Incumbents will face opposition
Incumbent state legislator Charles Curtiss will face a local opponent in the Democratic Primary while Butch Lewis will face two tests in his quest for re-election, as the two men bid to be Warren County’s representative’s in Nashville.
Curtiss, who represents the 43rd District which covers part of Warren, White and Cumberland counties, will be challenged by fellow Democrat, Marty York of McMinnville in the upcoming Aug. 1 state Democratic Primary. The state party primaries are held in conjunction with the local general election.
The primary will decide the election because there are no Republican or Independent candidates seeking the 43rd District job. Qualifying deadline for state offices has now passed, freezing the field.
While the 43rd District is a two-man race, the 47th District will involve a three-way contest. Parts of Warren County, mostly the former domain of long-time legislator Shelby Rhinehart of the 37th District, have been moved to the 47th District by re-districting. The 37th District no longer includes Warren County; however, Rhinehart will continue serving the district until after the November elections.
With the departure of the old district, the portion of Warren County in the 47th District will include a new cast of characters. Western Warren County shares the 47th District with Coffee County, which is home to all three candidates. Warren County makes up about 20 percent of the 47th District, which, in turn, accounts for about one-third of Warren County’s 21,000 registered voters.
Five-time incumbent Democratic Representative Doyle (Butch) Lewis of Manchester will be going head-to-head against Brian Keith Whitman of Manchester in the state Democratic Primary Aug. 1. The winner of the primary will advance to meet political newcomer, Republican Judd Matheny of Tullahoma in the general election Nov. 5.