Hamilton County Chancellor Jeff Atherton has dismissed a lawsuit brought by state Democrats seeking to keep Republican Robin Smith off the ballot for the House District 26 race.
Democrats had claimed that longtime Rep. Gerald McCormick's late withdrawal from the race was invalid. He said his employer was requiring that he take a new position in Nashville.
Rep. McCormick and his wife, Kim, earlier bought a house in Nashville and put their home in Middle Valley up for sale.
Ms. Smith said, “Since the first day the Tennessee Democratic Party launched this frivolous effort to disenfranchise thousands of District 26 voters, I have kept the faith that our courts and their wisdom would see this lawsuit for what it really was – a political gimmick by a desperate party attempting to secure a seat in the legislature for an admitted socialist who even lives outside the district and would never win the support of the people at the ballot box.
"I am saddened by this effort. Tennessee Democrats have cost Hamilton County taxpayers thousands and thousands of dollars, placed the voting rights of our citizens at risk, and attempted to damage the reputations of several people without regard for the truth or facts in this case. For this, the Tennessee Democratic Party should shoulder the responsibility for reimbursing the taxpayers of Hamilton County. They have proven that their efforts and energy are directed literally towards frivolous nonsense and delegitimizing our elections instead of promoting real policy ideas on the issues that matter most to District 26 voters.
"However, our campaign team has never allowed this lawsuit to distract from the important work of communicating with Hamilton Countians about the successes in Tennessee and the challenges that remain. I am grateful that Chancellor Atherton has issued this ruling so we can turn our full attention to discussing our economy, educational system, the best way to address health care delivery, and the other important issues that need our full effort and attention.
"I look forward to contrasting my agenda of maintaining a job-producing economy and conservative policies with those of socialism and the commitment to open America’s borders without restraint, abolish ICE, and kill jobs with high taxes. Those are the positions of the Bredesen/Dean Democrat who is running, but not living, in District 26.”