CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Mike Bell has won Tennessee’s 9th District Senate race for the Republican nomination.
Bell, a state representative from Riceville, took 68 percent of the vote against Lou Patten in the race to fill the seat vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Dewayne Bunch.
Because no other candidates are seeking the seat, the primary winner is assured of winning the November election.
“I always hoped to win; I always thought I would win,” Bell said. “To tell the truth, I never expected the margin we won by. I’m very thankful it turned out the way it did.”
Bell attributed his high margins and victory to the friends he’s made over the years.
“I hope this shows that the people I represented for years have been pleased with the representation they had in Nashville and want it to continue,” he said.
Bell was elected to the state House of Representatives for McMinn and Monroe counties in 2007. He was elected to be freshman leader and assistant floor leader of the Republican Caucus in his first term.
Patten said he wishes Bell the best dealing with serious state issues in the coming years.
“I was disappointed, but I just congratulate Mr. Bell on his race and I wish him the best,” Patten said.
Bell, 47, has five children and operates a small business in McMinn County. He served on the Agriculture Committee, Children and Family Committee, Consumer and Employee Affairs Committee, and Government Operations Committee.
The 9th District consists of Bradley, McMinn, Meigs and Polk counties.
Follow this link to our Tennessee Elections 2010 website