C. Scott Shasteen's Internet Home

Turning the Page on the Next Chapter
August 6, 2011

Nothing like losing a political race to make a guy just want to step away from all things political for awhile. With so many hits on this site since the end of voting Thursday night, I guess folks want to know my thoughts about the election.

First I remind you that he state's top web site devoted solely to high school football is MurphyFair.com, and the internet home of the Tullahoma Wildcats is THSWildcats.com

Listen to High School Sports Plus Monday nights at 6pm, and Tullahoma Wildcats football every game night at 6pm, on FantasyRadio.com

Above everything else, I really appreciate Mike Stanton and Jerry Mathis. I've known both for almost 40 years, and both have consistently been solid contributors to the fabric that makes Tullahoma. They love the city and they put a lot of time into trying to make it better, and for that I am grateful.

They beat me resoundingly, which tells me that more of you folks felt they were the best men for the job. I respect that and am really at peace with it. It's a credit to them and not a discredit to me. Your votes for them weren't votes against me. I get politics.

Next have been the questions of whether I will run again for office again. Having not been elected two of the three times I've ran makes me hesitant for sure. I mean, we all know or know of those folks who have ran multiple times and never won.

I knew going into the race that running against two incumbents who have been part of a city board that has not been pushed into controversy would be challenging. Adding to my uphill battle was the fact that Mike and Jerry weren't just two incumbents, but also men who are known and resepected throughout the community.

So perhaps my timing could have been better. As a city we have fallen back into a pattern that was not advantageous to us in the past, that being incumbent aldermen have returned to office 100% during the previous two years. My hope is that whether I run again or not, other folks will decide its something they want to attempt. If you want to know what its like just give me a call and I'll educate you on the process and help you get started. We need good candidates.

Bottom line as far as the race for aldermen goes is this, and it would be the same if I had won - people should remember what was said during the forums and then judge the winners on how they vote during the next three years.

Both Mike and Jerry made it clear they were committed to bringing jobs to Tullahoma. Both were adament about not raising property taxes. Both were totally against aggressive annexation. I believe they will have to make multiple votes on those issues in the next 36 months.

Lane Curlee ran a professional campaign, which is no surprise. He knows how to organize and how to market, and those are probably the two most important parts of a successful campaign. That takes nothing away from Lane himself. I've known him a long time and he has always worked hard. I'm confident he will do that as mayor.

The most interesting aspect of the election was the fact that Troy Bisby led the mayor's race after early voting, but then precinct after precinct on election day saw Lane edge closer and closer, finally overcoming Troy's one-time 170 vote lead.

We have not seen that happen in a mayor's race since early voting began. It did happen back in 2003 in an alderman race. I remember because I led Jim Waters in early voting, and through most of the precincts until Bel Aire came in. He had just been moved from there to East Lincoln and those folks in that area of town swung the election to his favor.

What we saw in the alderman race this year was very normal in that the rank and percentages from early voting stayed pretty consistent throughout election day in all precincts. That has happened in every race I remember since early voting began except that 2003 race.

So what happened between the end of early voting on July 30 and election day Aug. 4 to swing the mayor's race 200 votes? Karma.

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