Murfreesboro Voters Reveal Change in Gordon’s District

Democratic candidates have been slow to emerge in the race to replace retiring congressman Bart Gordon. The Murfreesboro Democrat admits the 6th Congressional District has become more challenging for the party. WPLN’s Blake Farmer dropped in on a meeting of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce to ask why.

Some voters like handyman Brian Hughlett are upset with Democrats in Washington and what he views as out-of-control deficit spending. Hughlett says Bart Gordon’s retirement is an opportunity to elect a Republican.

“This last year I really think some mistakes have been made and I’m not real happy with the way things have been going. With him retiring, maybe we can get someone more middle of the road in there.”

“My name is Martin Porter. I’m the owner of Golf Etc. here in Murfreesboro. I think the words “conservative Democrat” in this area might be an oxymoron, I guess.”

Though Gordon was a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dogs, Porter says voters in the district still tie the 25-year Congressman to the larger Democratic agenda.

Neal DiPentino runs an online Christian magazine and says even Democrats who label themselves as conservative can’t win support from some conservative voters, like himself.

“I think people look past that and they see Democrat and they think liberal, automatically. The two are synonymous, at least in the minds of people anyway.”

DiPentino says he believes Gordon still had enough favor to win the seat he’s held since 1985.

Susan Emory, a Murfreesboro realtor, says she believes another Democrat still could have a shot if the party unifies behind a candidate.

“The Republicans are trying to rebuild their party and they’ve been quite vocal. And I don’t think the Democrats are quite focused in that way yet.”

While Democrats have been slow, a half-dozen Republicans have declared they will run to replace Bart Gordon. Two state senators, Jim Tracy and Diane Black, say they intend to run. Retired Army Reservist Dave Evans and Murfreesboro resident Lou Ann Zelenik were early to the race. Shop owners Gary Mann of Franklin and Kerry Roberts of Springfield have also thrown their hats in the ring.