The Cumberland County Republican party has requested a primary for the county commission candidates. This means anyone wanting to run for a county commission seat must declare one party or the other.  Jill Davis, Cumberland county administrator of elections, tells CNF she received a letter from the Cumberland county republican party asking for a primary for republican candidates of the county commission. Ms. Davis also said she is anticipating a letter from the Democratic party with a similar request. Since the establishment of Cumberland County in 1856, the County Commission has been elected on a non-partisan basis.  Basically, all candidates just lined up and ran at one time in the General Election – party affiliation not withstanding.

The County Commission now will join all othe county elected offices as a partisan elected  office. The same thing happened to the Cumberland County School Board a couple years back when it became a partisan election race.  Matthew Mclannhan, Chairman of the Republican party, told CNF that the reason was to align the County Commission with the other elected offices. The last remaining non-partisan office is the Crossville City Council and City Mayor’s office.