Saying You're Sorry Isn't Enough
One of state Rep. Rob Briley's Democratic challengers—the baby-faced Eric Stansell—has unveiled his campaign website, sparking debate on the blogs about the upcoming race. Will his two foes—Stansell and Mike Stewart—split the anti-Briley vote and enable Briley to win reelection? That's the question.
I'm not sure why anyone thinks Briley won't finish third. How many times does his humiliating YouTube appearance have to lead the TV news shows before he's finished politically? Channel 2, in particular, can't seem to show it enough.
Stewart is Briley's really serious challenger. A partner at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, he'll have no trouble raising enough money to compete—it'll take around $100,000—and he'll enjoy the support of many of the activists who do the hard work that's key to winning these kinds of races.
Remember Stewart almost beat Bill Boner back in 1996 for this same seat. Although Boner was a public embarrassment like Briley, he never broke the law and he was much more popular than Briley thanks to years of constituent service. Also, the district has become more progressive since then. Donelson is gone and some of Green Hills is in. The goo-goos in Green Hills probably don't look too favorably on Briley anymore.
Briley told the state House he's sorry (giving the TV stations another excuse to show his YouTube video), but he's got a lot more apologizing to do. He's yet to visit a single neighborhood group, as far as we've heard, or knock on a single door to say he wants to keep his job. At this point, it looks like Stewart's race to lose.
Comments
Goo-goos?
Posted 02/07/2008 at 03:54:07 PMThis is shaping up to be a real interesting race. I think you're right about Briley, but I wouldn't discount Stansell. Looked at his financial disclosure and he already has $10,000 on hand. Plus, how appealing will Stewart be to the progressives living in this district? Didn't he already get intos some sort of argument with the nieghborhood organizations about his wotk on behalf of large corporate interests. The stuff on Stansell's website seems pretty well thought out. I think people will give him a chance
Posted 02/07/2008 at 04:21:58 PMMike Stewart came so close to beating Bill Boner in 1996 because he had Rob Briley's ex-wife as his campaign manager. She also engineered Rob's first win 1998 and played a crucial role in his subsequent campaigns. It will be interesting to see how the District 52 race will go without her involvement for the first time in 12 years.
Posted 02/07/2008 at 04:35:44 PMI've met all three candidates. I'm not sure the analysis is correct that Stewart is the prime opposition, however. This district is a Democrat district and Stewart appears to be a shell democrat (only Democrat on the outside--look closer). Stansell's website is comprehensive. It shows more than the standard lines about pro-ed, anti-crime, etc. He has actual ideas. I also know he is a die hard worker who won't ignore the work or people. Money shouldn't always win, and I hope people give Stansell a real look.
By the way, having met Rob, I hope things work out for him in life.
Posted 02/07/2008 at 05:00:42 PMWell, I think we all know comprehensive issue-oriented websites don't win races or Rob's brother would be Mayor.
Posted 02/07/2008 at 05:05:01 PMI think Stansell might be tougher than people think. His website is thorough. It's more than "I like schools, I hate crime". It has actual proposals and his philosophy. I have met all three candidates and would pick Stansell, although I like all of them personally. I also know Stansell to be an extremely hard worker, and expect his groundwork to even the scales. Let's hope money doesn't end the argument in District 52 (btw, a close look at Stewart reveals a Republican, but maybe that's just me). It's an important district, and I hope people pay attention to ALL of the candidates.
Posted 02/07/2008 at 05:08:39 PMI hope you have something to back up what about Stewart makes him a Republican because those are still fighting words for a Democrat in Davidson County if it ain't true. Has he voted R in a primary? Endorsed McCain for President? Just where do I have to look? I took a flyer from him on Tuesday and the fact he is a veteran and neighborhood president don't scream Republican to me.
Posted 02/07/2008 at 05:20:29 PMNot exactly sure what YellowCat means, but a guess would be that Stewart has built a career representing Fortune 500 corporations that attempt to avoid paying taxes (or at least last I checked, these companies don't hire attorneys to help them pay MORE taxes). Not sure that makes him a Republican, but it doesn't compare well to Stansell, who built his career working for the people of Tennessee on consumer protection issues. Either way, I think there are two good alterantives out there compared to the current rep.
Posted 02/07/2008 at 06:50:05 PMYou might also look at who Stewart is surrounding himself with on his campaign. His campaign treasurer, Stagg, has given money to the lovely Bob Corker and to other Republican causes. Do Democrats typically appoint documented Republicans as their treasurers?
Posted 02/18/2008 at 04:40:15 PMYes, as a matter of fact, Mike Stagg has been treasurer on other true Democrat campaigns as well. Anyone who knows the 52nd District and the Council positions located in it would know that. At least pretend to know this neighborhood, would ya? BTW, Mike Stewart is as progressive, little-guy oriented as it gets. Anyone who knows him (and we all do over here because he's our neighbor) knows that about him. Trying to claim he is a shell Democrat merely because he works for Waller and does tax litigation is a desperate joke and assumes we don't all already know Mike. Forget it. Stansell obviously doesn't know this district, or he would know that we all know who Mike Stewart is, and any attempt to completely recast him as something he is not will not work. And pretending to be regular citizens providing comments rather than a partisan campaign hack is transparent, too.
Posted 02/20/2008 at 11:49:29 PM. . . And yes, before it gets pointed out, I am going to vote for Mike, but I'm not a campaign person. The only think Stansell can hope to do is take enough votes away from Mike Stewart to make Rob win.
Posted 02/20/2008 at 11:52:31 PMNow that Stewart apparently has Megan Barry's former campaign manager working for him, and Briley's Tennessee PAC contributions have evaporated, it has become a fairly equal contest. But which challenger will openly defend a woman's right to choice or the GLBT community? Rob Briley has earned a lot of loyalty on these issues.
Posted 02/25/2008 at 11:15:36 AM