Fincher's exit adds drama to race for Corker's Senate seat

Victor Ashe

Shopper News columnist

Stephen Fincher, who has entered the U.S. Senate race in Tennessee, represented Tennessee's 8th Congressional District from 2011 to 2017.

If you thought things were settled in Tennessee politics, think again, with former U.S. Rep. Steve Fincher pulling out of the U.S. Senate race and urging Sen. Bob Corker to re-enter.

Fincher's withdrawal is not a total surprise, as he has been almost invisible since Christmas — a strange way to run a statewide contest. He will now need to refund over $1.5 million that he raised.

Sen. Bob Corker speaks during a press conference, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

But Corker has withdrawn and refunded his donations. How does he justify flipping and re-entering the race? U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn is not going to withdraw. She is running as the Trump candidate. Would Corker have President Trump's active help over someone who has been with Trump from the beginning?

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In a Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, file photo, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., leaves the House chamber in Washington after the House gave a significant boost to President Donald Trump's promise to cut taxes. While neither of Tennessee’s top GOP candidates, Blackburn and former Rep. Stephen Fincher, has the kind of personal baggage that Republican Roy Moore had in the Alabama race won by a Democrat, both have wholeheartedly embraced Trump at what Democrats hope is exactly the wrong time.

Blackburn has been handed a chance to broaden her appeal and reach out to Fincher backers who were not enthused about her. It is unclear she will do this given that her media person called those in the GOP opposing her "sexist pigs". Was she referring to Jim Haslam, father of Gov. Bill Haslam; Knoxville banker Tim Williams, Susan Richardson Williams, Raja Jubran, and attorney Culver Schmid, who all signed onto a Fincher event at Williams' home?

Words like that can only divide the GOP and help former Gov. Phil Bredesen. A Blackburn-Bredesen contest would be one to watch. Bredesen won two terms as governor due to strong GOP support. Can he repeat in the era of Trump? He can match Blackburn in money raised and will present a more moderate image.

In a Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005 file photo, Gov. Phil Bredeson talks about the resignation of Col. Lynn Pitts, commander of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, in Nashville, Tenn. Former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen has kicked off his 2018 Senate run from a position of strength, a known quantity in Tennessee.

Will Corker run or not? I do not know, but if he does, he faces an uphill battle. He would need every dollar he can raise to defeat Blackburn. But then Blackburn needs to wage a more visible personal campaign. Neither of her last two campaign appearances in Knox County exceeded 40 people, in a county of 350,000. She cannot prevail just by appearing on Fox News, TV ads and linking Bredesen to Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. East Tennesseans expect to see their next senator in person.

UT president Joe DiPietro recently had a column in the News Sentinel about his plans as president, with no mention of his departure by June 2019 and probably at the end of this year. His wife has already moved to Illinois, and he now has a For Sale sign in his yard on Old Kent Drive. He will move into a condo once the house sells.

University of Tennessee system president Joe DiPietro's house in West Knoxville, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018.

It is listed with realtor Jon Brock for $749,900. The house has a small pool and was previously occupied by former UT athletic director Doug Dickey. The listing is on the high side for homes in that neighborhood, which more often are in the $650,000 range. There is not a lot he can accomplish in the remaining 10 months to December. Chancellor Beverly Davenport still must fill the provost position, which has been vacant for over a year and a half.

More:UT president moving out; how will successor be chosen?

DiPietro, vice chair Raja Jubran and Davenport appeared together before a legislative committee in Nashville Feb. 12, where Sen. Mike Bell told Davenport she “was saying nothing” in response to a direct question on the diversity office. After watching the video myself, it was obvious Davenport had not done her homework for this hearing, and her ill-prepared answers were embarrassing for someone who has a $700,000 a year pay package and a PhD in communications. The committee recommended extending the life of the board for only one year, when it is often five or six years.

UT continues to pay suspended athletic director John Currie his full salary and benefits at over $60,000 a month. It is approaching the fourth month since he was relieved of his duties. UT is also paying Phillip Fulmer, who actually does the job. How long will this continue? The decision lies with Davenport and DiPietro, who permit this wasteful use of public dollars.

President Donald Trump has nominated Memphis attorney and GOP activist John Ryder to the TVA board of directors. His confirmation seems assured with the active backing of senators Lamar Alexander and Corker.

John Ryder, general counsel for the Republican National Committee and a Memphis native, was ready to deploy GOP election attorneys if needed on Election Day.

Ryder and current TVA board member Gina Lodge from Nashville will be the two board members with the strongest history of involvement in their respective parties. Lodge is involved in the Bredesen for Senate campaign and is married to former state Democratic party chair Dick Lodge. Ryder has been the attorney who has handled many GOP reapportionment lawsuits going back to 1980.

Both are bright people who know what they are doing and understand the political consequences of any TVA decision.

Gov. Bill Haslam will host Vice President Mike Pence in Nashville for a fundraiser for the Republican Governors Association on Feb. 27.

BIRTHDAYS: Feb. 21 – Jerry Askew is 64, Bart Carey is 61 and Sandy McNabb is 80. Feb. 22 – Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is 66, and deputy to the governor Jim Henry is 73. Feb. 23 – Doug Horne, former UT trustee and Democratic Party donor, is 73. Feb. 24 – UT Faculty Senate president Beauvais Lyons and former city vice mayor Joe Bailey are 60; former News Sentinel photographer Miles Cary is 71; former U.S. senator and vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman is 76, and former city Fire Chief Eddie Cureton is 81. Feb. 25 – Michael Grider, county spokesman for Mayor Tim Burchett, is 35. Feb. 26 – Former city property appraiser Lee Miracle is 73.