The All State

Media Credit: Mateen Sidiq Senate Speaker Pro Tem, Rosalind Kurita, speaks to a room full of APSU students

Media Credit: Mateen Sidiq Kurita talks about environmental concerns. [Click to enlarge]

Current Tennessee senator and Senate Speaker Pro Tem, Rosalind Kurita, is campaigning to retain her District 22 seat. She is competing against democratic foe Tim Barnes.

As a registered nurse, Kurita has often expressed her desire to help people. She explained in Clarksville's political forum (www.clarksvillede.com/forummenu.html) how she became involved in matters of the state originally to get a lunchroom for her children at East Montgomery elementary school.

Since then she has risen to the state senate showing consistent support for her priorities: Health care, education and the environment.

Recent examples include announcing the approval of a $30 million dollar student housing project, earning an award from the Tennessee Conservation Voters (TCV) and being named to the task force on energy policy by Gov. Phil Bredesen (www.tnconservationvoters.org).

Kurita has also established a reputation for her bi-partisan views. In the past, she has not only refused to support to some democratic-sponsored bills, but also supported bills sponsored by republicans.

In a recent political forum sponsored by the Clarksville Department of Electricity, Kurita addressed this issue claiming the job of a senator is to support ideas that help people regardless of their origin.

"All of us know that the biggest problem we have at the national level is what we call gridlock," Kurita said. "We need to be open to listen to good ideas that help people, all people, and that means that you have to work in a bi-partisan effort."

The Memphis Flyer explains how this bi-partisan approach is the reason Tennessee's Democratic Caucus allowed Barnes and Kurita to run as challengers for the District 22 seat instead of the traditional convention in which Kurita would run as an incumbent.

Despite any debate over who is the better democrat, this is a highly contested election because the democrats wish to regain their control over the Speaker of the Senate position.
Kurita is hoping her record and experience in the position will be enough to earn her re-election.

District 22 includes Houston, Cheatham and Montgomery counties. Montgomery County provides early voting at the Montgomery County Election Commission until August 2. The office is located at Montgomery Veterans Plaza, 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 404. Office hours are the following: July 23-26, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM; July 26, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM; July 28-August 1, 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM; and August 2, 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM. The general primary election will be held August 7.

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