The war over state Route 840 is about to move into the arena of election politics in Williamson County.
Gene Cotton, the songwriter who has been a tireless antagonist of the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) in the struggle over how and where the ring road will be built, says he’s “99 percent sure” he’ll run in next year’s Democratic primary for the state House seat vacated by Democratic Rep. Mike Williams. The incumbent announced his resignation from the Legislature last week to become executive director (read: lobbyist) of the Tennessee Petroleum Council.
“Transportation is a major issue in the state,” Cotton says. “I feel I have the experience to make some changes in our priorities.”
Cotton has become a hometown hero for his pro-environmental, anti-concrete advocacy. He is founder and president of the Southwest Williamson County Community Association, which he formed in response to the perceived threat of 840. Still, a legislative candidacy may well be just as difficult as his fight against the powerful TDOT, which won a favorable ruling last week in the ongoing struggle over 840 (although opponents plan to appeal to the state Supreme Court). Right now, the odds are against him on all fronts. While a state appeals court ruled that a section of the road in Williamson County could continue—despite an earlier injunction allowed by Williamson County Chancellor Russ Heldman—the state House district where Cotton lives becomes more and more Republican every year.
In fact, political watchers have felt for several years now that it was only a matter of time before Williams’ party affiliation would be the death of his legislative representation. As it turns out, he resigned before that could happen.
Republicans expected to make the race include Jeff Cassman, a financial consultant, and R. Glen Casada, currently a member of the Williamson County Commission. Casada confirms that he’s moving to a rental property in College Grove this weekend to establish residency qualifications.
Cotton’s songs, interestingly enough, include “You Got Me Runnin’. ”
