Caleb Thomas recommended for LC Election Commission

State Senator Joey Hensley and State Representative David Byrd have recommended a Hohenwald attorney to be a Lewis County election commissioner.

State Election Commission member Donna Rowland Barrett of Murfreesboro was notified last week by Hensley that Caleb D. Thomas is who the lawmakers' prefer, Hensley said.

Thomas "is the son of ... David Thomas who had to resign from the commission because he went to work for the county," the senator said Monday. David Thomas recently became Lewis County Mayor Jonah Keltner's executive assistant, thereby opening a seat on the election commission.

Succeeding his father is a point of family pride, Caleb Thomas said.

"It's good to follow in his footsteps," the lawyer said of his pending public service. "I'm glad I have someone who I can rely on for answers to questions. I am very proud of him ... It's an honor to be able to step in and follow in his footsteps."

David Thomas' new job presented a conflict, so he had to resign from the commission.

"No one who works for the governmental entity, or holds elected office can be on the election commission," Hensley said.

The Tennessee Election Commission will meet in a few weeks when Barrett will announce that Thomas is recommended by Hensley and Byrd.

"It's ultimately up to the state election commission," Hensley said of who's appointed. "They can appoint who they want, but they generally go by the recommendation of the locally-elected representative and senator."

David Thomas chaired the election commission.

Rebecca Rawdon was unanimously elected to chair the county election commission during the panel's meeting last week, county Election Administrator Rusty Isbell said.

Hensley said, "Caleb will make a good member" of the election commission. "He's an attorney, so he's very familiar with the law."

Each county election commission has five members, Hensley said. Because the Republican Party has a majority of state lawmakers, all county election commissions have three Republicans and two Democrat members. Since there's no state lawmaker who's a Democrat representing Lewis County, the county Democratic Party would recommend a Democrat to become an election commissioner if one or both of the Democrats on the panel leaves the commission.

Years ago, Democrats controlled the state House and Senate and there were three Democrats and two Republicans on every county election commission.

Hensley said the Tennessee Election Commission has seven members: four Republicans and three Democrats now. They are appointed by the General Assembly.

Election commissions "are set up to be a partisan body," Hensley said. "I want them to just make sure the elections are fair; that everybody gets their vote counted, and that everything runs smoothly."

Meanwhile, the Tennessee General Assembly resumes it's two-year session on Tuesday. Because 2022 is the second year of the session, there won't be a recess of the Legislature as there is when a session starts. Education funding, covid vaccine issues and the budget are anticipated as major issues.