The abrupt announcement by the state’s Republican Majority Leader, Jason Mumpower, that he would not be seeking re-election on March 25 caught many across the state by surprise. In addition to coming out of the blue (or red, as the case may be), it came mere days before the filing deadline, leaving folks scrambling to get in line to replace him.
Mumpower, who represented Johnson and Sullivan County’s 3rd District seat in the state House for 14 years, has not endorsed a candidate to replace himself.
According to the Bristol Herald Courier, the list of 10 candidates running includes seven Rebublicans, one Democrat and a pair of Independents.
Among the Republican candidates squaring off in the Aug. 5 GOP primary, you’ll find Scotty Campbell, who has already earned an endorsement from his boss and Mumpower nemesis House Speaker Kent Williams, and Timothy Hill. Hill found himself some trouble while working as press secretary for U.S. Rep. David Davis, R-1st District. The brother of state Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough tinkered with Davis’ Wikipedia page and was forced to take extra ethics classes as a result.
The lone Democrat seeking the seat — Joe Mike Akard — is a veteran of running in races, but not of winning.
The Independent pair features Bristol attorney Parke Morris who doesn’t even live in the district, but will have to move there if he wins.
All in all, it should make for an interesting race in what has been a seat sewn up by Mumpower for more than a decade.
The situation is hopeless here. Not enough people in this area care about things like integrity and intellect when voting. The TNDP has completely abandoned us. Not even a sign of a willingness to fight.
Until something changes, it takes money to win. Democrats and Liberals in this area have little.
Burnt again.