Democrats vs. Holt in Election Commission controversy
[gtxvideo vid=”IKMsd0Rc” playlist=”” pid=”OTSe9U1y” thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/IKMsd0Rc.jpg” vtitle=”Democratic Chairman Interviews PKG”]
WEAKLEY COUNTY, Tenn. — Some are calling State Rep. Andy Holt an “elite ruler” over Weakley County after he removed three election commissioners. “I’m not sure what he’s trying to achieve other than trying to control the elections in Weakley County,” Mary Mancini, chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party, said. She said the party believes in effective and accountable government, but with the recent news about the Weakley County Election Commission, she feels Holt does not have the same beliefs. “It just clearly shows that Republican Andy Holt does not believe in the same,” Mancini said. “He does not want to be held accountable. He wants to circumvent what the problem is, and he wants to have special treatment.” However, Holt believes this kind of statements benefit his case. “When you make such outlandish statements such as to say that I think I’m some kind of elite ruler over this county or whatever is really a false narrative, and I think people can see that,” Holt said. Holt said he expected this kind of opposition. “They’re looking for anything to divide and conquer,” he said. “There really is no reason to be replacing those folks other than some other politically motivated reason,” Mancini said. Holt said he was concerned Alex Britt would not be given a fair consideration for the administrator of elections position and that he was concerned the former election commission would not consider Britt, which is one of the reasons he felt the need to replace the commissioners. Mancini said it is ultimately up to the State Election Commission, not Holt, to decide who will replace the former election commissioners.
