Political controversy brewing in wake of state senator killing

Governor refuses to endorses widow's candidacy

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AllPolitics, October 26) -- With Election Day little more than a week away, elected officials in Tennessee are trying to decide how to handle one state Senate race where the Democratic candidate was killed and the Republican candidate is charged with his murder.

On Friday, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department arrested Byron (Low Tax) Looper and charged him with first-degree murder for fatally shooting state Sen. Tommy Burks. The Republican Looper was to face off with the popular Democratic incumbent on November 3.

But just days after Byron was buried, the political jockeying for position in the wake of his death has caused controversy of its own.

Burks' name will be removed from the ballot, but since he died less than 30-days before the election Democrats cannot replace the Monterey farmer's name with another candidate's. Last week, Burks' wife, Charlotte, announced that she will run as a write-in candidate.

Looper, 34, who has legally added (Low Tax) to his name, will remain on the Republican line of the ballot despite the fact that the GOP has withdrawn its support for his candidacy.

On Sunday, Tennessee's Republican Gov. Don Sundquist jumped in to the fray by refusing to endorse Charlotte Burks' candidacy.

Although he has disavowed Looper, a spokeswoman for Sundquist says the governor does not want to get involved in a race where the Republican Party doesn't have a recognized candidate. Republicans in Tennessee only need to pick up two seats in order to gain control of the state Senate.

Sundquist's opponent this November, Democratic gubernatorial nominee John Jay Hooker, criticized the governor "for letting partisanship get in the way of good common sense."

Hooker urged Sundquist to endorse Burks' widow. "What's he waiting on? I don't get it," Hooker said.

According to Republican state Sen. Ben Atchley, if Looper is elected from his jail cell, state senators will most likely refuse to seat him. In that case, an interim senator would be appointed until a special election could be called.

Looper will also stand trial in December on charges of theft and misusing his office as Putnam County assessor. A former girlfriend of Looper's also claims he forced her to have sex, fathered a child and stole ownership of her home.

Political controversy brewing in wake of state senator killing

Governor refuses to endorses widow's candidacy

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MORE STORIES:

Monday, October 26, 1998