Picture this: A hot summer evening in Clinton, Tennessee, where the Anderson County Republican Party hosted their candidate forum at the Clinton Church of God. From the start, the venue set the tone – mixing church and politics, a hallmark of the modern Republican Party’s playbook.

The evening kicked off predictably with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, led by a young Republican in high school, a nod to their future generation of leaders. Then, County Commissioner Isbel read a resolution from the Tennessee House, encouraging Tennesseans to “join in a 30-day season of prayer and intermittent fasting during the month of July.” Because, clearly, intermittent fasting is the solution to our state’s problems, not meaningful legislation.

Myra Mansfield, the chair of the Anderson County Republican Party, introduced the candidates – or rather, the few who bothered to show up. Commissioner Aaron Wells, running against our own Ebony Capshaw, was absent. Instead, Alan Beauchamp delivered a speech on his behalf, spouting the usual Republican buzzwords: “the border,” “the importance of supporting Mayor Frank’s agenda,” and a tale of Second Amendment enthusiasts intimidating Democrats at a gun control event. It was a masterclass in fear-mongering and bravado.

Next, Dail Cantrell, running for the Anderson County School Board District 3, was introduced in absentia. Mansfield’s endorsement was succinct: “Make sure you vote, the only other option is a Democrat.” That’s the Republican strategy in a nutshell – vote for us because, well, we’re not them. It should be noted that Cantrell’s opponent, Sharon Burlingame, is running as an independent, not a Democrat.

One of the highlights of the evening was the school board candidates who actually showed up. Glenda Langenberg, the incumbent for District 8, and Sherri Jarnigan-Beaty, running in District 5, took the stage together. Jarnigan-Beaty acted as a “yes woman” for Langenberg, agreeing with every point without offering anything substantial. Langenberg bragged about a 4% pay raise for teachers and staff - which doesn’t meet inflationary standards- and the importance of keeping the board fiscally conservative. When the topic of “illegals” came up, she bluntly stated, “We have 5,” without a shred of evidence or empathy. Superintendent Tim Parrot had to interject, reminding everyone that schools aren’t allowed to ask about citizenship status.

Critical race theory? “No place in our schools,” they chorused. “We all bleed red,” Jarnigan-Beaty proudly proclaimed. When it came to vouchers, the only silver lining was their opposition, which earned them some subtle boos from the audience.

The headliners were Rick Scarbrough and Representative John Ragan. Now, I’m no fan of Ragan – his hateful rhetoric and bigoted policies speak for themselves. The crowd, no more than 45, clearly favored Ragan, and the sitting representative gave the audience exactly what they wanted to hear: his record of disbanding DEI programs, supporting school vouchers, targeting immigrants, and opposing LGBTQ rights; his track record, a greatest-hits of Republican dogma.

Scarbrough, on the other hand, seemed to know he was in enemy territory. Though dull, he gave more measured responses. He highlighted his background in law enforcement and addressed border issues by talking about local policing and its impact. While he never outright opposed vouchers, he did say, “You measure what you care about,” adding that schools receiving public funds should be held to accountability standards. Otherwise, he argues, we’re just shuffling money around without ensuring students’ actual benefit. Scarbrough’s stance on most issues reflects his stances on his website… just vague enough that you don’t know which way he leans.

Despite my hopes in the representative’s primary challenger, Scarbrough was disappointing. His main concern was the border - an odd focus for a candidate running for state representative in Tennessee - he even dodged every question about vouchers. His answer? “I’ll be looking for accountability.” My translation: I support vouchers but won’t say it outright.

Ragan, predictably, ranted about “illegal aliens” and the NEA’s supposed Marxist agenda. His closing remarks? A call to “fight for the truth.”

The audience’s questions revealed their priorities: “illegals,” “transgenderism,” “DEI and CRT,” and “illegals” again. It was a stark reminder of the narrow focus and fear-driven politics that dominate the Republican agenda.

In contrast, our Democratic candidates are diverse in thought and unified in their desire to fight for the communities they are running to serve. While the Republicans fixate on fear and exclusion, we advocate for inclusive, forward-thinking policies that address real issues. Our candidates care about making a positive difference in our community, not just winning at any cost.

So there you have it. I attended the Anderson County Republican Party’s candidate forum so you didn’t have to. It was a disheartening display of fear-mongering, exclusion, and hollow rhetoric. It’s more important than ever to support candidates who genuinely care about the communities they are running to serve.

Get involved: Join us in our efforts to bring about change. Volunteer, donate, and most importantly, vote.

Let’s show Anderson County what happens when we come together around candidates we believe in.

If you would like to put yourself through watching the complete Anderson County Republican Party’s candidate forum, you can do so through parts one and two below.