2009 September 09

Press Release: State Rep. Brian Kelsey Will Resign Seat if He Wins Republican Senate Nomination

The Main Street Journal Website

(The following press release is published as it was received by the Main Street Journal.)

Brian Kelsey - for State Senate

KELSEY TO RESIGN STATE HOUSE SEAT BEFORE NOV 2

For Immediate Release / September 8,
2009 mail@votekelsey.com (901) 213-8683

Germantown, TN - State Representative Brian Kelsey (R-
Germantown) today announced that, if he is chosen the
Republican nominee for the state Senate, he will resign his
state House seat prior to Nov 2 to ensure that the voters of
House District 83 are allowed to choose their next state
Representative.

Rep. Kelsey is currently a candidate in the state Senate
special election to fill the vacant seat in District 31. The
primary election is set for Oct. 15, 2009, and the general
election will be held Dec. 1.

“I want the people to choose their next representative, not
the politicians,” said Rep. Kelsey. “I have a record of
taking on politicians to protect people’s rights, and the
right to vote is sacred in a democracy.”

By resigning his House seat prior to Nov. 2, Rep. Kelsey
will guarantee that a special election takes place to fill
the seat. If Rep. Kelsey were to resign his seat after Nov.
2, the county commission would pick his successor.

Kelsey for Senate Campaign Manager Jeremy Durham explained
the necessity for a special election: “It should come as no
surprise to anyone who knows him that Brian Kelsey would put
his personal interests aside to help ensure the people of
his district will be represented by someone who shares their
values. Unfortunately, the Democrats on the county
commission have proven that they cannot be trusted to follow
the wishes of voters but have instead engaged in partisan
politics,” said Durham.

In January 2009, the Democratic-controlled Shelby County
Commission appointed Democrat Matt Kuhn to fill a heavily-
Republican seat after Republican David Lillard resigned his
commission seat to become state Treasurer. Under Republican
control of the county commission in prior years, the
commission had followed a long-standing tradition of
appointing Republicans to Republican districts and Democrats
to Democratic districts. House District 83 is among the top
five most Republican districts of the 99 in Tennessee.

“I have been and remain convinced that allowing the people
of Memphis and Germantown to vote for their state
representative will help keep people safer in their homes,
have access to better healthcare, and have more security in
their jobs,” said Rep. Kelsey.

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