You’re reading one story in WPLN’s series exploring the wide-ranging impacts of a hard-right political faction in Middle Tennessee. Find all parts here. A fight is brewing in Sumner County. On one side is the Sumner County Commission and its hard-right Sumner County Constitutional Republicans majority. On the other side sits the county’s board of elections.
Book bans are expanding from schools into public libraries in Sumner County. The group behind the shift is contributing to a culture of fear.
Library board members appointed by Sumner County Constitutional Republicans have deeply influenced local libraries, including passing a policy that critics say would censor collections across the county.
Book ban advocates could soon take over Sumner County’s school board. Behind the movement is a far-right political faction with a decade-long grudge.
The Sumner County Constitutional Republicans already hold a majority of seats on the County Commission. They hope to flip the school board in the upcoming March 5 elections, with endorsed candidates running in four of the six contests.
How a far-right political group rose to power in Sumner County — and what they’re pursuing in the next election
Sumner County’s upcoming elections could have a major impact on public life for years to come. That’s thanks in large part to a hard-right branch of the Republican party and its surprising rise to power.
Sumner County school board votes to keep a challenged book in schools
The Sumner County Schools board voted not to ban a book during Tuesday night’s meeting. The challenged book — the graphic memoir “Hey, Kiddo” — depicts the author’s childhood living with his grandparents, a missing father and a mother suffering from addiction.
GOP quarterback, zookeeper, Tennessee House majority leader: Who is William Lamberth?
Most people only know politicians for the bills they sponsor. It’s not often people think about their lives outside of politics. For this story, WPLN News sat down with Tennessee House Majority Leader William Lamberth and talked about his life outside the capitol and his life leading up to becoming a state elected official.
Sumner County’s newest school board member won’t be chosen by voters, and some believe it’ll go to an ultraconservative
A death has left a vacancy on the Sumner County School Board. But rather than voters, it’s County Commissioners who will decide who fills the role.
ICYMI: Sumner County commissioners pick winner of tied race, against some citizens’ wishes
The new Sumner County Commission was sworn in last week amid controversy. They had to decide how to handle a tie vote for District 13’s commission race. The process resulted in commissioners, not the citizens, choosing the district’s representative.
Sumner County Democrats feel ‘powerless’ after the commission chose to seat the Republican candidate in a tied race
Brenda Dotson could have been the first Democrat elected to the Sumner County Commission since the 1990s when she tied the District 13 race with Republican Terri Boyt. Instead of going to a runoff election though, the commission chose to seat Boyt.
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