One of the more closely watched races this summer is East Tennessee’s House District 33 GOP primary between John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, and former Clinton police chief and current University of Tennessee Law Enforcement Innovation Center Executive Director Rick Scarbrough.
Ragan is expected to face a strong challenge from Scarbrough, and some are questioning whether the 7-term incumbent’s campaign might be benefiting from taxpayer dollars.
Ragan sent out a mailer (see above) to constituents recently that echoes language he’s using on the campaign trail promising to “protect our freedom” and it details legislation he’s helped pass over the last two years and various groups and committees he serves on.
“Our state government exists to preserve freedom and to protect us from those who threaten our safety. Thomas Jefferson said that even the best forms of government eventually slip into tyranny. Fortunately, Tennessee has strong safeguards against such government interference and intrusion. These include rigorous fiscal discipline, respect for the rule of law and devotion to the adage that “he governs best who governs least,” wrote Ragan in the mailer.
The Tennessee Firefly sent a copy of Ragan’s mailer to non-profit organization Common Cause. Chairman Dick Williams has spent four decades advocating to ensure Tennessee’s political process serves the public and he says the mailer appears to be more of a campaign piece than constituent information.
“There’s a difference between using public dollars that are allotted for information to be used as a campaign piece. It looks like this more appropriately should be funded by the campaign. It’s probably not illegal but questionable,” said Dick Williams.
State lawmakers are allotted funding for posting and printing, but constituent mailings are prohibited within 30 days of an election where the lawmaker’s name appears on the ballot.
Ragan’s mailing would not have occurred during the prohibited period, but he was among the top spenders in the House following the end of session.
According to reports provided by the Office of Legislative Administration, the only House member facing a primary challenge who spent more than Ragan on mailings following the session was Representative Paul Sherrell, R-Sparta.
House Constituent Mailer Expenses May 1 – June 18
Rep. Paul Sherrell $10,432.70
Rep. John Ragan $7,063.00
Rep. Chris Todd $4,489.35
Rep. Rusty Grills $4,795.72
Rep. Tim Rudd $1,190.00
(Only Representative facing a primary challenge included)
A choice between social issues and community concerns
Representative Ragan attracted headlines in recent years for proposing legislation that deals with hot button social issues. Ragan unsuccessfully sponsored bills to prohibit public universities from creating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and antidiscrimination policies.
He also was among the House members who declined to vote on a bill outlawing marriage between first cousins.
Scarbrough has focused his campaign on community concerns like high-paying jobs, creating safe communities, and providing great schools.
The House district 33 challenger specifically lists protecting the state’s high education standards and accountability as a priority.
“Lowering our expectations will never allow our children to reach higher. Our children are our future and too much is at stake for one million Tennessee public school students for us not to have accountability at every level. Rick believes strong schools are built on transparency and that high standards today will help Tennessee students be prepared for success tomorrow,” wrote Scarbrough on his campaign website.
The position is a contrast from Ragan who voted in favor of an effort this year to reduce the amount of testing Tennessee students are required to take.
