative campaigning) and will more and likely not get my vote but I really wasn't going to vote for Pat Marsh either.
***I am NOT affiliated with Casey Walters. I am merely a Bedford County resident who cares about my community***
I too have visited the websites of Casey Walters and Pat Marsh. I have to agree with Brett Favre....I really get a sense that Casey is NOT a regular politician. He seems like a regular person who is just as sick and tired of the Status Quo as I am. Mr. Marsh is definitely a great businessman and that is to be respected. I just don't feel that he really has our communities interest as number 1 on his list of priorities...I want a bulldog representing me in Nashville, someone who I feel will go to bat for our community. And that is who I think Casey Walters is.