Dawn White Refused to Debate Richard Garvin

White Campaign Responds to Debate Request

Murfreesboro, TN   --  June 12, 2012  --  We have received our opponent’s request for a debate.  As Dawn White’s campaign manager, my response is below. 

“Dawn White believes candidates should personally make an effort to take their messages directly to the voters, and she is doing exactly that.  To learn about a candidate, voters should not have to attend a staged event where they will only hear rehearsed political rhetoric and canned answers.  

Dawn White is working hard to share her message of economic growth and opportunity, education reform and smaller, smarter government with residents of the 37th District.  She has already personally reached out to thousands of voters, and is committed to personally meeting every voter she possibly can during this race to hear their concerns and earn their support.   Through her personal work ethic, Dawn has shown that she will be a true representative of the people who will work tirelessly on their behalf. 

I understand Mr. Garvin’s need to garner free publicity and to attempt to prove himself as a Republican.  On several occasions, Richard Garvin has publicly stated that he voted for Barack Obama.  In fact, he had never even voted in a Republican primary until after he declared his candidacy for this very seat just a few short months ago.  The Republican nominee should be someone who will make decisions using common sense and conservative principles.  I seriously question Mr. Garvin’s credibility as a conservative.  No one who has truly been a conservative for years as our opponent claims to have been would ever have considered voting for Barack Obama. 

Dawn White is a lifelong conservative Republican who has worked to support conservative principles and candidates for years.  Candidates should be judged by their records and actions, not just by their words.  Dawn White is the only conservative in this race.  For these reasons, Dawn will not be debating Mr. Garvin.  Dawn looks forward to participating in the traditional televised League of Women Voters forum in the fall if she is the Republican nominee.”                                                                                                           -

Amelia King Bozeman, Campaign Manager
Dawn White for State Representative
615.456.4374
amelia@votedawn.com          

The Dawn White-Richard Garvin race is the race that has become entwined with the 9-12 Project-Tim Rudd controversy.  Tim Rudd is a member of the State Republican Party Executive Committee and is a paid consultant to Dawn White. To my way of thinking, if that is not a prohibited conflict of interest, it should be. 

Tim created controversy when he urged Republican candidates for office to boycott a 9-12 Project debate and vetting process. 

I am dismayed that one would characterize a debate as "a staged event where they will only hear rehearsed political rhetoric and canned answers." Someone should have told Lincoln and Douglas that or Nixon and Kennedy. I think a debate is one of the best ways to make a decision about a candidate. With questions not known before hand, it is often difficult to give canned answers in a debate. A debate can allow one to judge a candidate's depth of knowledge and quickness of mind. A lot can be revealed in a debate, that cannot be revealed in a standard campaign appearance. Why is Dawn White afraid to debate?

I am concerned that Richard Garvin voted for Barack Obama and is only a recent Republican convert. At a recent First Tuesday event, I asked Richard about that and he said that he made a mistake. Garvin, who is African-American said that the fact that Barack Obama is an African-American influenced his decision. I offered him the opportunity to fully address the issue of his having voted for Obama and his conversion to the Republican cause. If I get a more detailed response from Garvin that addresses that issue, I will post it. 

This is an interesting controversy and race. Tim Rudd is supporting Dawn White who pays him for campaign services. Dawn White is perceived as the "establishment candidate," yet she is the long-term Republican and Garvin is a recent Republican convert who voted for Obama.  

Tim Rudd has been a big supporter of Lou Ann Zelenik, who is the anti-establishment candidate who believes the First Amendment does not apply to Muslims. When campaigning for Zelenik, Tim Rudd was complementary of the 9-12 group; now he is critical.

 Zelenik has been popular with many of the 9-12 people in a race for the US. House; but many of the same people favor Garvin is this race for a State House seat. Politics can be irrational, and people's alliances can be short-lived and hard to explain.  

