Southeast Nashville Conservatives' Breakfast speaker will be Mae Beavers

From Robert Duvall

To all:

Just quick note related to our meeting this coming Saturday, June 17, 2017, at the Shoney’s, at the intersection of Thompson Lane &  Nolensville Road. Please make an extra effort to be there as Senator Mae Beavers will be present and deliver our Keynote address.

Mae will not be able to stay, so our new DCRP Chairman, Melissa Smithson will fill our remaining time with updates on the County Party and upcoming elections.

This will be a great opportunity to meet Mae in person. Please take advantage of such a kind jester as being candidate for Governor can consume all your time and this may be the only chance we get to meet with Mae in person.

 Blessing to all, Robert Duvall & Pat Carl

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Southeast Nashville Conservatives' Breakfast - April 22th. Guest Speaker Joe Carr/

From Robert Duvall:

Southeast Nashville Conservatives' Breakfast 

Please note - we have moved our Breakfast this month only to the 4th Saturday (April 22) because of Good Friday/Easter Celebrations on the 3rd weekend.

Shoney's 407 Thompson Lane (Nolensville Rd &Thompson Lane) Social/Dutch treat breakfast available beginning at 8:00 a.m. We have a full, very informative program this month so we will begin our program promptly at 9:00 am (and maybe even a few minutes before).

Guest Speaker (back by popular demand!) Joe Carr Former State Representative, U S Senate & Congressional Candidate Joe will discuss some of the "crazy shenanigans" going on in our current Legislative Session - Governor Haslam's proposed gas tax increase, State Senator Gardenhire's bill to give instate college tuition to illegal immigrants....and other controversial legislation, along with his insights on the next Gubernatorial Race and likely candidates (of which there does not seem to be a shortage!) We all know Joe "tells it like it is", so should be a great meeting. And I know many of us want to know "What's next for Joe Carr?" - We will ask!

Hosted by Robert Duvall &Pat Carl

 ~the end~

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Come and Support! Robert Duvall for Council At Large

Come and Support! 

Robert Duvall for Council At Large

Monday, August 24 th 5:30-7:30pm.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 

440 Welshwood Dr. Nashville, TN 37211-4207 

Please join Friends of Councilman Robert Duvall as we get ready for a "SWEET" VICTORY 

Bring your family and friends and enjoy delicious desserts and light hors d’oeuvres as we come together to support Councilman Duvall in the runoff election for Council at Large.

Donations Requested. Paid for by Elect Robert Duvall, Robert Taylor, Treasurer

To visit Robert's website follow this link: http://www.robertduvall.us   

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(Update #2) Bob Ries elected Chairman of the Davidson County GOP

Bob Ries

Update #2: I received this report from a friend who attended the convention:

Bob Ries won by five points over Tres Wittum. Robert Duvall did not make the runoff. 

These are the other officers who were elected: 
1st Vice Chair - Connie Hunter, 
2nd Vice Chair - John Wang 
Recording Secretary - Diana Cuellar 
Corresponding Secretary - Joshua Rawlings 
Treasurer - Michele Waddell
Associate Treasurer - Aaron Snodderly. 
Regional Vice Chairs - Sabrina Orr, Tony Roberts, John Goetz, Big John Smith, and Chuck Grimes. 

The convention was a real mess. I have never seen such an unorganized mess and we could contest the whole thing but I'm just glad it is over. 

 I will continue to update as more information becomes available. If any one else would like to shed light on what happened, I would welcome hearing from you.


In a contest between Robert Duvall who was seeking a second term as chairman of the Davidson County Republican Party and challengers Bob Ries and Tres Wittum, Bob Ries won.

Robert Duvall has served as chairman of the Davidson County Party for the past term of two years.  Duvall is a member of the Metro Council who is serving his second council term and has previously unsuccessfully sought election for a State House seat. He is termed-out from seeking reelection to the Metro Council as a district councilman and is running for an at-large Council seat.

Bob Ries was the Republican nominee running against Congressman Jim Cooper in the last election and he has been an unsuccessful candidate for a Metro council seat.

I do not know Mr. Wittum.  In the first round of balloting, incumbent Chair Robert Duvall was eliminated and in a second ballot between Wittum and Ries, Ries prevailed. 

I did not attend this year's convention due to my wife's illness and having out of town guest.  I was selected as a delegate however and got the below solicitation of support from Mr. Ries, but did not receive a solicitation of support from Mr. Duvall.

Delegates to the Republican Party Convention:

My name is Bob Ries. I am running for County Party Chairman and I am asking for your vote tomorrow morning. A lot of you may know me and may have supported my candidacy for US Congress.

For those of you whom I have just met - I have Degrees in Business & Economics. I have started 3 businesses, built them up and sold them. I have been Director of Sales for a Micrographics Company and a major hotel, a Vice President of Sales for an Insurance Company, a Business Consultant and a military veteran.

