Reedy defeats Tidwell in Tenn. House District 74
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – With all precincts reporting for Tenn. House District 74, results show Republican challenger Jay Reedy, with 52 percent of the vote, has defeated longtime Democrat incumbent John Tidwell.
Reedy received 5,400 votes to 4,985 for Tidwell.
As the Republican nominee, Reedy cited his leadership ability during the campaign based on his experiences as both an enlisted soldier and later as a commissioned U.S. Army officer. He is also a farmer and small businessman.
Said Reedy, "This victory is by the grace of God, but I would also like to thank my family for their support through all of this. And I would like to thank Mr. Tidwell for 18 years of dedicated service to this didtrict and to the state. And I must thank the state Republican party and especially the College Republicans, Young Republicans and Republican Women who were critical to giving me this victory."
At the top of his agenda when the state legislature reconvenes, Reedy said, "We must do something about Common Core. Also a pressing issue is the unemployment rate in the district, attracting jobs to our industrial parks and doing something about these empty storefronts by helping small business, which hires our kids and helps them build their resumes for the future."
Said Tidwell, "I just couldn't overcome Montgomery County. It's a straight "R" county and probably getting more so.
"I'm disappointed and probably ready to retire. There were things I was working on I won't get a chance to do."
Outside cash and influence
In the hours before the polls closed on Tuesday, both state house candidates in rural District 74 stated their msigivings about the amount of money that came into the race leading up to Election Day, often from entities they didn't even know.
Said long-time incumbent Rep. John Tidwell (D-New Johnsonville), "I have never seen the amount of money in a state race like this and I had hoped to never see it.
"People I don't even know have been making brochures, sending mailers and making phone calls on my behalf. I had money given to me from people I never heard of.
"What scares me is, if I win, who's going to show up at my door expecting something from me as a result?"
Republican challenger Jay Dean Reedy cited outside PAC (Political Action Committee) money along with contributions from businesses and individuals from out-of-state, as also reported by Tidwell.
"That's exactly right," said Reedy when told of Tidwell's comments. "It certainly concerned me as early as the primaries. If I'm getting money from you, or you're sending out something on my behalf, I want to know who you are."
Said Tidwell, "The Tennessee Democratic Party that I supposedly belong to said, 'It's against the law for us to tell you what we're doing.'
"Another thing that bothers me is these negative mailers. They'll grab something with a tiny bit of truth and turn it into something you can't even recognize. It's on both sides."
Tidwell stressed, "I sure didn't authorize or send out any (negative attack mailers).
"I hate to see the money in these Tennessee races like this."
Reedy cited one negative mailer in particular, saying fellow church-goers showed one to him featuring a "little old lady" with a message that Reedy was trying to kill old people by not supporting nursing home reforms and denying medicine to the elderly.
"People were calling me highly disturbed about it," Reedy said, "and it seems like under the law there should be a name attached to this stuff. I'm sure I haven't seen all of it, and personally, I've been trying to ignore it. But District 74 is smoking hot right now."
District 74 encompasses the rural western part of Montgomery County, together with Houston and Humphries Counties.
Philip Grey, 245-0719
Military affairs reporter
Twitter: @PhilipGrey_Leaf