To learn more about the 9-12 Project-Tim Rudd issue, see the following:

Tim Rudd evades the question. Criticizes Matt Hurtt and 9-12.

SHIRLEY COLUMN: Rutherford County Republican leaders try to sink Tea Party's ship

J. Lee Douglas of 9-12 replies to Tim Rudd in open letter

Local Republicans divided over conservative organizations

Tim Rudd: I am not picking a fight with 9-12.

Who does Tim Rudd work for and is that the reason for the 9-12 letter?

A split in conservative ranks: Why is Tim Rudd picking a fight with 9/12?

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Who does Tim Rudd work for and is that the reason for the 9-12 letter?

Yesterday, I reported that Tim Rudd a member of the Republican Party State Executive Committee had sent out a letter to candidates and elected officials urging them to boycott a vetting process and debate being sponsored by the local 9-12 Project group. I said I was surprised to see a Republican in his position pick a fight with nine-twelvers and I said that I did not know if the letter from Rudd represented only his opinion or if this was a move by the Republican Party establishment to retaliate against this 9-12 group for some of their criticism of elected Republicans.


I still don't know.  However, Matthew Hurt writing in his blog reports that Tim Rudd is a paid consultant for Dawn White, operating under the name "Stones River Strategies." Matthew has documents to support his claim. Matthew theorizes that the move against 9-12 was a move to help Dawn White.

Dawn White is a candidate for the new 37th House District seat, the same seat being sought by Richard Garvin, Jr.  It is my understanding that Garvin is the candidate favored by the more tea party oriented Republicans and White is the candidate supported by the more traditional party establishment Republicans. Stay tuned, more to follow.

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Richard Garvin, Jr., Announces Bid for Tennessee’s New 37th House District

Smyrna, TN.   Local businessman and educator, Richard Garvin, Jr., of Smyrna, announces the launching of his campaign to become the representative in Tennessee’s state house from the newly created 37th district in Rutherford County. As an African-American Republican, Garvin seeks to represent the citizens of Rutherford County by bringing fresh ideas, common sense, and conservatism to Capitol Hill. He believes his story, perspective and vision are unique and will differentiate him in the hearts and minds of the electorate from his Republican and Democratic competition.

Richard Garvin has served on the Town of Smyrna’s Planning Commission, currently manages his father’s medical practice and teaches Psychology at Fisk University in Nashville.

“Public service has always been of great interest to me, which is why I currently serve on the Smyrna Historic Zoning Commission, CASA Board of Directors, Linebaugh Library Board of Directors, North Rutherford YMCA Board of Directors as well as being an active member of the Smyrna Noon Rotary Club. Being a Black Republican is not the norm, but it’s who I am and I trust that the common sense folks of Rutherford County will give me the opportunity to sit and talk with them about how we can work together to make our communities safer and more prosperous”,
stated Richard Garvin, Jr.

Richard and his wife Natara live in Smyrna and attend Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Natara is an administrator at Fisk University and is very close to achieving her doctorate degree. Richard holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree from Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas and his master’s degree from Fisk University in Clinical Psychology. Richard’s father is Richard Garvin, Sr., who has been a trusted physician in Smyrna for over 20 years and has been a lifelong Republican—even having worked for the Ronald Reagan Presidential campaign in the early 1980’s.

Richard Garvin, Jr., recently said, “I’ve seen what has happened to small businesses due to a struggling economy, over regulation and taxation. I believe our economy and culture have been damaged due to intrusive government and a lack of personal responsibility. I will encourage increased personal responsibility and advocate for pushing back on government intrusion. The people have the answers to get our economy going again and to make our communities safer.”
Garvin will focus on three primary areas of concern as the Representative from the
37th District:

1. Limiting Government and Balancing Budgets
2. Attracting Quality Jobs to Rutherford County
3. Reducing Crime in Rutherford County Communities

For more info please visit RichardGarvin37.com,
or call Richard Garvin at (615) 625-3853.

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