Image Credit : Jefferson County Schools / YouTube & jeffersoncountytn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By David Seal] –
A video recording has surfaced that would be of great interest to state legislators that wish to promote enforcement of Tennessee election laws aimed at preventing party crossover voting in primary elections, for example democrats voting in republican primaries and vice versa.
The recording of a March 3, 2022, school board meeting was called to the attention of the Tennessee Conservative News in reference to a federal case that was recently adjudicated by the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division.
The federal court dismissed a challenge, by memorandum opinion, to Tennessee’s Election laws that prescribe criminal penalties for crossover voting. Laws prohibiting crossover voting are affirmed by the ruling.
Just two days prior to the March 5, 2022, primary election, Jefferson County Commissioner Edna Langley (D10-Jefferson City) made an impassioned speech in front of the Jefferson County School Board covering a variety of topics. Among those topics were many compliments about the school board and the excellent job performance of the director of schools Dr. Shane Johnston who had earlier announced his resignation. Comments were also made about Christianity as well as disparaging remarks about the republican party.
Of significance, Commissioner Langley also stated in her speech to the school board “I am a democrat, and I’m getting prouder to be one every day. But there have been elections when I thought the better candidates were republicans and I voted for those individuals. And in this upcoming election, I am going to do it again. I am going to ask for a republican ballot, not because I am a republican, but because I am a thinking, caring, compassionate American who chooses integrity always over party.” – said Langley.
Langley’s voting record confirms her admission of party crossover voting in multiple primary elections.
At the end of Langley’s speech, the school board gave a standing ovation, presumably celebrating Johnston’s service as director of schools and to affirm Langley’s remarks. Three of those republicans remain on the school board, Bill Jarnigan, Danny Martin, and Randal Bradley. Jarnigan can be heard requesting that Langley’s speech be published in the Standard-Banner newspaper.
A full video of the March 3, 2022, school board meeting is linked here. Commissioner Langley’s public input comments occur from timestamp 17:12 to 23:45.
The local Republican Party had called a primary election for school board seats that were up for reelection in 2022 after the legislature enacted a law authorizing partisan school board elections in 2021. The local democrat party was not pleased and reciprocated with their own primary call letter, which asserted disparaging remarks about the republican primary call.
Election cycles in 2022 and 2024 resulted in 4 conservative republicans being elected and seated on the Jefferson County School Board. Those members are Josh Cameron and Doug Ibbetson seated in 2022, and Paul Hardy and Dawn Mayer seated in 2024.
Commissioner Langley left office in September 2022.
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and current Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
5 Responses
Wait, soooo she was a democrat voting for republicans? Why not just register as an independent?
I’ll assume your question is honest. The Dems are clever, devious, and well-organized. The Dems and Libs vote in the Republican primaries for 2 reasons >
# 1 – In order to influence “RINO’s” they make a deal that they will vote for a “Republican” if that person votes as they want. That has happened a lot in my county.
# 2 – If they can’t do # 1, they vote for the weakest “Republican”, so an “independent” (a Lib who doesn’t want to admit they are a Lib) has a better chance of winning. It is a form of Election Interference.
3 RINOs. We NEED closed primaries to lessen their numbers.
The TN GOP is rouge, and it’s rule keeper, the SEC- state executive committee (with ELECTED officers by voters), is the worse. It is the TN version of the swamp. They make and break their own rules and act worse than the Dems. They prove it over and over again each year by allowing unqualified candidates to run and worse- removing qualified candidates from running. Until the citizens get involved all will continue in this corrupt manner.
Agreed. In Williamson County they allowed a well-known Leftist to run as a Republican. The guy won the Primary because the Dems crossed over and voted for him. There was an appeal and they rejected it. They are really stupid and/or RINO’s. Yes – we need to tell the truth about it and if something is stupid, say so.