From 1968 to the time I moved to Tennessee in 1978, I was involved in political party organization as a Precinct Captain and Ward Chairman. I have not only seen how party politics is done, I have helped make it work. In a nutshell, I have a lifetime of experience in successful marketing and organizing political parties. That is what it is going to take to grow and organize this County Party so we can elect more Republicans. Success for Republicans in Davidson County will take 100% dedication to the task of turning the ship around and I have the time and energy to do it.

I am not running for any other office other than party chair. My only aspiration is to build the party for the next slew of candidates from the upcoming council races to the next candidate for US Congress. I believe I can make a difference; we can change the direction of Davidson County and we can be successful in the next two years with Republican Victories.

I am asking for your vote tomorrow and look forward to speaking with anyone who may have questions about the plan I will lay out for the future of the Republican Party in Davidson County.

Thank you for your consideration.

Bob Ries

Robert Duvall is a solid conservative and is generally well-liked. The only criticism I have heard of him as chairman of the Party is that he is too close to Mark Winslow and that Mark Winslow had too much influence over Duvall. You may recall, that Mark Winslow is the Republican member of the State Executive Committee who campaigned for a Democrat nominee for a Davidson County judgeship instead of working for the Party's nominee.  By virtue of his position on the State Executive Committee, Winslow has a seat on the Davidson County Executive Committee. There was one particularly contentious Executive Committee meeting where  Winslow's conflict of interest became an issue and Duvall sided with Winslow.  When Winslow was seeking his reelection to a seat on the State Executive Committee in a contested race, Robert Duvall endorsed him which some content was improper. The County chair is supposed to remain neutral in contested Republican primaries.

While the party grew rapidly under the previous two terms of Kathleen Starnes, my understanding is that party growth has declined in the last two years.  Someone who attended the caucus the previous Saturday said attendance was considerably less than the previous three caucuses.  That may not solely be attributable to the role of the Party chairman however but may simply be due to the political climate or other factors.

I do not know the vote totals for the candidates but will update this post when such information becomes available.

I extend by congratulations to Mr. Ries and thank Robert Duvall for his service to the Party.

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Councilman Robert Duvall, Chair of the Davidson County Republican Party, call for Moreland to resign.

Statement From Davidson County Republican Party Chairman Robert Duvall -

Robert Duvall

 "Over the past forty -­‐ eight hours, the Davidson County Republican Party has watched the controversy surrounding Judge Casey Moreland with growing concern. We decided to withhold judgment until Judge Moreland came forward and availed himself of the opportunity to explain his questionable decision to waive the required twelve hour "cooling off" period in a domestic violence case. His decision resulted in a second assault by the perpetrator on the same victim. 

Now that Judge Moreland has broken his public silence on the issue, the Davidson County Republican Party is compelled to add our voice to those calling for him to step down from the General Sessions bench. 

With his statements to television media, Judge Moreland has proven he does not fully grasp the grave repercussions of his attitude toward this domestic violence case; choosing rather to engage Metro Police Chief Steve Anderson in a public spat. 

Where we hoped and expected to see honest contrition for an exceptionally poor decision, we instead witnessed an embarrassing public display of personal animosity that diminishes respect for the bench and damages public faith in our system. 

Domestic abuse degrades its victims, cheapens respect for women and shames our society. Until leaders we expect to set the s tandard understand that fact and join a sincere effort to end violence, we as a community will suffer. We commend Chief Anderson for his leadership in calling attention to this issue and appreciate his willingness to jolt the courthouse into action. 

The Davidson County Republican Party calls upon Judge Moreland to resign and allow for a replacement to his seat who will protect victims of domestic violence, perform their duties with honor and restore trust in Nashville's courts

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Do you like the new EPA regs that will raise your electric bill and cost jobs? If so, thank your councilman.

Do you approve of the new EPA regulations, that were not authorized by Congress, that applies to existing power plants, that will drive up electric bills, cost the economy about 200,000 jobs and do virtually nothing to curtail global warming? If you do, then give a big shout-out to your locally elected Council member.

On November 12, 2012, the Metro Council unanimously passed RESOLUTION NO. RS2012-478, which put the Council on record:

• "as supporting the reduction of greenhouse gas pollution under the Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Act," 
• " as noting that climate change is not an abstract problem for the future or one that will only affect far-distant places, but rather climate change is happening now, we are contributing to it, and the longer we wait to act, the more we lose and the more difficult the problem will be to solve." and, 
• urging "the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lisa P. Jackson, and President Barack Obama to move swiftly to fully employ and enforce the Clean Air Act to do our part to reduce carbon in our atmosphere to no more than 350 parts per million." 

