posted December 7, 2007
Sen. Jerry Cooper, who said last week he did not plan to seek re-election in 2008, has decided to go ahead and retire.
Democratic Caucus Chairman Sen. Joe Haynes, D-Goodlettsville, and Democratic Leader Sen. Jim Kyle, D-Memphis, released the following statements Friday after the announced retirement of Sen. Cooper, D- Morrison:
Sen. Haynes said, "Sen. Cooper never backed down from challenges in the Senate. He would go to the mat for bills that he believed in, and he always fought hard for the best interests of the people in Senate District 14. He will be difficult to replace."
Sen. Kyle said, "Jerry Cooper was by all accounts one of the most effective legislators in the Tennessee Senate. I will miss him personally. I have great confidence in the ability of the Warren County Commission to reach a consensus and elect a senator for the upcoming session."
The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance recently fined Sen. Cooper $120,000 in the wake of a complaint brought by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research. He is appealing that penalty.
The complaint, based on documents uncovered in an unrelated bank fraud trial held in Chattanooga, alleged that he funneled $95,004 from his campaign account into his personal account using 24 checks written from December 1999 to November 2001.
Sen. Cooper, who has represented the 14th Senate District since 1985, was not present at the recent hearing.
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