Vote totals
Tennessee House of Representatives District 28 Democratic primaryJoAnne Favors - 3,948Dennis Clark - 859All vote totals are unofficial until certified by the Election Commission; some vote totals include write-in votes.
Dennis ClarkJoAnne Favors secured a seventh term in the Tennesee House of Representatives on Thursday night with a resounding victory over 32-year-old Dennis Clark in the Democratic primary for the 28th District seat.
There are no Republican challengers in the race for the position, which represents downtown, East Chattanooga and Alton Park.
Favors, 73, is the House minority whip, a veteran of the healthcare industry and an advocate for increased access to TennCare. She was first elected in 2004 after a stint on the Hamilton County Commission and is a member of the House Health Committee, Health Subcommittee and the Insurance and Banking Committee.
She could not be reached for comment Thursday night after her 3,948-859 victory.
Favors is a widow and a member of Olivet Baptist Church with four children and six grandchildren. She backs full support of existing public schools as opposed to school voucher programs and charter schools. Favors is also a supporter of child support reform.
Clark owns a small marketing and public relations business and ran his campaign on a platform of safer streets, saying the needs of the district's black community have not been addressed at the state level.
His brother, Jeremy Clark, became the city's 21st homicide victim last Friday morning - less than a week before the primary election - when he was shot and killed on Glass Street.
Clark credited his faith in God and strong network of family, friends and campaign supporters for helping him navigate a challenging week and said he is open to running for office again at the local or state level.
"The community, I think, responded to our message of change openly," Clark said. "Incumbents are difficult to beat. We've got to get back out there again, and next time we'll know how to work harder to get across the finish line for the people."
State representatives earn a salary of $20,884. The next legislative session begins in January.
Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.