Tennessee Reps Jones & Pearson Regain Seats In Special Elections
Image Credit: Justin J. Pearson for State Representative / Facebook
The Center Square [By Jon Styf] –
Tennessee State Reps. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, each won special elections to regain the seats in the Tennessee Legislature they were ousted from in elections that cost state taxpayers roughly $500,000.
“I’m ashamed that my colleagues across the aisle cost the taxpayers so much $$ on these special elections,” said Rep. Gloria Johnson, who narrowly avoided being dismissed along with Jones and Pearson. “It was a big expense as well as a travesty of justice.”
There were two other special elections, with Republican Timothy Hill winning the House District 3 spot to replace Scotty Campbell, who resigned after allegations of sexual harassment in April, and Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, winning election over Anthony Davis to fill the late Bill Beck’s post in Tennessee House District 51 by a 5,259 to 4,579 vote.
In Nashville, Democratic council member Freddie O’Connell led the vote for mayor with 27,470 votes and will have a Sept. 14 runoff against Republican Alice Rolli, who had 20,458 votes.
State Sens. Jeff Yarbro (12,343 votes) and Heidi Campbell (8,330) joined former Nashville economic development leader Matthew Wiltshire (17,186) as the top candidates who missed the runoff.
About the Author: Jon Styf, The Center Square Staff Reporter – Jon Styf is an award-winning editor and reporter who has worked in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan in local newsrooms over the past 20 years, working for Shaw Media, Hearst and several other companies. Follow Jon on Twitter @JonStyf.
