U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn.A few paid staffers for U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann helped the incumbent topple his two primary challengers at the Anderson County Republican Party straw poll Tuesday night.
Fleischmann spokesman Jordan Powell confirmed that field representative Arch Trimble IV and caseworker Adria Tutton attended the straw poll, proved 3rd Congressional District residence and paid the required $5 fee to vote, along with “a few others who went on their own time.”
“There were staffers that went after work to support Chuck, but there were a lot of [other] people at that straw poll that voted for Chuck,” Powell said.
According to the Anderson County party website, Fleischmann won 65 percent of the vote, Jean Howard-Hill received 28 percent and Weston Wamp took home 7 percent.
But exact figures were unavailable. Anderson County Republican Party Chairman Alex Moseley estimated a crowd of 150 voted in a variety of races. He said “about 60 percent” were allowed to choose a House candidate after proving they lived in the 3rd Congressional District.