This was not a contentious piece of legislation that barely passed the council. Every member present voted for it. Robert Duvall voted for it. Duane Dominy voted for it. Carter Todd voted for it. Davette Blalock not only voted for it, she co-sponsored it. Charlie Tygard voted for it. Phil Clairborne voted for it. Karen Bennett voted for it. Tony Tennpenny voted for it.

In their wisdom the Council declared that no more than 350 parts per million was the right amount of carbon the atmosphere could tolerate. Not 325 parts per million or 375 parts per million, but 350. We have some really smart councilman to figure that out. Also, the Council didn't ask for a cost benefit analysis to determine the incremental cost of hitting that magic number. The cost be damned; just do it. This bill was part of a nation wide effort to get local governments across the nation to push the Obama administration to impose the regulation that were just recently propagated. Locally it was promoted by Vanderbilt University environmental activist.

I hope that in the future we will elect some Republicans to the Council who are at least as conservative as Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker. It would be nice if we had some conservatives on the Council.

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Robert Duvall disappoints. Votes against slashing transportation price-fixing.

Robert Duvall

Last night shortly after the council voted on the bill to slash the minimum fee for a vehicle for hire from $45 to below $10, I got a call from someone who was there to tell me it had passed. The caller told me of the vote and said, "You won't believe who voted against it."

Who would one think would be the votes against it?  Maybe three of Nashville's most "progressive" council members?  Maybe Bo Mitchell, maybe Ronnie Stein, maybe Brady Banks, maybe Megan Barry?

One would not expect a person who identifies himself as a Republican or calls himself a conservative to vote for against the bill that essentially repealed price-fixing. Conservatives believe in a market economy. They believe in getting government out of the way and letting the market flourish. Conservatives do not believe it is the job of government to protect businessmen from competition. Conservatives believe in competition.  Conservatives know that a free enterprise is essential to freedom.  Conservatives know that over regulation strangles innovation and economic growth. 

The three votes against the bill that slashed the minimum allowable fee for vehicles for hire to an ineffective level and which made it possible for black sedans, Lyft and Uber to ply their trade in Nashville were Bo Mitchell, Steve Clover, and Robert Duvall.

Robert Duvall is often considered the most conservative member of the Council and is chairman of the Davidson County Republican Party.  To say the least, I am very disappointment.

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Council Members Express Concern Over Election Administrator's Appointment

Important update: Robert Duvall did not sign that letter.

See this from the Nashville Scene: Council Members Express Concern Over Election Administrator's Appointment.  

The Scene says the letter expressing concern over the Election Administrator's Appointment is bipartisan. It is worth nothing who the six are that signed the letter:  Lonnell Matthews, Brady Banks, Anthony Davis, Edith Taylor Langster, Karen Johnson and Robert Duvall.

Only one of six who signed that letter is a Republican. However, he is an important Republican. Robert Duvall is the Chairman of the Davidson County Republican Party.

I would have been very concerned if a Republican would not have gotten the appointment. This system is designed so that whichever party controls the State House controls the election commission in every county in the State. The Commission should have chosen a Republican. However, I was concerned about the particular Republican chosen. I explained by concern in this post: Update : 10-29-2013- As expected the Davidson County Election Commission selected Kent Wall as Election Administrator yesterday. 

I was concerned because it may appear that the Davidson County Republican Women are controlling the Election Commission. The newly appointed Davidson County Election Commission Administrator, Kent Wall, is the husband of Susan Wall who is Chair of the Davidson County Republican Women and Ron Buchanan, Chairman of the Commission, is the husband of Vicki Buchanan, a Vice Chair of the Davidson County Republican Women. That relationship just appears too cozy.

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Council Meeting of July 16th, 2013 with commentary: spending $15 million for hockey and saying "no" to the fairgrounds.

To link to the agenda and agenda analysis follow this link. This meeting is only 52 minutes long. When you have no discussion and pass everything unanimously, you can have some pretty short meetings. The first 13 minutes of the agenda is presentations honoring people.
Reverend Bill Barnes offers the invocation. Rev. Barnes is the force behind the city establishing an affordable housing trust fund.

A proposed rule change is presented to the Council, but I don't know what it is. It may be nothing important or it could be significant. The rules of the Council can be significant in what gets passed or stopped.

All of the Mayor appointees to Boards and Commissions or approved unanimously as always. Most should be, but the Council simply rubber stamps them all and never turns anyone down. This means the Council exerts no influence to clean up corruption such as at NES, or mismanagement such as at the Farmers Market, or to influence policies such as the Human Relations Commission's promotion of youth homosexuality.

