Roy Herron won't run again for Democratic chairman

NASHVILLE - Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Roy Herron announced today he won't run for a second term as the party chairman.

Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

His announcement came at the end of a Democratic State Executive Committee meeting in Nashville.

"I have been blessed to serve as chairman these past two years, and I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to all of the executive committee members, party officials, staff members, and friends with whom I have worked to help elect Democrats," said Herron, a former state senator and unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 2010.

"Electing Democrats in Tennessee in order to move our state forward will continue to be my focus and my passion," Herron said.

Herron cited accomplishments including cutting recurring state party expenses almost half, hosting two record-setting Jackson Day fundraisers, and a major effort by the state party to help retain three Democratic Supreme Court justices targeted by Republican Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey and national conservative hardliner organizations.

But Herron has also come under fire from critics on a number of fronts over his management style as well as an going differences between moderate Democrats such as himself and more liberal members of the party.

See complete story in Sunday's Times Free Press.

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