People are kind of funny when it comes to law enforcement, we want proven ability to put bad guys in jail and make problems with bad guys go away. In all advertising JJ always had his blue uniform on and was seen as the acting sheriff and an active member of the law enforcement community.

Tyree continued to show up in a blazer and a tie, which is what you would expect to see a mayoral/gubenatorial candidate show up in. He was viewed as a political figure looking to find a place to hole up in for the next 4 - 8 years, not exactly going out there to run down bad guys, shoot it out with bank robbers if necessary, or direct traffic coming out of UT football games.

It all revolves around perception and how you approach the position you are seeking and you can't bank on a throw the bum out vote to win an election.

Yes, that image sold this time. But Sheriff is an administrative job in charge of a huge budget. If I recall, their only official law enforcement duty defined in the Tennessee Constitution is jailer.

>>I really thought it would be closer than that, and that Tyree actually had a chance for a narrow victory. Again, low turnout was probably a factor, as were short memories and scandal fatigue.<<<
Or long memories. Tyree's administrative skills left something to be desired last time around (or so I've heard). And there was that Butcher scandal thingy on his watch.

With Jones winning with 11.04% of the registered vote it's hard to say much about what his victory means. If anything.

Maybe voting booths should be in Wal-Mart and offer some discount coupons if you vote.

I have to agree that it is sad how few voters actually turned out when so much was at stake. We get what we deserve there. If no one gives enough of a dang about how our government has been run to bother voting, then I guess it's lobsters for all. Gimme that p-card.

But on Padgett. Anyone who has been around the system for any length of time and has been paying any attention knows that "Smilin' Mike" only smiles when it profits him personally. This guy has tried to pull some pretty shady deals through his son's company, that aren't much more than schemes to profit Smilin' Mike. Mr. Arnett has a heck of a job ahead of him cleaning up the stuff that Smilin' Mike left behind. I hope he's up to the task.

I'm a democrat. But, I'm a democrat that has a distaste for crooked politicians. If you really knew Smilin' Mike, you'd know why I speak against him. I hope he doesn't take his defeat on the state-wide basis as any kind of endorsement at the local level. It's easy to endorse the "local guy," but do a little more research before you put your name on the endorsement. Just being a democrat doesn't mean you have to stand for corrupt government--that role is left for the GOP!. If you believe everything that's put out in front of you, you're no better than a wingnut.

...a Padgett employee when "Smilin' Mike" hit the road.

The strangest quote I heard all day was a woman talking about being a poll watcher at a voting site where a young man drifted in, saw people voting, and asked,"Is it free?"

God save us, and may all the people who died trying to own the privilege to vote forgive those who haven't got a clue what it means to be a particiating citizen in a democracy.

I know progressives were somewhat split on the Overbey-Finney race, but I had no doubts about my attitudes on this. Overbey may be an insider kool kids klub Republican. But he isn't an utter embarrassment like Right Wing Raymond. Finney's environmental record was admirable, but it came nowhere near enough to outweigh his extremist social agenda. Finney made non-Christians like me feel like second-class citizens.