DUANE SHERRILLEditor

The Coffee County Republican Party will conduct a caucus to select a candidate for Coffee County Mayor for the Aug. 1, 2024 General Election ballot. 

The caucus comes following the sudden death of County Mayor Judd Matheny earlier this month at the age of 53. Commissioner Pro Tempore Dennis Hunt is serving as county mayor on an interim basis and, according to Coffee County GOP President Greg Sandlin, Hunt is the only one to this point to voice interest in seeking the nomination thus far.

The GOP caucus will be held at the Coffee County High School (gymnasium or cafeteria) on Thursday, May 23.  Registration of voters begins at 4:30 p.m., with the caucus starting at 6 p.m. Those desiring to register and vote in the caucus must bring identification (driver license or voter registration card) for review by a Contest and Credentials Committee. 

Only “bona fide Republicans” as defined by the Bylaws of the Tennessee Republican Party (“Bylaws”) are allowed to participate and vote in the caucus.  Pursuant to Article IX, Section 1(A) (1) of the Bylaws, a “bona fide Republican” is an individual “… who has voted in at least three (3) of the four (4) most recent statewide Republican primary elections…”  Republicans who were not of legal age and unable to vote in three of the last four primary elections can obtain approval to participate from the State Republican Party Chairman the night of the caucus. 

For further questions or information, call the Coffee County Republican Party Chairman at 931-273-8955. 

It is believed the county’s Democratic Party will also caucus and present a candidate. Their time and place of voting will be revealed at a later date. Deadline to qualify to run for the office will be June 7. That date includes any Independent seeking the office.