6,250 subscribers www.TML1.org Volume 71, Number 19 Dec. 14, 2020 2020 Census Update TN Senate, House nominate BY TENNESSEE Shapefiles should be completed by STATE DATA CENTER Feb. 28, 2021. candidates for leadership roles State and local government Republican and Democratic 2020 Census data collection agencies use redistricting data for caucuses in both Houses elected concluded on Oct. 16 and attention a variety of activities beyond draw- key leadership positions for the now turns to the delivery of results. ing new political districts. Here’s a upcoming 112th Tennessee Gen- The state is waiting for final con- reminder of the variables included eral Assembly set to convene Jan. firmation of release dates for two in the redistricting data product: 12, 2021. important products: • Total population Randy McNally, R-Oak • Statewide population totals • Voting age population and Ridge, was nominated by his (Congressional apportionment citizen voting age population party to serve a third term as the counts), delivered as close as pos- • Race and Hispanic ethnicity lieutenant governor and speaker of sible to the Dec. 31, 2020, deadline. • Housing units (occupied/ the Senate. McNally has served in • P.L. 94-171 Redistricting data vacant) the role since 2017 and represents with population counts for counties, A preview of Tennessee’s July State Senate District 5. municipalities, census tracts, etc., 1, 2020, population will come on Rep. Cameron Sexton, delivered as close as possible to the Dec. 22 when the 2020 Evalua- R-Crossville, won the Republican Sen. Randy McNally April 1, 2021, deadline. tion Estimates are released. These nomination for House speaker. He Rep. Cameron Sexton Lt. Gov. and Senate Speaker There is growing uncertainty state-level numbers will be com- has served in the role since August House Speaker about the timeline. A November pared with the 2020 Census results 2019. statement from the Census Bureau to evaluate accuracy of the annual The entire General Assembly noted that processing challenges population estimates program. The will vote to confirm the nomina- had been encountered. estimates missed the 2010 Census tions for lieutenant governor and One thing that is certain--de- total of 6,346,105 residents by speaker of the house when they livery of the 2020 TIGER/Line -0.3% or -19,702 people. convene in January. Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Frank- lin, was re-elected as the Senate Third quarter showing signs majority leader, and Sen. Ken Yag- er, R-Kingston, was re-elected as the Republican caucus chairman. of economic recovery in TN Others elected to caucus lead- Even though economic activity number of new entity filings and ership positions include Sen. is still below pre-pandemic peak the highest rate of growth, with Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, as trea- levels, a report from Secretary of Davidson County a close second surer; Sen. Dawn White, R-Mur- State Tre Hargett’s office shows followed by Hamilton and Knox freesboro, as secretary; and Sen. signs of economic recovery. counties. Together, these four coun- Shane Reeves, R-Murfreesboro, The Tennessee Quarterly ties accounted for 56 percent of all as chaplain. Sen. Jack Johnson Rep. William Lamberth, Business and Economic Indicators new entity filings in Tennessee. See ASSEMBLY on Page 3 Senate Majority Leader House Majority Leader report for the third quarter of 2020 After spiking at 15.5 percent in showed 16,470 new entity filings, April, Tennessee’s unemployment representing a strong 42.2 percent rate has trended downward, falling increase over the same quarter in to 6.3 percent in September. By 112th Tennessee General Assembly 2019. Initial filings have now seen comparison, the national unem- positive year-over-year growth for ployment rate reached 14.7 percent to welcome 12 freshmen legislators 35 consecutive quarters. in April and fell to 7.9 percent in “The pandemic made a signif- September. When the 112th General As- County for six years. Campbell is icant impact on our economy, but “Tennesseans’ business inge- sembly is gaveled into session Jan. a former music industry executive Tennessee’s entrepreneurial spirit nuity has really shone through over 12, 2021, 12 new freshmen legisla- and holds an MBA from Vanderbilt. and business-friendly environment the past half year or so,” said Dr. tors will be sworn into office – two In Senate District 26, Page has seen some Tennesseans start Bill Fox, the director of the Boyd in the Senate and 10 in House. Walley, R- Bolivar, was elected to their own businesses,” said Secre- Center for Business and Economic The two freshmen Senators fill the seat vacated by Sen. Dolores tary Hargett. Research. “More than 16,000 new both have municipal government Gresham. Walley currently serves Growth in new entity filings entity filings this quarter show that experience. Four of the incoming as the vice-mayor of Bolivar, and is generally a good