Rep. Dewayne Bunch
State Rep. Dewayne Bunch (R-Cleveland) today announced that he will be a candidate for the Tennessee’s Ninth State Senate District to replace retiring Senator Jeff Miller (R-Cleveland).
Rep. Bunch currently represents the 24th House District in the House of Representatives.
“My family and I remain humbled with the honor bestowed upon us by the citizens of the 24th district,” said Rep. Bunch. I will continue to work hard to represent the citizens of Southeast Tennessee in a worthy and honorable manner.”
Rep. Bunch served as the chairman of the Ethics Task Force which acted as a catalyst for ethics reform prior to and during the recent ethics special session. He has been honored as the Tennessee School Board Legislator of the Year and has twice received the “Friend of the Family” award. The Tennessee Alliance of Legal Services and Legal Aid of Tennessee awarded Rep. Bunch the Equal Justice Access award.
“After the recent special session on ethics concluded, my family prayerfully considered the decision to offer ourselves as public servants for the 9th Senatorial District,” Rep. Bunch added. “We are humbled and uplifted by our fellow citizens’ show of support, encouragement and commitments, all of which served to ease our concerns of the burden and demands of a Senate campaign on our family.”
“I am very happy for Rep. Bunch but I will certainly miss his leadership in the House Republican Caucus,” said House Republican Leader Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville). “He will be an excellent state senator because he has not only the right values and principles for the people of his district, but the experience and intelligence to effectively promote legislation that will benefit the people of Bradley County.”
“Rep. Bunch has been a stalwart conservative leader on ethics issues,” said Rep. Beth Harwell (R-Nashville). “As a Christian and a legislator, he embodies the family values we want in our public officials. Rep. Bunch has always made well-informed and researched decisions that serve the people of his district.”
“Dewayne has steadfastly represented the conscience of the House Republican Caucus,” said former State Republican Party Chairman and Cleveland resident Chip Saltsman. “The people of Southeast Tennessee know he will continue to provide the conservative leadership we need in Nashville.”
“Rep. Bunch is widely recognized as an influential leader in the House Republican Caucus,” said Rep. Tre Hargett (R-Bartlett). “He was instrumental in the defeat of the unconstitutional state income tax and Republican efforts to protect the lives of the unborn as well the sanctity of marriage. His principled and articulate leadership will make him a great addition to the State Senate."
Rep. Bunch resides in Bradley County with his wife, Karen, and sons Clay and Pierson.