Today’s Blog

TNDP Executive Committee Elects New Officers at Winter Meeting


Left to right: Treasurer Wade Munday; Secretary Gales Jones Carson; Chairman Roy Herron; and Vice Chair Elisa Parker

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee elected new officers during its Winter Meeting in Nashville on Saturday, Jan. 26.

The committee elected Roy Herron of Dresden to serve as Chairman. Elisa Parker of Franklin was re-elected to serve as Vice Chair, Wade Munday of Nashville was elected to serve as Treasurer, and Gale Jones Carson of Memphis was re-elected to serve as Secretary.

At the meeting, TNDP Executive Committee members also honored the service of outgoing Chairman Chip Forrester, who finished his second consecutive term as Chairman.

“I am excited to serve alongside my fellow TNDP officers as we begin the critical work of rebuilding our great state and our Democratic Party,” said TNDP Chair Herron. “Together, we will keep working toward building a state where opportunity exists for everyone willing to work for it, and where the American Dream is truly within reach for working and middle class families, not just a lucky few.”

Biographical information on TNDP officers is below:

Roy Herron, Dresden, Tenn. – Chair
As the chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, Roy Herron works to advance Democratic priorities and to elect Democratic candidates across the state. First elected to the Tennessee General Assembly in 1986, Herron has been a tireless advocate for Tennessee. Herron served 10 years in the State House and 16 years in the State Senate. Over two decades, Herron earned a reputation as a good listener, forceful advocate and hard worker. He has conducted more than 1,000 listening meetings, and only missed one of more than 1,200 legislative sessions — the day his youngest son was being born. Herron graduated from Dresden High School and the University of Tennessee at Martin. After studying the New Testament and ethics in Scotland as a Rotary Scholar, he received his law and divinity degrees from Vanderbilt University. The former minister is now an attorney and small businessman who practices law in Dresden. Herron’s commitment to public service, his Tennessee values, and his devotion to faith and family are evident in his writing. He is the author of three books: Things Held Dear: Soul Stories for My Sons, Tennessee Political Humor: Some of These Jokes You Voted For (with L.H. “Cotton” Ivy), and God and Politics: How Can a Christian be in Politics? Residing in the county where his family settled in 1819, Roy is married to Nancy and has three sons: John, Rick, and Ben. They are members of First United Methodist Church in Dresden.

Elisa Parker, Franklin, Tenn. – Vice Chair
Elisa Parker was re-elected Vice Chair of the TNDP Executive Committee. Parker, a real estate professional, was first elected Vice Chair in 2005. She has been active in Democratic politics for more than two decades and is deeply committed to promoting our core Party values. Having worked for former Sen. Jim Sasser and an active member of presidential campaigns for Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry and Barack Obama.

Wade Munday, Nashville, Tenn. – Treasurer
Wade Munday works to provide continuing education for doctors, nurses, and social workers in his professional role at the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. In this role he also cultivates major gifts and corporate donations. Wade has mentored young people with Big Brothers Big Sisters, serves on the board of Tennessee Citizen Action and the New Leaders Council, and previously served on the Mary Parrish Center for Victims of Domestic Violence Board. Wade earned a Bachelors degree in Religion from Trevecca Nazarene University and a Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt University. He lives in Nashville with his wife Blair and bulldog, Lady Harriet.

Gale Jones Carson, Memphis, Tenn. – Secretary
Gale Jones Carson was re-elected to serve as Secretary of the TNDP Executive Committee. She is currently one of Tennessee’s five members on the Democratic National Committee and has been a member of the TNDP Executive Committee since 1994. A graduate of the University of Memphis, Jones Carson is the Director of Corporate Communications at Memphis Light, Gas & Water, where she is responsible for managing and coordinating all aspects of communications and media outreach. Prior to Memphis Light, Gas & Water, Jones Carson served as Executive Assistant and Chief Spokesperson for the Memphis Mayor and worked as the creator and host of the local cable program, Memphis Style Politics.

Report Shows Extending Middle Class Tax Cuts Would Spare Tennessee Families a Serious Economic Hit

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Democratic Party is advocating for the extension of middle class tax cuts today following the release a National Economic Council of the White House state-by-state report that shows serious economic problems for hard-working Tennessee families if the extension fails.

Click here to see the National Economic Council’s Tennessee report.

Party chairman Chip Forrester said Volunteer State families living paycheck to paycheck cannot afford for Congress to play politics on the edge of a fiscal cliff.

“Today’s report by the National Economic Council is a critical reminder of what’s on the line for Tennessee’s families if Congress fails to extend tax cuts for the middle class by the end of the year,” Forrester said. “According to the report, inaction by Congressional Republicans will result in federal income tax hikes for 2.3 million middle-class families in Tennessee — along with 98 percent of American families and 97 percent of small businesses.”

Failure to reach a deal will also erode investments in the state economy, namely consumer spending and tax credits for college and small businesses.

“More specifically, a typical median-income family of four in Tennessee could see their taxes go up by $2,200 — with families receiving a reduced Child Tax Credit and 761,000 low- and moderate-income working families with children losing access to this credit altogether, costing them an average of $1,000 a year,” Forrester said. “More than 200,000 middle-class families across the state will no longer get the support they need to pay for college through the American Opportunity Tax Credit, and Tennessee small businesses would only be able to claim immediate tax deductions for $25,000 — as opposed to $250,000 — of new investments.”

Forrester is urging members of Congress from Tennessee to work with President Obama, who has laid out a budget plan that protects middle class families and reduces the deficit through a balanced approach.

“As the President has emphasized, this is not just about avoiding the looming fiscal cliff — it’s about laying the foundation for the long-term economic growth of the middle class and reducing the deficit in a balanced, responsible way,” Forrester said. “While President Obama remains committed to working with both parties to reach a compromise that moves our country forward, there is simply no reason to hold the economic security of Tennessee families hostage while we debate tax cuts for the wealthiest few.

“It’s time for Republicans in Congress to come to the table and help extend the middle-class tax cuts without further delay,” Forrester said.

City of Memphis Files Federal Suit Against Tennessee Voter I.D. Law

The City of Memphis has filed suit in U.S. District Court on behalf of Memphis residents against Tre Hargett, the Tennessee Secretary of State and Mark Goins, Tennessee Coordinator of Elections in their official capacities asking for injunctive relief to bar the enforcement of Tennessee’s Voter I.D. law. Ladies and Gentlemen this is the ray of hope we have been looking for. Hopefully, we will find a judge that will see the law for what it is and bar its enforcement. I am attaching a copy of the complaint if you care to read.

Amended Complaint Filed by City of Memphis

Marte Lawrence, Secretary
Communications Director
Blount County Democratic Party