WHEREAS, Representation elected exclusively from voters of that district has a long historical precedent in the history of the United States;
WHEREAS, All United States House of Representatives, Tennessee State Senators, and Tennessee State Representatives are elected exclusively by voters of that district;
WHEREAS, In Tennessee almost all district county Board of Commissioners, Board of Education Members, and Municipal City Councilors are elected exclusively by voters of that district;
WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) 6-53-110 requires candidates nominated from a district in a county, municipality, or school board to be elected exclusively by the voters of that district;
WHEREAS, TCA 6-53-110 allows some exceptions resulting in nominated district candidates being elected by voters at-large outside of that district;
WHEREAS, The exceptions in TCA 6-53-110 have resulted in districts being represented by elected officials the majority of the district did not elect, but instead elected by the voters at-large outside of the district;
WHEREAS, The exceptions in TCA 6-53-110 have resulted in district voters being disenfranchised by voters outside of that district;
WHEREAS, Requiring all district nominated candidates to be elected exclusively by voters of that district brings accountability, diversity of opinion, and reduces voter confusion;
WHEREAS, House Bill 817 by State Representative Elaine Davis and Senate Bill 526 by Frank Niceley would eliminate exceptions in TCA 6-53-110 and require all district nominated candidates to be exclusively elected by the voters of that district;
WHEREAS, House Bill 817 has been adopted by Tennessee’s House of Representatives, 73-20, passed the Senate State and Local Government Committee, and awaits action in Tennessee’s full Senate; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Conservatives of Knox County 1st and 2nd Districts supports House Bill 817, by State Representative Elaine Davis, and Senate Bill 526 by State Senator Frank Niceley and encourages all Tennessee legislators to support efforts, including voting in the affirmative, to enact into law; and
RESOLVED, A copy of this adopted resolution be sent to all Tennessee Republican State Senators and the Republican Knox County delegation in the House of Representatives.
Adopted the 28th day of March, 2023