Election 2019: Bill Powers heading to state Senate a 'happy man'

Republican Bill Powers swept all three counties of Tennessee Senate District 22 Tuesday, and is heading to the state legislature a "happy man," he told The Leaf-Chronicle as the final numbers for the special election swayed in his favor.

Voters in Montgomery, Houston and Stewart counties collectively decided that it is Powers, the local retail automotive businessman and Clarksville city political figure, who will fill out the remainder of what would have been Congressman Mark Green's term in the state Senate. 

"I am a happy man," said Powers. "I'm humbled and I'm honored that the folks of this district have put their trust in me."

Overall, Powers won Tuesday with just under 54% of the vote to nearly 45% for Democratic nominee Juanita Charles.

With a relatively strong showing especially in Montgomery County, Charles told The Leaf-Chronicle her focus will remain to serve, whether in elected office or as a volunteer.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm here to serve our community in whatever capacity I am able," Charles said.

Two other independent candidates also appeared on the ballot, Doyle Clark and David L. Cutting, who accounted for a combined roughly 2 percent of the vote.

Long road to Senate

Tuesday represented the end of a journey for Powers that actually began midway through 2018, when it became increasingly apparent that the District 22 Senate seat might be vacated.

Powers, sensing this, had been actively getting his name out there on the campaign trail even before last November when it was realized officially that there would indeed be a vacant seat in the Senate.

Green, also Republican, who previously represented District 22 in the Tennessee Senate, was elected in November to the 7th District U.S. Congressional seat.

On Jan. 3, Green stepped down from the state Legislature, setting the special election process in motion.

In the interim, former state Sen. Rosalind Kurita had stepped back into that role after being selected by the Montgomery County Commission in January for a temporary return to the General Assembly.

With Kurita back in the Senate seat, there was a special primary in March won by Powers on the Republican side, and Charles for the Democrats. From there, Powers was successful in reaching out to all three counties and building consensus toward Tuesday's general election win.

Powers is managing partner of Wyatt-Johnson Automotive Group and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. He serves on the Clarksville City Council and is chairman of the city's Gas & Water Committee. 

Now that he's state Senate bound, Powers confirmed Tuesday night that he will be resigning "shortly" from his seat on the city council. More details about that vacancy on the council, and how it will be filled, should be forthcoming soon.

Complete results: Bill Powers wins state Senate with 53 percent of vote

Reach reporter Jimmy Settle at jimmysettle@theleafchronicle.com or 931-245-0247. To support his work, consider signing up for a digital subscription at TheLeafChronicle.com.