indicator for people across the state are embark- House freshmen have local gov- previously served in the Tennessee Heidi Campbell employment, personal income ing on new journeys like making ernment experience. House of Representatives from Senate District 20 and revenue growth in Tennessee. masks, delivering food, providing Here’s a look at the new fresh- 1990 to 2000. Walley is a licensed However, due to the pandemic, fu- enhanced cleaning services and men class. clinical psychologist and was for- ture economic growth will depend more to make the best of the situa- In Senate District 20, Heidi merly a Commissioner of the Ten- on public policy measures and the tion we are all in together.” Campbell, D-Oak Hill, narrowly nessee Department of Children’s reactions of businesses and private To review the 2020 Tennessee won against incumbent Sen. Steven Services under Gov. Don Sundquist consumers. Quarterly Business and Economic Dickerson. Campbell has served as and held a similar post in the state Shelby County saw the largest Indicators report, visit: sos.tn.gov. the mayor of Oak Hill in Davidson of Alabama. He received his bache- lor’s degree from Davidson College and his doctorate in psychology from the University of Georgia. Cookeville honors March tornado In the House, four incumbents lost their primary elections. victims with new memorial tree grove In House District 6, Tim Hicks, A place for remembrance and R- Gray, defeated incumbent Rep. healing is now part of Cookeville’s Micah Van Huss in the Republican Page Walley Cane Creek Park complex. primary election. Hicks serves on Senate District 26 The Cookeville Strong Memo- the Washington County Planning rial Tree Grove was planted Nov. 7 Commission and is the CEO of at the corner of West Jackson Street Hicks Construction, a custom home and C.C. Camp Road near the building business. His father served Sportsplex ballfields. It includes 19 two terms in the state House in the trees in memory of the 19 people mid-1990s. lost to the March 3, 2020, tornado. In House District 7, Rebecca “We’re honored to be the cho- Keefauver Alexander, R- Jones- sen location for this tree grove,” borough, defeated incumbent Rep. Cookeville Leisure Services Di- Matthew Hill in the Republican rector Rick Woods said of the primary election. Alexander is the complex, which is maintained by owner of Dillow-Taylor Funeral his department. “It will be a great Home. As a graduate of East Ten- memorial to those who lost their nessee State University’s master’s Tim Hicks House District 6 lives in the tornado and others who Cookeville’s largest city park is now home to a memorial tree grove in storytelling program, she is also a endured great hardships.” honoring the 19 people who died in a March 3, 2020 tornado that professional storyteller and motiva- The grove was planted in hon- struck the city. The grove at Cane Creek Park consists of a mix of tional speaker. She comes from six or of Robert Dickson, Hattie Col- bald cypress, oak, maple, sweetgum and tulip poplar trees. generations of Washington County lins, Dawson Curtis, Terry Curtis, dairy farmers. Joshua Kimberlin, Erin Kimberlin, er. “Since the tornado and then season for Cookeville.” In House District 15, Sam Sawyer Kimberlin, Todd Koehler, COVID, there has been so much Nunan said the planting event McKenzie, D-Knoxville, defeated Sue Koehler, Patricia Lane, Leisha loss. The gathering on Nov. 7 was even more special than she had incumbent Rep. Rick Staples in Littenberry, Harlan Marsh, Stepha- allowed us to work together on a anticipated. the Democratic primary and beat nie Fields, Bridgette McCormick, memorial that will outlive all of “I thought I knew how im- Independent Troy Jones in the Keith Selby, Cathy Selby, Jamie us. It will serve as a reminder for portant this project would be while general election. After earning a Smith, Jessica Clark, and Amanda generations to come of the loss we planning it with Andrew Bell from bachelor’s degree at Fisk Univer- Cole. suffered and how the community the Nashville Tree Foundation, sity and a master’s degree in solid It includes a mix of shade trees healed.” but it wasn’t until we saw families state physics at the University of native to Tennessee, including bald In addition to the 19 trees, the praying, crying and rejoicing in Memphis, McKenzie spent more Rebecca Keefauver Alexander cypress, oak, maple, sweetgum and grove includes a bench donated by the moment over the memorial than 30 years working at Oak Ridge House District 7 tulip poplar. the Cookeville Tree Board with a trees that we really understood the National Laboratory (ORNL). He The city of Cookeville part- plaque that reads as follows: importance,” she said. “Cookeville also served on the Knox County nered with the Nashville Tree “Perhaps the most tragic event is such a special community.” Commission for more than eight Foundation and Tennessee Urban in Cookeville’s history occurred Bell was moved as well.