Mae Beavers endorses Bill Lee for GOP gubernatorial nomination
Former state Sen. Mae Beavers of Mount Juliet, who abandoned a run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination earlier this year and is now running for mayor of Wilson County, has endorsed Williamson County businessman Bill Lee in the governor’s race.
Campaign finance complaint against Mae Beavers dismissed
The Registry of Election Finance board has unanimously voted to dismiss a complaint that accused former state Sen. Mae Beavers of violating campaign finance laws in the handling of leftover money from her abandoned gubernatorial campaign, reports Tennessee Star. Beavers said the complaint was “politically motivated.”
She had used $122,123 from her gubernatorial campaign to launch a new political action committee, which then donated $7,800 to current campaign for Wilson County mayor – a donation she subsequently refunded after it was initially disclosed.
Complaint: Beavers illegally diverted gubernatorial campaign funds to her mayoral campaign
Former state Sen. Mae Beavers used $122,123 in leftover money from her abandoned gubernatorial campaign to fund a new political action committee and the PAC then donated $7,800 to her new campaign for Wilson County mayor, according to a disclosure report filed Monday by Patriot PAC. The Tennessean reports that Beavers refunded the contribution on Wednesday, but a a complaint has been filed contending the move amounted to an “illegal conduit” that violated state campaign finance laws.
Beavers exit came after reporting poor fundraising in run for governor
Former Sen. Mae Beavers suspension of her campaign for governor came after filing a financial disclosure showing she had raised a modest $163,947 in the past six months.
She reported spending $51,931 through Jan. 10 and a cash-on-hand balance of $167,409. In her first gubernatorial campaign disclosure, filed last July, Beavers reported receiving $56,771 — $40,000 of that transferred from her old state Senate campaign account.
Mae Beavers suspends gubernatorial bid
Former state Sen. Mae Beavers is suspending her gubernatorial bid. (Photo credit: Beavers campaign)
Former state Sen. Mae Beavers is dropping out of the governor’s race. The Mt. Juliet Republican announced her decision in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Boyd to drop $300,000 on statewide TV buy
Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd speaks during a forum at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, January 23, 2018. (Photo credit: Belmont University)
Randy Boyd is spending $300,000 on a statewide ad buy in support of his Republican bid for governor, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports.
The campaign confirmed the move to reporter Andy Sher, who spotted the evidence of the buy in Federal Communications Commission filings.
Poll finds Black leads Dean by 11 points hypothetical governor match; Beavers tied
Former state Sen. Mae Beavers and Williamson County businessman Bill Lee would face closer general election races as the Republican nominee for governor against Democrat Karl Dean, a former Nashville mayor, than three other contenders for the GOP nomination, according to a poll commissioned by Tennessee Star.
See the gubernatorial hopefuls in action at the first televised debate
Five of the seven major candidates for governor attended the first televised debate of the campaign season last night.
Here are some pool photos of those who discussed education issues at Belmont University: Republicans Randy Boyd, Beth Harwell and Bill Lee; and Democrats Karl Dean and Craig Fitzhugh. Mae Beavers had been scheduled to appear, but bowed out following the death of her mother over the weekend. Fellow Republican Diane Black chose to attend other events.
From left, Republican Beth Harwell, Democrat Craig Fitzhugh. Democrat Karl Dean, Republican Bill Lee, and Republican Randy Boyd during the Gubernatorial Forum on Education at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean, Pool)
