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Michael Shane Wilcher
Michael Shane Wilcher was a 2016 Republican candidate for District 16 of the Tennessee State Senate. He is a Warren County Commissioner for District 3 with a term from 2014-2018 and serves on the Buildings and Grounds Committee.[1]
Biography
Wilcher graduated from Warren County Senior High and received his A.S. in psychology from Motlow State Community College. He has worked for Tool and Die since 1995.[1]
Elections
2016
- See also: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Tennessee State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 4, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 7, 2016.
Incumbent Janice Bowling defeated Mike Winton in the Tennessee State Senate District 16 general election.[2][3]
| Tennessee State Senate, District 16 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Janice Bowling Incumbent |
67.84% | 46,846 | |
| Democratic | Mike Winton | 32.16% | 22,205 | |
| Total Votes | 69,051 | |||
| Source: Tennessee Secretary of State | ||||
Mike Winton defeated Alice Demetreon in the Tennessee State Senate District 16 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Tennessee State Senate, District 16 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Mike Winton |
70.27% | 3,342 | |
| Democratic | Alice Demetreon | 29.73% | 1,414 | |
| Total Votes | 4,756 | |||
Incumbent Janice Bowling defeated Michael Shane Wilcher in the Tennessee State Senate District 16 Republican primary.[4][5]
| Tennessee State Senate, District 16 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Janice Bowling Incumbent |
81.74% | 10,235 | |
| Republican | Michael Shane Wilcher | 18.26% | 2,287 | |
| Total Votes | 12,522 | |||
Campaign themes
2016
Wilcher issued the following statement regarding his bid for office:
| “ | My basic philosophy is I am nothing in elected office without YOU. And without YOU, I can not achieve anything meaningful in office. YOU are the key, not me. I ask that you consider me for YOUR senator. Don't just partner with me. Direct and support me in achieving meaningful positive change for our 16th district. Don't expect polished. Expect common and a desire to fight for YOU.
The biggest challenge facing this district and all others? I could say jobs, infrastructure, education, partnerships between our 7 counties to help unify our voice in the state senate, blah, blah, and blah. I would say all those things but we hear it every election. There is nothing new under the sun. I can sum all the clichés up with perhaps another cliche. One I do believe in. Our biggest challenge is to elect someone who is most like the people they serve. Flawed and imperfect but dedicated to putting the people's needs and wants first in all aspects of government. If an official will put the people first, truly listening, and not just standing but fighting for what the people want, he or she will serve their purpose of representing the people whatever issue may come up. It doesn't take a polished academic, a wealthy business person, or someone with decades as an elected official. I would argue that an individual who still has to earn a paycheck every week could be well qualified to represent and do an excellent job representing the 7 counties of the 16th district no matter which individual county they reside. One who has been ignored and even silenced by elected officials and government agencies could be well qualified and willing to fight in a way perhaps others have not. One who has no idea how they could retire south of 70 or 80 years old. One who has yet to spend enough time in office to warrant retirement to most. One who doesn't care to be at odds with others in order to serve the people and not a select few. I am that person. That is what I have strived to be as county commissioner in Warren county my short time and I promise the same for the 16th district if the people chose to go against the norms. What do I hope to accomplish? I would hope to, here comes clichés, aid in creating a more welcoming 16th district for industry, wait. I'm gonna get out of my element if I'm not careful. The fact is, I thought I knew what the challenges of being a county commissioner would be. Some I got right. Some I never imagined. We learn. I didn't know how to fight the overbearing use of eminent domain in neighboring Coffee county. But I was asked by the Jarrell family to help them and I fought all I could while learning all the way. I fought for the Whitlock family in Warren county as our airport sought to take their land to build new unnecessary hangers. I fought to give the people a permanent time of public comment at our monthly commission meetings. I stood and asked that a chairman be removed from leadership for his counterproductive remarks and actions against shelter animals, county employees, and the people of warren county after being delivered a 1000+ signature petition asking me to do such. I fought to have minutes to our meetings approved at every meeting. A practice that had went undone since the fall of 1973. I fought to see Robert's Rules followed at all times not just at our convenience. I have time and again called out and pointed out to the public misconduct by officials, violations in sunshine law and open records rules, I have made a practice of video recording much of our committee meetings. A practice never done and started loading them onto my YouTube channel for all the public to see for transparency and accountability. I have worked to connect with the people in a way that is more personal and approachable and to inform them when our local government seems to thrive on secrecy or obstinance. And I'm flawed so no one should ever feel awkward about coming to me with their concerns. [6] |
” |
| —Michael Shane Wilcher, [1] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Michael Shane Wilcher Tennessee Senate. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Tennessee State Senate
- Tennessee State Senate District 16
- Tennessee State Senate elections, 2016
- Tennessee State Legislature
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Information submitted through Ballotpedia's biographical submission form on April 29, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "Election 2016," accessed November 11, 2016
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2016 general election results - Tennessee State Senate," accessed January 19, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Candidate Petitions Filed as of April 8, 2016 Noon Qualifying Deadline," accessed April 11, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "August 4, 2016 Unofficial Election Results," accessed August 4, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
