Bill Filed to Force Tennessee's Democratic Strongholds to Hold Nonpartisan Judicial Elections

NASHVILLE, TN — Davidson County's largely Democratic state legislative delegation is calling foul at a bill which would force it, along with fellow Democratic stronghold Shelby County, to hold non-partisan elections for judges.

The bill, sponsored in the Senate by Steve Dickerson, a rare Republican member from Davidson County, would require any county in Tennessee with more than 500,000 people — applying only to Nashville's Davidson and Memphis' Shelby, the lone significant blue island in Tennessee's red sea — to stop holding partisan elections for judges and other judicial officials, such as court clerks. The measure has the backing of House Speaker Beth Harwell, also a Nashville Republican.

The Associated Press notes that the measure seemingly benefits Davidson County Chancellor Bill Young, appointed to fill a vacancy on the bench by Gov. Bill Haslam late last year. Young is the only Republican judge in Davidson County.

Young, coincidentally, was meeting with Harwell, according to the AP, along with Tom Lawless, a former Davidson County GOP chairman and current chairman of the state's judicial vacancy committee. Young told the AP the meeting had nothing to do with the bill.

While the bill's requirement of forcing party labels off judicial ballots is receiving the most attention, another provision would also seemingly benefit Young, as the bill says "the incumbent officeholder shall be listed first

on the election ballot; provided the incumbent seeks and qualifies for reelection." Generally in Tennessee, in nonpartisan races, candidates are listed alphabetically. With "Young" coming as it does near the end of most any alphabetical list, the change would give him the advantageous top-of-the-ballot spot.

Nashville's Democrats are predictably upset at the proposal, with Sen. Jeff Yarbro telling the Nashville Post the move is "cheating."

"It's sad they don't think Bill Young can win reelection without cheating. If nonpartisan elections are a good idea, they're a good idea for the whole state. But the Republicans only want Democratic cities to be nonpartisan, and that's one of the most dishonorable power grabs imaginable," Yarbro said.

The measure is sponsored by Rep. William Lamberth in the House.

Image via State of Tennessee