Barnes Fund for Affordable Housing passes.
A bill on third reading is taking out of order. It is SUBSTITUTE BILL NO. BL2013-487  which establishes the Barnes Fund for Affordable Housing to assist in providing affordable housing to residents of Davidson County.  It appropriates an initial sum of $2,279,040 to the fund, and establishes the Metropolitan Housing Trust Fund Commission to oversee the fund. The money appropriated to the fund is from a variety of sources including funds from repayment of Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) loans. Most of the money that will fund this program is money that was supposed to be spend in a "pocket of poverty" to benefit low-income people. Most of the money has been used to bribe (crony capitalism "incentives") business to come to Nashville or expand in Nashville or not leave Nashville (HCA, Lowes Hotel). I think this program is a better use of the money. This program will not require funding from property taxes and will not impact the city budget. The money repaid from UDAG can not be used for general government operating cost but must to used for affordable housing or economic development. I support this program. It passes unanimously. Bill Barnes worked long and hard to see Metro establish a housing trust fund. He is recognized and gets a standing ovation.

The consent agenda passes.
That means all the items on the consent agenda are considered in one single vote and they all pass unanimously. Included in the bills that pass on the consent agenda are these two that I think should have been questioned.

• RESOLUTION NO. RS2013-768 approves the issuance of $15 million in bonds to build a hockey facility. I would have voted no on this. It is too much of a long-term commitment for the city. We have other needs that should be greater priority. (see article below)
• RESOLUTION NO. RS2013-770 appropriates $2,150,000 from the general fund to give grants to 28 various non-profits. I would have had some questions about this and would have requested to be recorded as voting no or abstaining if my questions had not been answered. 

Resolution 771 is pulled off of the consent agenda.  
RESOLUTION NO. RS2013-771 takes $8.3 million that was given to the city for 2010 flood relief and reappropriates it to other uses including Riverfront Park development. Councilman Robert Duvall attempts to amend this resolution to take a million dollars out of the funding for Riverfront Park and use it to repair flood damage at the fairgrounds. This fails. This is a shame. This money came to the city flood damage mitigation. Because the Mayor wants to destroy the fairgrounds, he is taking money that could have been used for its intended purpose and spending it elsewhere. The committees to which the bill was assigned voted to approve "without the amendment." If the Council turned this bill down, then this does not bode well for the future of the fairgrounds. Duvalls's amendment failed by voice vote so we don't know who how individual council members voted. (see 24:23-34:10) Robert Duvall is to be commended for trying. 


All bills on First reading pass.

Bills on Second reading  and third reading all pass by voice vote and without discussion except for a few deferral of a zoning bills. 

Two youth hockey rinks approved for former Hickory Hollow Mall
Decision carries significant price tag

by Michael Cass, The Tennessean, Jul. 16, 2013- Metro Council voted without discussion Tuesday to build two new youth hockey rinks in Antioch, a decision that could carry a significant price tag for taxpayers over the next 20 years. (link)

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Council rejects Robert Duvall's amendment to divert money to Fairgrounds

By Steven Hale, The City Paper,Tuesday, July 16, 2013- .....The council rejected an amendment proposed by Councilman Robert Duvall that would have diverted $1 million of the funds designated for riverfront development to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, to repair damage sustained on the grounds during the flood. (link)

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Duvall wants to send $1M in flood money to fairgrounds

By Steven Hale, City Paper, Monday, July 15, 2013- Metro Councilman Robert Duvall has filed an amendment that would send $1 million to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, to repair damage sustained in the 2010 flood.

The proposal comes one week after the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency approved a plan to reallocate more than $7 million in federal flood relief money to riverfront development, which officials have said would focus on flood mitigation. The Council is scheduled to vote on the plan at its meeting Tuesday night. (link)

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The Davidson County Republican Picnic with video and report

Wine in grocery stores won big with 71 percent of the vote in the Davidson County Republicans' straw poll. The annual picnic with the early polling marks summer politics for the party. Attendance was down with no major elections until 2014..

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was voted both first and second choice to win the Presidential Primary. Close behind Cruz was Sen. Rand Paul.

Charlie Tygard and Kenneth Eaton were neck and neck to become Nashville's next mayor as either voters first or second choice. Republican political consultant Mark Rogers announced straw poll results from the podium.

Mayoral hopeful Bill Freeman's 11 percent vote as first choice and 15 percent vote as second choice prompted Rogers to exclaim, "Bill Freeman's a major Al Gore donor!"

Sen. Steve Dickerson brought his rock band "No Good Deed" to entertain. Stacy Reis-Snyder spelled him with a country sound during lunch. Adam Nickas from the state party and Davidson Chairman Robert Duvall emceed the event. Recognition went to past President Kathleen Starnes, County Convention Chairman Jim Gotto and Barbara Outhier, The Winfield Dunn award went to Outhier for her work for the party.

A path to citizenship within immigration reorganization was voted down 60-40 percent. A close vote of 51 :"yes" to 49 "no" on expanding the power of the mayor and council over education

This excellent report and video is the work of Dur Fuller.  I lifted it from Youtube. You can find her blog at Dru's Blog.

