Jim Summerville
| Jim Summerville | ||
 | ||
| Tennessee State Senate District 25 | ||
| Incumbent | ||
| In office | ||
| 2011 - Present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| January 15, 2015 | ||
| Years in position | 2 | |
| Party | Republican | |
| Compensation | ||
| Base salary | $19,009/year | |
| Per diem | $173/legislative day | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| Last election | November 2, 2010 | |
| First elected | 2010 | |
| Next election | November 4, 2014 | |
| Term limits | N/A | |
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | University of Tennessee, 1969 | |
| Master's | Vanderbilt University, 1983 University of Iowa, 1972 | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
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Contents |
Biography
Summerville holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Tennessee, an MA in English Literature from the University of Iowa, and an MA in American History from Vanderbilt University. He has published five books and worked as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Languages and Literature at Austin Peay State University.
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Summerville served on the following committees:
| Tennessee Committee Assignments, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Vice-chair | ||||
| • Government Operations | ||||
| • Government Operations | ||||
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Summerville served on these committees:
| Tennessee Committee Assignments, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Education | ||||
| • Environment, Conservation & Tourism | ||||
| • Government Operations | ||||
| • Government Operations | ||||
Elections
2010
Summerville defeated incumbent Democrat Doug Jackson in the general election on November 2, 2010. He was unopposed in the Republican primary election for state senate District 25.[1][2]
| Tennessee State Senate, District 25, General Election 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
 Jim Summerville (R)
|
21,375 | |||
| Doug Jackson (D) | 20,455 | |||
Campaign Themes
2010
Summerville supported a 10-point platform which would:
- Take the sales tax off groceries
- Cut the cost of state government by at least 20%, beginning with the overly-long sessions of the legislature and the salaries and perks of its members and staff
- Downsize executive departments, agencies, bureaus and commissions, cutting jobs and putting the fewer bureaucrats on less pay. We have too much State government in too many layers and we need to shrink it.
- Sell off State-run enterprises that could better be handled by private enterprises, such as the State-park concessions. Sell the State’s airplane fleet and the excessive number of its cars
- Repeal unfunded State mandates to local governments
- Make English the official language of State documents
- Eliminate public expenditures for anyone not a citizen of the United States, except in emergency and dire temporary situations
- Hold public colleges and universities strictly accountable for high standards before any more tuition increases
- Require legislative review of all State regulation at regular intervals with the goal of taking many of these burdens off business. Simplify the regulatory climate faced by entrepreneurs
- Support Second Amendment guarantees of the right to bear arms.
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Summerville also says that he will work to strengthen "Tennessee right-to-life laws and for a more favorable environment for home schooling and charter schools."
He summarized his platform in this way: "In short, I favor a smaller and smarter State government. If you’re satisfied with the status quo, you’ll probably want to vote for the incumbent. If not, I would appreciate your consideration. I welcome dissident Democrats and new Tea Partier friends."
Campaign donors
2010
In 2010, when Summerville first won election to the Senate, he collected $2,400 in donations.[3]
His four largest contributors were:
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Jim Summerville | $700 |
| Jodie Hardin | $700 |
| Alice Jane Smith | $500 |
| Charles Hampton | $500 |
Personal
Summerville and his wife currently reside in McCreary Heights, Tennessee. He serves on the boards of the Dickson County Higher Education Foundation, the Dickson Kiwanis Club and the Dickson County Help Center. He has served as a fundraising volunteer at the Frank G. Clement Museum and the Dickson County Board of Education.
External links
- Jim Summerville on the Tennessee State Senate website
- Biography of Jim Summerville on Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2010
References
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Doug Jackson (D) |
Tennessee State Senate District 25 2011–Present |
Succeeded by - |
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