Roller, three others file intent to run for senate

With just two weeks before deadline, four hopefuls have cast their hats into the political ring seeking the 14th District Senatorial office held for 23 years by Jerry Cooper.

Among those qualified to seek election is interim State Senator Steve Roller who officially filed Monday and is due to file duplicates in the other six counties of the district. The local attorney was appointed to the post by the Warren County Commission upon the resignation of Jerry Cooper late last year, edging out 1st District Commissioner Bill Zechman for the appointment.

At present, Roller is the lone Warren County resident qualified to seek the four-year seat although two other locals, John R. Shields Jr. and Rhonda K. Cutler, have obtained qualifying papers to run as Republicans.

Joining Roller in seeking the Democratic nomination will be Franklin County resident Eric Stewart who is officially in the race. On the Republican side, James H. Threet of Coffee County and Mike Niederhauser of Franklin County have qualified to seek the Republican nomination.

According to Warren County Election Administrator Donna Yates, candidates must first qualify to run in their home counties and then they must file duplicate proof of qualification in the other six counties of the district. Failure to file the duplicates in even one of the remaining six counties would result in disqualification from the race.

‘There’s still a couple of weeks to go until deadline so we may still have some candidates join the race,’ Yates said, noting the party primaries will be held in August and the senatorial election in November along with the presidential election.

Deadline to file qualifying petitions and have the duplicates filed in all seven counties of the district is at noon April 3. The 14th State Senatorial District includes Warren, Van Buren, Grundy, Franklin, Coffee, Marion and Sequatchie counties.