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Thoughts on the Supreme Court's rulings on gay marriage

I am disappointed and appalled at the Supreme Courts rulings on gay marriage. If twenty years ago someone would have said that one day two men could marry I would have thought they were nuts. I would have thought that had as about as much chance of happening as polygamy being legal, or incest, or a person marrying their dog. As Merle Haggard sang, "We are going downhill like a snowball headed for hell."  Below are the opinions of some of my friends and local prominent people. Rod

Ken Jakes, citizen activist: The Supreme Court has once again slapped the face of every Christian Citizen of the Land that I love, the United States of America. Our Founding Fathers Created each document with Judo-Christian Faith and heritage that separates Our Country from the rest of the world. Our Forefathers would have been appalled to even imagine that the Supreme Court could take Our Cherished Documents to arrive at the conclusion that a marriage between two women or two men would be acceptable and defined within the word marriage.

Lets just be clear as it gets. The Holy Bible is very clear that a marriage is a sacred union between a man and a women and homosexuality is a sin. The Supreme Court has once again made an attempt to shred the very fabric of my Christian Faith and those who uphold the Christian Faith in this Nation. In my Faith, my heart and soul, and my morality as a Christian American the Supreme Court has disgraced the Majority of the Nation and the Supreme Court should be disgraced. Regardless what the Supreme Court states a marriage to be, I hold the sacred meaning of the Lord my God to be the only acceptable way of life and I refuse to let the ridiculous decision of the Supreme Court to change my views.

Dear God Please Help Our Nation.

Daniel Horwitz, recent graduate of Vanderbilt Law School where he served as the Vice President of Law Students for Social Justice, and a contributor to this blog: I’m thrilled that the Supreme Court has now come one step closer to acknowledging what the overwhelming majority of young Americans know already: that any law that draws a distinction between citizens on the basis of their sexual orientation should be considered presumptively invalid. I’m similarly pleased to see the Supreme Court recognize that Federal laws which delve into regulatory arenas that are traditionally reserved to the states ought to be met with a greater degree of skepticism. At the same time, however, I’m saddened that so many members of faith organizations that preach loving-kindness and tolerance continue to adhere to the erroneous belief that extending civil marriage equality to same-sex couples will somehow undermine the sanctity of traditional or religious marriages in any way.

Tim Skow, Host of First Tuesday: Throughout the long Judo-Christian history our country was founded upon, faith teaches that marriage is the blessed union of a man, a woman and our Lord. During that same time, Government(s) typically administered contractual relationships between consenting parties. I am sorry to see the verbiage and meaning being erased between what our Lord considers marriage and what various levels of Government consider as a contract or "union" between consenting adults. I submit, call such contracts, agreements or "unions" what they are..."Civil unions"....and leave the intent and understanding of "marriage" to mean what it means. Sadly, in this case we let the Liberals define the verbiage war on their terms... and in this case, the Liberals won.

Representative Sherry Jones, Nashville Democrat: Today was a victory for the dignity of men and women across the country who wish to enjoy equal protection under the law. Most Tennesseans agree that couples in a loving and committed relationship deserve to be treated equally.  

Beth Campbell,  member of the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Republican Party: I was disappointed that the US Supreme Court sent the Gay marriage issue back to the lower court in California thereby nullifying the will of the voters who passed Prop 8. So much for the "will of the people"!

Robert Duvall, Metro Councilmember; Chair of Davidson County Republican Party: Appalled!

Pat Carl, First Vice Chair, Davidson County Republican Party: I don't know if you heard Governor Huckabee's radio show Wednesday.  His response to the Court ruling on gay marriage was  "Jesus Wept".   I thought those 2 words really summed it up.

Kathleen Starnes, former Chair, Davidson County Republican Party: I am speechless, but so sorry that such a small portion of society has such a large voice. I am very sad that the government ignores the vote of the people instead supports the vote of the government.



Dr. Sam Boyd, Pastor, Forest Hills Baptist Church: Remember 6/26/2013......America already under God's discipline for abortion and its support of anti-Israel entities (among other things) .....now has redefined marriage and unleashed an invitation for increasing divine judgement....... If Jesus and His affirmation of Biblical truth is for real, He as God, cannot and will not sit back and allow an arrogant, immoral America to prosper as they mock eternal truth.......

Rep. Marsha Blackburn says she is disappointed. "We're still looking at the opinions and the dissents and the positioning on [the ruling]," the Tennessee Republican said on "The Steve Malzberg Show" on Newsmax TV. "You can say on one hand, yes, they struck down DOMA, and on another, it looks as if they're coming out big-time for state's rights. So of course I'm disappointed in it. I support DOMA and would like to have seen that stand. I fully believe in marriage as being between one man and one woman."

