As Sumner County dries out, commissioners who rejected flood prevention funds are working to elect Senate challenger Chris Spencer

On May 8 floodwaters rushed into Sumner County, damaging property, and forcing emergency crews to execute dozens of water rescues.

The storm also washed up new criticism for a far right-wing political organization that’s gained power in the county in recent years, and is challenging to take its politics to a bigger role in state government this year.

That group is the Sumner County Constitutional Republicans. Commissioners backed by the organization led a controversial 17 to 7 vote last year to reject FEMA flood dollars targeted for flood protection in the Cottontown community.

Cottontown was among the hardest hit during this month’s storm and the community’s volunteer Fire Chief Joe McLaughlin took to social media to attack the commission’s decision for putting residents at risk.

“Cottontown is seeing the results of the current county commission backing out of the FEMA FLOOD ABATEMENT GRANT and taking no action to get the creek bed cleaned out at Bugg Hollow,” wrote McLaughlin on Facebook.

Screenshot of Joe McLaughlin's post on the Sumner County, TN County Commission Facebook page

The group behind the decision to reject federal flood funds formed roughly six years ago, according to a 2022 interview with Tennessee Star, because of concerns that Democrats were infiltrating the Republican party in the county. Since then, the Sumner County Constitutional Republican backed candidates have gained a majority of votes on the county commission and founding member Chris Spencer is now aiming for a State Senate seat.

Spencer is challenging three-term incumbent and Senator Education Committee member Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, in the August Republican Primary.

Spencer personally thanked four Sumner County Constitutional Republican backed county commissioners who voted against taking federal flooding funding for their support at his campaign kickoff earlier this year. Another three have donated to his campaign.

Screenshot of a post on Chris Spencer's Facebook page

Spencer’s primary opponent, Senator Haile, says the connection should raise questions for voters who value public safety.  Senator Haile also pointed out the vote to reject federal flooding funding wasn’t the only time Sumner County Constitutional Republican backed commissioners have hindered efforts to support the needs of residents.

Senator Ferrell Haile (Photo by the Tennessee General Assembly)

“As elected officials, our top responsibilities are representing our constituents and voting in their best interest. I do not understand why any public servant would vote against public safety and storm preparedness. The FEMA funds would have greatly benefitted the citizens of Cottontown during the recent storms. This seems to be a pattern by the SCCR (Sumner County Constitutional Republicans),” said Haile in a statement. “A few months later, Resolution 2307-11 was brought before the Commission. The same members worked to place heavy stipulations on the county applying for a water grant. As a legislator, I cannot think of a time when it is justifiable to vote against the best interest of my constituents.”

Questions about federal education dollars

Rejecting federal dollars and support, has become a larger issue in Tennessee following last year’s task force that held hearings examining the possibility of rejecting federal education dollars as a means to avoid federal requirements.

Tennessee receives more than a billion dollars for education from the federal government each year and during those hearings the Tennessee Comptroller said nearly 20 percent of school district funding comes from federal sources. With so much funding at stake, lawmakers ultimately opted against rejecting federal education funding but Spencer appeared to be reluctant to close that door completely in an interview with the Tennessee Informer.

Spencer said one of his priorities is limited government and he’d like to sever the state’s connection to the federal government when it comes to education.

“Limited government for me means that we start taking the federal government, and some of their agencies, out of our state,” said Spencer. “I would prefer to tell the federal government to get out of our education and we’ll run our education our own. And people get alarmed by that because they’ll say we’re going to lose all that money. And I’m not so sure about that because we’re taxed, you know, based upon the Constitution apportionment.”

Voters will decide the Senate District 18 Republican Primary in August. The winner will be highly favored against Democrat Walter Chandler in the general election.