Rick Eldridge
Rick Eldridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 10th district | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2019[1] | |
| Preceded by | Tilman Goins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 12, 1957[2] |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Morristown, Tennessee[3] |
Rick Eldridge (born July 12, 1957) is an American politician. He is a Republican representing Tennessee's 10th House District, which solely encompasses the Western portion of Hamblen County and Grainger County, in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
Political career
Eldridge served as a Hamblen County commissioner for eight years, including two terms as chairman.[4]
In 2018, Eldridge ran for election to the District 10 seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives, which was being vacated by Tilman Goins.[5] He defeated Tommy Pedigo in the Republican primary, and Democrat Barbara Simmons in the general election.[1]
In 2020, Eldridge ran unopposed in both the Republican primary and general election, being re-elected on November 3, 2020 with 17,133 votes.[1]
In August 2021, Eldridge joined all the state house Republicans in signing a letter to call for a special session to take action against schools requiring masks.[6] Governor Bill Lee issued an executive order allowing parents to opt students out of school mask mandates instead of calling the special session.[7] In October 2021, Eldridge voted in favor of a bill allowing partisan elections for school boards, which have traditionally been nonpartisan in Tennessee.[8] In December 2021, Eldridge voiced his opposition to the state's new redistricting plan that would split Hamblen County in half with District 10 in the west and District 11 in the east. He stated he would vote no on the plan.[9]
In 2023, Eldridge supported a resolution to expel Democratic lawmakers from the legislature for violating decorum rules. The expulsion was widely characterized as unprecedented.[10]
Current committees
As of December 2021, Eldridge sits on the following committees:[2]
- State Committee (Vice-Chair)
- Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee
- Civil Justice Committee
- Corrections Subcommittee
- Naming, Designating, & Private Acts Committee
- Covid-19 Committee of the Third Extraordinary Session
Electoral record
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
|
Rick Eldridge | 4,435 | 62.8% | |
Republican
|
Tommy Pedigo | 2,532 | 37.2% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
|
Rick Eldridge | 12,941 | 75.4% | |
Democratic
|
Barbara Simmons | 4,214 | 24.6% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
|
Rick Eldridge | 3,967 | 100.0% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
|
Rick Eldridge | 17,156 | 100.0% | |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Rick Eldridge". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Representative Rick Eldridge". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Rick Eldridge's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Hightower, Cliff (7 November 2018). "Hamblen County goes to the polls, backs Republican ticket". Citizen Tribune. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Eldridge to run for State Rep". Citizen Tribune. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Allison, Natalie (August 11, 2021). "All Tennessee House Republicans ask Gov. Bill Lee to call a special session as school mask debates intensify". Tennessean.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
- ^ Hightower, Cliff (August 17, 2021). "Lee issues order allowing parents to opt students out of school mask mandates". CitizenTribune.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
- ^ Hightower, Cliff (November 15, 2021). "Officials to consider primaries for school board election". CitizenTribune.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
- ^ Hightower, Cliff (December 29, 2021). "Eldridge: Redistricting plan would split Hamblen County". CitizenTribune.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
- ^ Andone, Dakin; Young, Ryan; Simonson, Amy; Almasy, Steve. "Tennessee's Republican-led House expels 2 Democratic lawmakers over gun reform protest, fails in bid to oust a third". CNN. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
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