Sumner County Democrats feel ‘powerless’ after the commission chose to seat the Republican candidate in a tied race

Sumner County Commissioners broke a tie race by hand-picking Republican Terri Boyt to represent District 13. Now, Democrats in the area say that the commission is silencing voters.

Republican Terri Boyt and Democrat Brenda Dotson tied in their County Commission race. County officials could have sent the race back to voters for a runoff, but that motion was voted down at Thursday’s meeting.

That meant the Commission had to choose between the two women — Terri Boyt, a Republican, or Dotson, a Democrat. Dotson would’ve been the only person of color on the commission, and the first Democrat in decades.

The all-Republican commission chose to give Boyt the seat. Dotson says that’s a big loss for the district.

“I feel the most sorry for my community,” Dotson said. “Because I know my community won’t have that representation to make sure that they’re going to get the stuff that they’re allowed to.”

Gallatin resident John Boone agrees. He says the move is discouraging to a population that already feels unheard.

“You know, if you’re taking voting rights away from people and not allowing the people to make these decisions then it can become very frustrating for them,” Boone said, “because they then feel powerless.”

Dotson plans to explore possible options to challenge the decision.