Change We Can Influence: Notes on the 12th District State Senate Race
[UPDATE 10/15/2008: What a difference a campaign flyer can make. Given Becky Ruppe's apparent enthusiam for stirring up anti-gay, anti-secularist feeling in her bid for the Tennessee State Senate, we no longer back her candidacy. Read more here and here.]
Let’s face it: Obama is probably not going to win Tennessee. Our state is solidly in McCain’s column this year, and there’s not a whole lot we can do about it at this juncture.
Let not your hearts be troubled, my friends. You can make a difference this November with your vote in a race that you may not even realize the importance of — the 12th District State Senate race, which pits Morgan County’s Executive & Democrat, Becky Ruppe, (sounds like Roo-pee) against Roane County’s Ken Yager, a Republican.
Since 2007, when Sen. Mike Williams made his departure from the Republican party and declared himself an Independent, the Tennessee State Senate has been split with 16 Democrats, 16 Republicans, and 1 Independent. This 12th District race will help decide which party ends up with control of the State Senate, which means that the citizens of Morgan, Scott, Campbell, Fentress, Roane, and Rhea Counties will be making a very important decision this November.
The seat is being vacated by Democrat Tommy Kilby of Wartburg who has decided not to seek re-election. Kilby also served as Morgan County Executive before being elected.
Becky Ruppe has a very compelling life story. When she was 13 years old, her mother was killed in an automobile accident, leaving Becky to care for her brother, sister, and father who had been disabled in World War II. Ten years later, when Becky was pregnant with her second child, her husband was killed in an automobile accident.
Becky worked in factories while going to night school and raising her 2 young children. She also worked for a local newspaper, and for the campaigns of Lincoln Davis and Tommy Kilby before being elected to the Morgan County School Board, where she served for 6 years. In 2004, she was elected as Executive of Morgan County.
Becky is running as a conservative Democrat. She is pro-life, pro-gun, and anti-gay-marriage. While many of Becky’s views clash with liberal stances and some aspects of the Democratic platform, it is clear that she is the best choice for Democrats, and for the people of our District.
We have our work cut out for us. The Republican candidate has an impressive resume. He’s an attorney, an educator, was the Roane County Executive for 24 years, and he is raising almost double the campaign funds. Even so, Becky Ruppe leads in the polls. The most recent data I could find gives her a 5 point lead.
What You Can Do to Help
If you’re able to do anything at all to help Becky’s campaign, click here to sign up as a volunteer. Even if you’re not inclined to get actively involved in a political campaign by putting up signs, handing out cards, or making phone calls, you can still make a difference just by talking to your friends and family about how important this race is. In not-so-high-profile races like these, you’d be surprised how many votes come down to name recognition. Make sure everybody you talk to knows who Becky Ruppe is, and what she stands for. Even your Republican friends and family members might be swayed when they learn that she is pro-life, pro-gun, and anti-gay-marriage.
Tell everyone who will listen that Becky Ruppe will fight for the middle class, for affordable health care, for improved education in our rural schools, and for economic development in our impoverished region.
We may not be able to turn Tennessee blue in this presidential election, but we can help our party in one of the most important state level races in years, and help ensure that the people of our District have a real fighter in office working hard for their best interests. Yes, we can!
Becky Ruppe Resources:
Article on the Candidates in The Knoxville News Sentinel
Pictures from one of Becky’s Campaign Stops in Scott County
Coming soon: A profile of Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, Bob Tuke.
September 28th, 2008 at 10:13 am
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