Oscar Brown will go head-to-head with Sen. Andy Berke in the November general election after handily winning Thursday’s 10th Senate District Republican primary.
With all but 1 percent of the votes counted in Hamilton County, Mr. Brown clinched his party’s nomination to run for the Senate with an easy win over Soddy-Daisy business owner Basil Marceaux Sr., 54. Mr. Brown, also 54, captured about 75 percent of the vote in Hamilton County. Mr. Brown also won in Marion County, where he is a resident.
“My main focus is going to be education, and I’m concerned about the street gangs in Chattanooga ... and economic development,” Mr. Brown said. “I’m going to run a good, clean campaign with Mr. Berke. I know I face an uphill battle, but I’m going to do my best.”
Mr. Brown, a factory worker from Jasper, Tenn., is a longtime Marion County Republican Party supporter.
Incumbent Democratic Sen. Berke has about $80,000 on hand for the election. During the same period, Mr. Brown reported raising no money and having no money on hand.
THE WINNER
Name: Oscar Brown, Republican
Age: 54
Residence: Jasper, Tenn.
Occupation: Machine operator, Lodge Manufacturing Co.
Education: Graduated from Whitwell High School
Family: One son
The 10th District covers parts of Hamilton and Marion counties. All Tennessee legislators earn $16,500 annually. Winners of the November general election will be sworn in Jan. 8, 2009.
Mr. Berke, 40, a Chattanooga lawyer, who was elected during a special election Nov. 17, 2007, to fill resigned Sen. Ward Crutchfield’s term, said he was campaigning door-to-door on election day.
“As Tennesseans face high gas prices and an uncertain economy, the fall campaign must focus on a plan to deliver the energy, education and health care needs of our citizens,” Mr. Berke said.
In other legislative races around the area:
Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, won his party’s nomination for the House of Representatives District 26 seat. He does not face a Democratic challenger in November.
Rep. Tommie Brown, 74, D-Chattanooga, was given her party’s nod. She didn’t face Democratic opposition, and no Republican will challenge her in November.
Basil Marceaux Jr. won the Republican nomination for the House of Representatives District 29 seat. He had no Republican opposition and now faces incumbent Rep. JoAnne Favors, D-Chattanooga in November.
Rep. Vince Dean, R-East Ridge, won his party’s nomination without opposition. Mr. Dean, 49, faces no Democratic challenger in November.
All vote totals, which include federally mandated provisional ballots, are unofficial until certified by county or state officials.
Adam Crisp covers education issues for the Times Free Press. He joined the paper's staff in 2007 and initially covered crime, public safety, courts and general assignment topics. Prior to Chattanooga, Crisp was a crime reporter at the Savannah Morning News and has been a reporter and editor at community newspapers in southeast Georgia. In college, he led his student paper to a first-place general excellence award from the Georgia College Press Association. He earned ...
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