Republican State Senator to Leave, Cites Family Duties

A state senator from upper East Tennessee announced Thursday that he’ll step down after serving only one four-year term.

Republican Mike Faulk says his solo-legal practice and his ailing mother are higher priorities than the eight-month-long campaign it would take to retain his seat.

The senator made the announcement to a “student town hall” meeting.

“For the past three years, having time to work in my business after first doing my Senate responsibilities has been a struggle. As a solo attorney, I need to work much, much more over the next four years to keep my business going.”

Faulk represents Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson and Union counties. He narrowly won the seat over the incumbent, who had left the GOP to become an independent.

Faulk noted that he believes in term limits for politicians. “As Candidate Faulk, I told folks I’d serve a term or two,” he said. “I’ll be keeping that promise by becoming Citizen Faulk.”