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann: "While the Supreme Court's ruling was disappointing to me personally, I will continue to believe in the importance of traditional marriage. The marriage debate will continue at the state level, and it has been my experience that the vast majority of Tennesseans believe, as I do, that marriage is between a man and a woman. (link)

Sen. Lamar Alexander said the opinions were correct in that they left the decision on whether to recognize same-sex marriage to individual states. "The Supreme Court's decision preserves the right of states to define marriage and for that definition to be respected by other states, and that's the way it should be."(link)

 Senator Jack Johnson post on Facebook: "I cannot understand how any American can be happy about the fact that five individuals just overturned the will of the American people as reflected by their duly and constitutionally elected representatives. I'm sad that the majesty of our republic has been degraded, but my proud support for the sanctity of marriage will not waiver." 



Richard Upchurch, scholar and  blog contributor, writes: It seems to me, the

court is confirming that marriage is entirely in the jurisdiction, thus in the  domain and discretion of the states, thus the decision not too surprising. However Kennedy's phrase about "the dignity of same-sex marriage" suggests the court has bought into a kind of pop social radicalism that undermines what is most basic in the pre-political constitution of society and will follow such pop social radicalism wherever it may lead. So I agree, it doesn't look like good news---either for us conservatives or for the country.

US Congressman Jim Cooper is pleased: WASHINGTON – Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5) praised today’s Supreme Court rulings on DOMA and Prop 8 and issued the following statement: "I'm pleased with today's Supreme Court rulings on DOMA and Prop 8. Equality under the law should apply to all Americans, and now we're one step closer towards fulfilling this promise."

Russell Moore, president of the Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, said he was not surprised by the court's ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act, per se, but he was surprised by the "sweeping language" used by the majority.
"It grounds the decision in equal protection and uses language of human dignity that has far-reaching implications," he said. "...Ultimately it's headed toward challenging the way states define marriage." (link) “This decision demolishes the myth that orthodox Christianity represents some kind of moral majority in this country." (link)

State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) ... was troubled by the ruling, saying the nation was built on what he called the traditional family. "There are detrimental forces in our culture that reject or do not recognize the importance of the traditional family unit in our society and those forces won today," Tracy said. (link)



David Fowler, former State Senator and President of Family Action Council of Tennessee wrote in a statement. "In Tennessee, marriage will remain the unique, timeless, and universally defined relationship involving a man and a woman that provides the optimal environment for the well being of children.

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Robert Duvall elected Chair of GOP Nashville

At the Davidson County Republican Party convention today, Councilman Robert Duvall (left) was elected Party Chairman. Stacy Ries Synder (enter) was elected First Vice-Chair and Tony Roberts (right) was reelected to position of Second Vice-Chair. (photo by Randy Foster)

The county party also elected the following officers and regional vice chairs:

1st Vice Chair — Stacy Ries Snyder

2nd Vice Chair — Tony Roberts

Communications Secretary — Tonya Miller

Recording Secretary — Kathy Langan


Treasurer — Chuck Nabb

Vice Treasurer  — Sabrina Orr

Regional vice Chairs

North — George Rand

North Central — Kay Brooks

South — John Bulla

East — Bruce Patterson

Southeast— Pat Carl

South Central — Diane Ries

West — Lonnie Spivak

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Robert Duvall seeks Chairman of GOP Nashville

 From Robert Duvall

 

March 22, 2013

 

Dear 2013 DCRP Delegates,

Below you will find a bullet point Bio regarding me.  The list should give you a solid overview of my background, successes, leadership, and support the fact that I have been out front in many issues that affect our day to day lives in Davidson County.

While I prefer to not “beat my chest”; I do want to bring to the attention of all delegates that the key to any success in Davidson County will be leadership.  I have a proven demonstrated record of leadership among the organizations I am a member, as well as in the offices I have held.  

We must build on the foundation provided by those that have preceded us.  Organization of the local party is a major factor in achieving success.  Fundraising is absolutely essential, and vetting viable candidates for targeted offices provides us with the opportunity to elect those of our own.

There are three key facets to our plan.

1.    Membership

2.    Fundraising

3.    Viable Candidates

Speaking to those three topics:

1.    Membership 
       a.    We must initiate our ability to utilize electronic data and capture Republican’s in our data base
       b.    We must communicate with them and we must make them part of the Republican family.  
             i.    We will initiate with the Boards support a monthly newsletter related to our meetings. 
             ii.    We will begin to hold monthly membership meetings with keynote speakers to help with membership drives, recruitment, and fulfill a feeling of actually belonging to Republican Party organization.

2.    Fundraising 
      a.    We need to hold a major fundraising event quarterly.     
              i.    This effort will take the full support of the Board, but the life of our organization and the support of our candidates are directly related to our ability to effectively raise money.

