Candidates fight for state Senate seat

Attorneys Andy Berke and John Wolfe, realtor Ken Jordan, Lee C. Whitaker and Walt ‘Combat’ Ward will face off in the Democratic primary for the 10th District.

Businessman Oscar Brock ‘ son of former U.S. Sen. Bill Brock ‘ Oscar Brown, Mark Albertini, Travis Layne and Basil Marceaux are running in the Republican field.

Both party primaries will take place Oct. 4, and the general election will follow Nov. 15.

Crutchfield, a 78-year-old Chattanooga Democrat, resigned Aug. 6 after pleading guilty to taking $3,000 in the FBI’s Tennessee Waltz bribery and extortion sting. He had served in the General Assembly for 31 years. He will get to keep his $3,500 a month state pension.

‘It will be very hard for a Republican to win,’ said Ed Cromer, editor of the Tennessee Journal political newsletter, said of the 10th District, which includes part of Hamilton County and all of Marion County. ‘The Democratic primary most likely will decide the outcome.’

Tennessee Republican Party chairwoman Robin Smith acknowledged a Republican victory would be an upset.

‘We’re looking at this race through a prism of reality,’ she said. ‘However, I do know there is an opportunity here.’

The special election comes as the Senate is evenly divided with 16 Democrats, 16 Republicans and one independent. Republicans control the speakership and some committees.