REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
GEARS UP FOR ELECTION 2004.

Beth Halteman Harwell was re-elected Chair of the Tennessee Republican Executive Committee meeting Saturday, December 14, 2002, in Nashville. 

Harwell begins her new term unopposed and fresh from key legislative gains (45 seats for Republicans out of 99 in the State House) and a victory statewide for Lamar Alexander’s U. S. Senate campaign. 

Republicans, noting Tennessee’s significance in the election of George Bush in 2000, are gearing their efforts toward continuing that momentum in 2004. 

The Republican Executive Committee took satisfaction from the legislative gains in a redistricting year.  Ignored in the partisan rhetoric was that the Democrat-controlled legislature did not implement its plan to combine the districts of  incumbent Republicans.  This plan was scrapped by the Democrat leadership in an effort to win Republican votes for a state income tax, soothing the feelings of Republican Governor Don Sundquist and courting the support of Minority Leader Steve McDaniel. 

That ploy was unsuccessful.  While eight Republican legislators voted for House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh’s income tax bill, the effort fell short.  Democrat leadership now confronts more Republicans and more new legislators than in recent history.   

The Republican Executive Committee now sees itself poised to lead successful moves toward legislative control beginning with election year 2004.  Republicans who supported the income tax were outside the focus of this Executive Committee.  Governor Don Sundquist was not mentioned by name during the Executive Committee meeting.  Steve McDaniel was earlier this month replaced as Minority Leader. 

Featured speakers at the Executive Committee meeting analyzed this year’s victories and looked to the future.  Speakers included U. S. Senator-Elect Lamar Alexander, Congressman Van Hilleary (the GOP’s close but unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate) and U. S. Congresswoman-Elect Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee’s 7^th District.  (See audio highlights). 

Other Items of Business: 

Elected an African-American to be Vice-Chair in the meeting’s only contested election. 

Approved developing a bid to host the 2006 Southern Republican Leadership Conference (host city – Memphis). 

Projected funding of $376,000 clear with which to begin election year 2004. 

Approved salary for Chair (Beth Harwell) at $70,000. 

Heard report from RNC representative on campaign finance reform and how states still had fundraising flexibility (See audio highlights). 

Witnessed special recognition of Beth Harwell by the Eagle Forum. 

REPUBLICAN PROFILES: 

State GOP Chair Beth Halteman Harwell.  State Representative out of Nashville, Harwell will begin her eighth legislative term.  Her 14-year career began with election in 1988 to the 96^th Tennessee General Assembly. 

New House Minority Leader, Tre Hargett, is from Bartlett in Shelby County.  His quick rise to the top began with election to the 100^th Tennessee General Assembly in 1996.