July 17, 2002
You reap what you so, as the old saying goes. Several members of the general assembly are going to be slapped up-side the head with that stark reality come November. Pro-income taxers, who thought themselves safe after the April filing deadline, are finding themselves with serious opposition in the form of write-in campaigns.
Many of the income tax supporting legislators tried to push through an incumbency protection bill making the process more difficult for mounting a write-in campaign. Ironically, the bill that was thought to be a sure thing went down in flames in the Senate at almost the same moment the House was voting on the income tax. Thinking that protection was eminent, many timid pro-income taxers jumped in with both feet only to learn after the vote that their veil of protection had been swept away.
One of the most interesting and potentially devastating races for the income tax supporters is in District 81, the seat presently held by Speaker Jimmy Naifeh. When Mr. Naifeh led the latest constitutional coup d'etat he had no opposition in either the Democratic primary or the general election. Tipton County GOP chairman Tony Lopez tried desperately to find a suitable candidate. When no one stepped forward Mr. Lopez decided to launch a write-in campaign.
In years past, write-in campaigns have been launched mostly by thrill-seekers and publicity hounds. This year is different. The people of Tennessee watched as the governor and leaders of the general assembly held their state hostage, closing it down to try and get their way. When the income tax failed, the same folks who had cried that the sales tax was regressive and that it hurt the poor, pushed through a 17 percent sales tax increase. They threw the poor folks under the bus just to get their grubby, little hands on more money. On the final day of the session they lined up like fattened hogs at feeding time, nudging one another out of the way to get their snouts in the trough. When the dust settled, there was so much pork gobbled up that more important services like higher education found it necessary to raise tuition by 7.5 percent, even in the wake of the largest tax increase in our state's history.
Such shenanigans prompted a new crop of very qualified and highly motivated candidates to choose the write-in route. Mr. Lopez is, in fact, over-qualified for the job. He retired 20 years ago as an Air Force colonel with 27 years of service to our country and numerous combat tours in Vietnam. He has served two presidents, George Bush and George W. Bush. He's now a gentleman farmer with the luxury of time on his hands. Enough time to devote fully to his duties as a state representative with no political ax to grind, no nest to feather and no good-ole-boy network to answer to.
All Tony Lopez need do is get 5 percent of the voters in the Republican primary to write in his name and he's on the ballot alongside Naifeh in November. Colonel Lopez is not taking the task lightly. He has been working around the clock at early polling stations introducing himself and educating voters on how to execute a write-in vote. He's also been fielding support through the website www.tiptongop.org.
What an incredibly sweet victory it would be to see these elected officials, who ignored the will of the people, booted out on their ears. And not ejected by seasoned, professional politicians but by grassroots write-in campaigns that send one message loud and clear. The people are still in charge and we hold the power. If you tick us off, we'll use it.