News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Tennessee Democrats are evaluating their options at the local levels as the dust settles from last week’s midterm elections.
State Executive Committee Member Amos Powers says analyzing results from the election will help the party determine where they could improve.
“I think we just need to look at the numbers and also look at our great candidates across the state that were very-well performing, not only campaigning but getting their message out,” Powers says. “I think keeping those candidates active and the volunteers will help us in the future.”
Powers says finding individuals who best understand the region’s needs will be crucial in helping more Democrats represent the Upper Cumberland.
“The issues in Nashville aren’t going to necessarily be the issues that we face here in Cookeville,” Powers says. “I think working on issues that would effect the budget for the county is going to be a little bit different than what they would face in the city of Nashville.”
Powers says Democrats could benefit from creating a platform based on healthcare as small communities struggle to access or afford it.
“We have to understand that some of the local communities here in the Upper Cumberland have hospitals that, if they close, could devastate the communities,” Amos says. “Especially the one here in Cookeville (Cookeville Regional Medical Center). If for some reason it closes, the city owns that. So the city would have to make up ways to pay for that.”
Powers states focusing on improving the quality of education in the region and the state is important for future Democratic candidates to focus on. The Tennessee Department of Education has noted some decreases in area school districts within its accountability and graduation rating reports. However, other districts have reported steady enrollment and slightly increasing graduation numbers as well.
“I know there are some reports from some Midwest states where books were falling apart and schools are crumbling around the students,” Powers says. “I think healthcare and education are going to be the two issues that we can focus on, at least here in the Upper Cumberland.”
No matter the platform, Powers says improving communication to the public and increasing voter registration will help the party in the long run.
“It may not feel like it on a national level and I know some people say ‘my vote doesn’t count,'” Powers says. “In local elections it does. We have elections that can be decided by one vote or 200 votes.”
Nearly one-quarter of the Tennessee House of Representatives are Democratic Party members with most representing the central and western portions of the state near Nashville and Memphis.
Democrats helped the party take control of the United States House of Representatives during last week’s midterm election for the first time since 2010.
