Incumbent Republican faces Democrat in precinct that backed Hillary Clinton as president

Scott Broden, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal

LA VERGNE — Voters in Rutherford County Commission District 1 will choose between incumbent Republican David Gammon or Democrat Hope Oliver.

This could be one of the campaigns measuring whether 11 Democrats can gain more than one of 21 seats held by unopposed Rutherford County Commissioner Chantho Sourinho.

Voters in 2018 also elected 18 Republicans and two independents to commission seats.

District 1 includes northern La Vergne and the large Lake Forest Estates subdivision, a diverse area that includes many Black and Hispanic residents.

Although Republicans have dominated Rutherford County elections since 2010, District 1 in 2016 favored Democrat Hillary Clinton to be president with 57.56 of the vote while Republican Donald Trump had 36.67%, according to the Rutherford County Election Commission.

What's more important in local elections, however, is the ability of Gammon and Oliver to turn out their voters in the Aug. 4 county election. Neither face competition in the May 3 primary.

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Gammon, Oliver tout La Vergne roots

Gammon said voters will reelect him if they want somebody who knows La Vergne and can continue to help the city.

"I've been here for 50 years. I’ve been on the same road for 50 years," Gammon said. "I think people are more known for voting for the person."

David Gammon
David Gammon

Oliver said she's also built strong roots to represent District 1 as a resident who loves Lake Forest Estates.

"I love Rutherford County," Oliver said. "My family and I have been here over 20 years. We have raised our family here. We've coached Little League. We’ve been part of the community."

Hope Oliver
Hope Oliver

Why candidates chose their parties

Gammon is part of the staff at the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center. He oversees inmates cleaning up litter.

The goal for Gammon, he said, is to do the right thing as a "true Christian man" without pushing his faith on others.

Gammon said he's running as a Republican because he supports values promoted by the GOP.

"I like to vote for the person," Gammon said.

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Oliver has owned and operated H.O.P.E Early Learning Center for five years to provide educational childcare from infant to age 5.

She's running as a Democrat, Oliver said, because she tends to lean in support of the party's positions that promote the "greater good of the whole and not just the few."

"I like to look at ideas and what’s best for the greater good whether a Republican idea or a Democratic idea," Oliver added.

Her goal is to connect with voters in the district and "see how we can move not only Rutherford County forward but La Vergne forward."

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips and questions by emailing sbroden@dnj.com or calling 615-278-5158. Follow him on Twitter @ScottBroden.

Who's running

The following shows candidates to run for Rutherford County Commission seats:

  • District 1: David Gammon, incumbent Republican; Hope Oliver, Democrat

  • District 2: Steve Pearcy, incumbent Republican; Justin Taylor, Republican

  • District 3: Michael Wrather, incumbent Republican; Anita L. Herron, Democrat

  • District 4: Robert Peay Jr., incumbent independent; Michael A. Rodgers, Republican

  • District 5: Carol Cook, incumbent Republican; Laura Davidson, independent

  • District 6: Veronica Buchanan, incumbent Republican; Jonathan Beverly, Republican; Patrick Miller, Republican; Tim Tidwell, independent; Jonathan James, Republican

  • District 7: Mike Kusch, incumbent Republican; Joseph Locher, Democrat

  • District 8: Pettus Read, incumbent Republican; Matthew Burke, Democrat

  • District 9: Joe Gourley, incumbent Republican; Joshua James, Republican; Mark A. Linville, Democrat

  • District 10: Philip E. Wilson, Republican; Tony Campbell, Republican; Iris Dismukes, Democrat

  • District 11: Anthony Johnson, Republican; Bradley R. Austin, Republican

  • District 12: Carl B. Boyd, Republican; Jason M. Kemp, Republican (GOP determined Kemp is ineligible for primary); Celest Davis, Democrat

  • District 13: Paul Johnson, incumbent Republican; Byron Glenn, independent

  • District 14: Wayne Irvin, Republican; Rod Key, Republican (currently represents District 19 but is now in 14 after redistricting)

  • District 15: Craig Harris, incumbent Republican; Cedric Alford, Democrat

  • District 16: Phil Dodd, incumbent Republican; Kyle Mullicane, Democrat

  • District 17: Jeff Phillips, incumbent Republican; Mariah Phillips, Democrat

  • District 18: Allen McAdoo, incumbent Republican

  • District 19: Corey Sippola, Republican; Romel McMurry, independent

  • District 20: Trey Gooch, incumbent Republican

  • District 21: Chantho Sourinho, incumbent Democrat

Source: Rutherford County Election Commission

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Republican commissioner faces Democratic challenge for Rutherford seat

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