Roe Wins Handily In Tennessee's 1st Congressional District

Republican Phil Roe easily outpaced his Democratic rival, Rob Russell, as well as three independent candidates to win Tennessee’s 1st Congressional District seat.

When the unofficial tally was in, Roe beat Russell by a nearly 3-1 margin, with 168,194 votes to 57,475. Of the total votes cast, Roe grabbed 71.6 percent to Russell’s 25 percent.

Joel Goodman, of Johnson City, led the independent candidates with about 2 percent of the vote, while Johnson City’s T.K. Owens and James Reeves, of Gray, each collected about 1 percent.

Roe, Johnson City’s current mayor, celebrated his victory Tuesday night with supporters at Kingsport’s Meadowview Conference Resort & Convention Center.

“I did not expect to win by that margin,” Roe said. “That’s incredible, and I feel very blessed.”

Roe identified his first political priority amid the noise of the late-night celebration.

“I’m not afraid to go up to Washington and vote my conscience,” Roe said. “The first thing is this: We must balance the budget, and I will fight to the death for that. And I do not believe raising taxes is the way to do it.”

In a district known for giving its congressmen long tenures in Washington, D.C., Roe has promised to serve only 10 years (five terms) in the House.

“That vow is at the heart of my strong belief that if we had had term limits, we wouldn’t be in the economic mess we’re in now,” he said. “The amount of money it takes to run these campaigns is ridiculous.”

Roe, 63, said he knows very well that “when someone gives politicians money, they’re going to expect something from it.”

During the campaign, he refused all contributions from political action committees, lobbyists and other special interests – a stark contrast to his Republican primary opponent, U.S. Rep. David Davis.

Roe’s populist campaign slogan, “People Not Politics,” apparently rang true with voters, since it was individuals who gave the most to his campaign.

Roe thanked Russell for running a clean race and wished him well.

“Rob’s a fine young man,” Roe said. “And if he doesn’t challenge for this seat again, I think he would do very well in local government.”

Roe said he and Russell had opposite views on how to stimulate the economy.

“I would say he and I differed in that he was for raising taxes on businesses,” he said. “I think I’ve certainly disagreed with him there.”

Roe cleared the toughest hurdle of his campaign on Aug. 7, when he defeated incumbent Davis in the primary by only 460 votes.

He was the first candidate since 1966 to upset an incumbent Tennessee congressman in a primary election. Several days after the loss, Davis announced that he would seek a recount, but the incumbent conceded a few days later.

Davis won the seat in 2006, when Bill Jenkins retired after serving 10 years in Congress. Davis won only 22 percent of the vote in a wide-open primary that year in which Roe finished fourth.

Roe served two years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and was discharged as a major in 1974. He then ran a successful obstetrics/gynecology practice in Johnson City for 31 years, delivering more than 5,000 babies.

Since becoming mayor in 2007, Johnson City has garnered $400 million in building permits. When he first took the job, the city had $2.5 million in reserves. Today, that figure is $21 million, Roe said.

Russell, 38, of Kingsport, bested Michael Donihe in the August Democratic Primary – the only other Democrat vying for the spot.

When it comes to Democrats, Carter County’s Robert L. Taylor was the last to hold the seat (1879-1881). Still, Russell maintained an upbeat attitude throughout his campaign and has many times made light of his situation in interviews and public forums.

He also has taken the opportunity to make his views – and himself – better known to voters.

“I’d like to thank my supporters, and I want them to know that I’ll be back,” Russell said from his home. “I’ve learned that this is a two-race process. You run once and learn from your mistakes. I’m committed to moving forward and building on what I’ve learned.”

Since 1997, Russell has served as director of the Writing and Communication Center at East Tennessee State University’s Johnson City campus.

The current annual salary for members of the House is $169,300, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

Tennessee’s 1st Congressional District includes all of Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties and parts of Jefferson and Sevier counties.

ggray@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2512