This year Representative John Ragan’s, R-Oak Ridge, has attracted headlines for proposing multiple bills dealing with hot button social issues that his own party rejected. Ragan’s proposals to prohibit public universities from creating policies that support students in the Jewish community and those that address discrimination both failed to advance out of GOP led committees.
He also was among the House members who declined to vote on a bill outlawing marriage between first cousins.
Now Ragan is facing a strong challenge to keep his House District 33 seat in East Tennessee from a challenger who’s focusing his campaign on local concerns like jobs, safety, and schools.
“We need leaders more interested with the future of Anderson County families, than in their own political future. We need thoughtful leaders who listen and work to solve problems, not chase headlines,” wrote former Clinton Police Chief Rick Scarbrough on his campaign website.
Scarbrough’s approach appears to be attracting financial support.
According to quarterly campaign reports released last week, Scarbrough raised $51,490 compared to Ragan’s total of $33,486.
The race is among those political insiders are watching closely in the August state primary and lately, campaign mailers have been attracting notice.
Ragan received criticism for using taxpayer money to send out a mailer government watchdogs say resembled a campaign ad. Recently the seven-term incumbent sent out mailers funded by his campaign that misrepresent Scarbrough’s positions on gun carry rights.
“Scarbrough, as Chief of Police, sent a letter to the federal government asking them to oppose a law H.R.38/S440 that would allow Tennessee concealed permits to be recognized in other states,” wrote Ragan in the mailer.
Scarbrough addressed the attack on his Facebook page by posting the letter he signed and explaining that he was opposing federal overreach into Tennessee’s gun laws.
“You might have seen my opponent’s desperate attempts to distort my record on the 2nd amendment,” wrote Scarbrough. “We were fighting federal overreach, so Tennesseans can determine our own permitting process without any input from the likes of NY or California. I’ll always support Tennesseans right to make our own laws without federal overreach.”
The winner of the August House District 33 GOP primary will face Democrat Anne Backus in November.