3.    Viable Candidates 
     a.    We must identify local 2014 candidates,  
            i.    We have a minimum of two House seats that can be won in 2014.  I am certain other races will also bubble to the top. 
           b.    We must be also working toward the Metro Council elections in 2015.  Sourcing viable candidates is essential to our success.  It is absolutely ludicrous we have Liberal Council Members in predominant Conservative neighborhoods of Davidson County.

I hope this information provides you with a “thumbnail sketch” of where we need to go as an rganization.  The rest is in your hands Saturday morning.  

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.  I look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning.

A brief bullet point Bio is listed below.

Sincerely,

ROBERT DUVALL

Candidate DCRP Chairman

Councilman, Council District 33
208 Cambridge Place

Antioch, TN  37013  USA

Home: (615) 641-7313

Cell: (615) 594-7313

email: rduvall71@comcast.net

 

Noted Conservative Battles:

• Lead opposition opposing the 2012 Property Tax increase. Submitted ZERO tax increase budget.
• Worked diligently to pass the Property Tax Referendum.
• Fought for 2^nd Amendment Rights.
  • Lead opposition opposing denying Permit Holders the right to carry in Public Metro Parks.
  • Appeared on Fox National News standing up for the right for Carry Permit holders to carry in restaurants in which alcohol is served.
• One of the key leaders instrumental in saving the Fairgrounds in 2010.
• Opposed the Metro changes in their handbook, which provided special rights to “Gays”.
• Lead opposition opposing Metro “living wage” minimum hourly salary.
• Co-sponsored the Resolution to remove David Torrence, when he compromised his public trust.
• Sponsored the Resolution to remove John Arriola, when he compromised his public trust.

Professional Information:Executive Management, Logistics, Customer Service, Supply Chain,Sales & Marketing

Previous Occupation Titles:Vice President of Sales & Marketing; Vice President of Logistics; Director of Logistics; Contractor – Iraq 2004; Principal – Consulting Firm,Sales & Marketing, Logistics, Customer Service, Business Operations & Management, Political Advisor.

Personal Information: Married – Brenda; Three Children – Walter, Michael, December; Four Grandchildren – Taylor, Tyrin, Kaylee, Jayla

Religious Affiliation: Baptist, New Salem Baptist Church - Member

Military:

• United States Navy Reserve 1983 – 1989
• Military Support Personnel, Contractor – Iraq 2004, Balad, Iraq – Camp Anaconda and Mosul, Iraq – Camp Diamondback & Camp Marez. (Glory)

Education: Business Administration, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas; Numerous industry and continuing education unit workshops in the field of Logistics

 

Organizations:

• Davidson County Republican Party – Member
  • Past 2^nd Vice Chair – Resigned for tour of duty in Iraq.
• Tennessee Firearms Association – Member
• National Rifle Association – Member
• Tennessee Republican Assembly – Member
• Tennessee Republican Party – Member
• President – Long Hunter Chase HOA
• Jaycees - Past Vice President (2), Secretary, Director (8)
  • Numerous Civic Awards – Chairman of the Year (2)
• United Way – Past Fund Raising Captain
• American Cancer Society – Past Director
• National Defense Team – Past State Director
• Council of Logistics Management – Past Director

Honors, Certificates & Awards:

• 2002 – Outstanding Citizenship Award.
• 2002 – Patriots Award.
• Past Candidate US Congress – TN 5^th District.
• Past Candidate State House – 59^th & 60^th Districts.
• Elected Metro Council – Nashville, TN 2006, 2007, 2011

Council Committees:

• Convention & Tourism
• Transportation & Aviation
• Codes, Fair, & Farmers Market
• Public Safety – beer & Regulated Beverages
• Personnel – Public Information – Human Resources – Housing
• Public Works
• Education
• Health, Hospital, & Social Services
• Traffic, Parking & Transportation

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Report from the Davidson County Republican Caucus

Robert Duvall, candidate for DCRP Chairman, chats with a

caucus attendee before the start of the event.

This morning it was cold and snowing as 130 Republicans gathered at the Ed Jones Auditorium at the Ellington Agricultural Center for the biannual county caucus. The purpose of the county caucus is to select delegates who will attend the county convention. At the convention, party officers will be elected for a new two-year term. In addition to electing delegates to the county convention, the caucuses elect district chairman. The district chairman are responsible for recruiting party volunteers, recruiting candidates, helping candidates get elected, recruiting campaign workers, recruiting poll workers for the precinct voting boxes, and to assist their regional vice chairs in his duties. The 35 districts correspond to the 35 metro councilmanic districts.

 Chairman of the contest and credentials this year was former State Representative and Councilman Jim Gotto. The caucus went off without a hitch and everything went smoothly.

Jim Gotto, chairman of the Contest and

Credentials committee (Photo by Randy Foster)

Senator Lamar Alexander was at the event and spoke. He explained his effort to stop the Corps of engineers from banning fishing below dams. He said the water below dams is only dangerous when the Corps is releasing water and that this move by the Corps to ban fishing below the dams is analogous to keeping a railroad crossing arm down all the time. "The railroad is only dangerous when the train is coming," he said. He said the Corps policy to ban fishing below the dam is overkill. He said this is a good issue for Republicans to champion. Too often Republicans do not advocate for conservation issues, he said, but that many outdoorsmen belong to groups like the NRA and Ducks Unlimited and are conservationist and conservative.

He also spoke about the sequestration and said that President Obama had refused to show leadership and the President could have resolved the issue and sequestration could have been avoided. Rather than the cuts that are taking place, if Obama would have presented an alternative less painful list of cuts, the Congress would have approved it. Instead, said Alexander, the President held out for higher taxes.

Steve Abernathy, member of the

Election Commission leads the pledge.

 (Photo by Randy Foster)

Other than Senator Alexander, the only other elected officials at today's event were six members of the Metro Council who were participating in the caucus. It was disappointing that other elected Republicans were not present to show their support for the party faithful. With the busy legislative session, however, they may had legitimate reasons for being absent. Hopefully they will be at the Convention.

Also noted by their absence today were some prominent dissident Republican activist. Missing was Sharon Ford, the new leader of The Tennessee Republican Assembly. The TRA is a Republican faction that thinks they are the only real Republicans and think everyone else is a RINO. Actually many of their members are reasonable mainstream people (I was once a member), but the leadership of the organization never misses an opportunity to criticize party leaders and call for taking over the party and putting real conservatives in charge. Glen Hughes had been leader of the group for the last couple years, but he is leaving Nashville to take a job in New Orleans. Sharon Ford who has been second in command stepped into the role as chairman. They are not going to take over if they don't show up. Where was Sharon Ford?

Councilman Josh Stites, Senator Lamar Alexander,

Chairman Kathleen Starnes, Tony Robertson

(Photo by Randy Foster)

Another missing dissident Republican who I expected to be there was Matt Collins. Four years ago, he came within one vote of being elected chairman of the Party and was elected First Vice Chair. Unfortunately, Matt proved unable to play well with others and was removed from his position by the Party. Matt was a leader of the libertarian, Ron Paul wing of the Party. Matt is still active in political activity and heads the Tennessee chapter of Campaign for Liberty. Two years ago Matt was an elected delegate to the county convention and while according to the Party by-laws there was no legal reason to challenge his credentials, there was a planned attempt to challenge his right to serve from the floor. A floor fight was avoided because, due to a death in the family, Matt did was unable to attend the convention.

Me, chatting with Senator Alexander

(Photo by Randy Foster)

Also absent this year was anyone from the Hall family. In 2010 David Hall was the Republican candidate for the 5th Congressional District, beating out a field of 10 opponents to capture the nomination. Two years ago, several of the Halls participated in the caucus and were elected as delegates to the convention.

The convention will be Saturday, March 23, 2013 at the same place, the Ed Jones Auditorium of the Ellington Agricultural Center, 440 Hogan Road. Only delegates may participate in the convention but people may observe it they desire. The convention starts at 9am. In addition to the 130 people who were elected delegates at today's caucus, another approximately fifty people faxed in a request to be nominated and if someone in their caucus nominated them, they were most likely elected. Due to the threat of bad weather, an email went out telling party faithful that if they feared traveling, they could fax or email in their registration and then hope that someone in their caucus would nominate them. That is reason for the large number of absentee registrations.

Me, shamelessly promoting my blog to Senator

Alexander.

Of the people above who I listed as missing in action, they very well may have submitted absentee registrations. I don't know. One did not have to be present to be elected a delegate if they followed the established procedures and their caucus elected them. Since most district were authorized more delegates than there were people attending the caucus for that district, almost everyone who attended was elected as a delegate. If there were more people attending than there were delegate slots, the extra people were elected as alternates. To my knowledge, none of the caucuses had contested elections.

Senator Lamar Alexander (Photo by Randy Foster)

At the convention the delegates will elect the executive committee which consist of a chair, a first vice chair, a second vice chair, secretary, treasurer, communications secretary, and seven regional vice chairs. Several people have announced. Councilman Robert Duval and current First Vice Chair Dan Davis are both seeking the office of Chairman. Stacy Ries, daughter of Bob Ries, is seeking the position of First Vice Chair. The office of First Vice Chair must be filled by a person of the other sex from the person who fills the position of Chair, so assuming either Robert or Dan are elected to the position of Chair, the position of First Vice Chair must go to a female. At this time, Stacy Ries is the only announced candidate.

Seeking the position of second vice chair is current Second Vice Chair Tony Roberts and current Regional Vice Chair Pat Carl. I unaware of candidates for the remaining positions.

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