State Executive Committeeman, Senate District 2
The Republican state executive committeeman for Tennessee Senate District 2 represents members of the party from Blount Monroe, Polk and part of Bradley counties in the state Republican Party. Women in the party such office as state executive committeewomen.
Incumbent officeholder Bill Russell, of Reliance, is competing with Blount County Planning Commission Chairman Darrell Tipton and Brandon M. Leitch, of Greenback, in the Aug. 1 race.
The Daily Times contacted the three candidates and asked them a set of common questions. Their responses are provided below. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order, with some trimming of responses where answers exceeded length limits.
Candidates
Name: Brandon Mark Leitch
Age: 28
Political affiliation: Republican Party
Occupation: Customer Service Representative at Vulcan Materials
Office sought: State Executive Committeeman 2nd Senatorial District
Biographical info: Born in Blount County near Greenback, this area is my home. I attended school K-12 with Blount County Schools and attend church in this community. I didn’t grow up rich or poor but my parents always provided what we needed just to get by and I can’t thank them enough. Through hard work and dedication I graduated from William Blount in 2014 and went on to attend Tennessee Wesleyan University graduating Cum Laude in 2018. Since then I have met the love of my life who I have been married to for 4 years and we have 2 children.
7. Why are you running for this position? I am running for this position to protect the traditional family values and conservative policies that have made Tennessee a great place to call home to the many folks who have come before and paved the way for us. These values and our way of life are under attack by the radical left.
8. If elected, what would your top two priorities be? If elected in August my top 2 priorities would be to 1. Ensure President Donald Trump wins in November and gets back in The White House and 2. Ensure for the full term I am serving to work with fellow committee members to keep Tennessee a solid red state while pushing our elected leaders to stay true to both the National and State GOP adopted Platforms.
9. What relevant experience do you have? My record speaks for itself. An early supporter of President Trump, while in college at Tennessee Wesleyan I often volunteered at the local Republican headquarters in Athens. I would also represent Tennessee Wesleyan as a senator in the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature and TISL Freedom Caucus that some of us formed while representing our institutions. As a supporter of then-candidate Bill Lee, 6 years ago when he came to Blount and Loudon County campaigning I introduced him at his town halls. I’m not a career politician or serving special interests, I’m just a local Republican looking to serve this district.
10. Why should voters elect you? Being a native East Tennesseean, I am someone who knows the area, the people, and I respect our heritage and who we are. We need conservative and responsible individuals serving on the State Executive Committee who can work together with other committee members to establish Tennessee as the number 1 Republican state in the nation.
11. What makes you different from the other candidates for office? Although my age is definitely a big difference from the other candidates, as the father of 2 young children I want them and all Tennessee’s youth to grow up with family values and opportunities I was instilled with at a young age and not to be brainwashed by the radical left with their extreme ideologies. We need committee members putting our best interests as Republicans first to combat the radical left. That is why I should be elected because as a young adult I’ve seen it firsthand from adults my own age and know what is coming with our future.
Name: William Bradley “Bill” Russell. (Bradley is after America’s last five-star general, Omar Bradley, “the GI’s General.” My father flew bombers in the Army Air Corps during WWII.)
Age: 74
Political affiliation: Republican
Occupation: Active retirement on a 57-acre side-hill farm in the Cherokee National Forest. I have run a Polk County polling station as the Returns Officer for some eight years, substitute teach at the high school level, serve as lay reader and leader in my church, and actively assist local charities.
Office sought: Republican State Executive Committee, District 2 Committeeman. This unpaid position is one of 33 for men and 33 for women, one each from every State Senatorial District, Tennessee-wide. The SEC functions as a “Board of Directors” for the Tennessee Republican Party, approving its budget, establishing its policies and priorities, developing its messaging, and coordinating its interaction with Republican candidates, elected officials and both county and national GOP organizations.
Biographical info: Growing up as a military brat, I graduated from West Point and served over 28 years in the Air Force. After my final assignment as Intelligence Director for US Special Operations Command and retiring as a colonel, I worked as an intelligence and security contractor in Washington, DC. Having lived in France and Germany, Korea and Japan, and all corners of the United States, when I could choose any place in the world to live, I moved to east Tennessee. I’ve been married to the same amazing woman for almost 48 years, have two successful sons and six grandchildren.
Why are you running for this position? Under Democrat leadership, our country is plagued by an epidemic of deadly narcotics, a massive border invasion that is changing the very culture of our state, rampant crime in our cities, a debt crisis that is punishing our citizens with inflation while bankrupting the national treasury, and an aggressive cultural Marxism that’s tearing our institutions apart. We need a Tennessee Republican Party that is guided by common sense, integrity and an awareness of history. I will continue to work to ensure our party elects strong problem-solvers.
If elected, what would your top two priorities be? First: To protect and strengthen GOP dominance in Tennessee’s General Assembly, Governorship, and US House and Senate delegations, while consolidating Republican local governance in east Tennessee. Second: To spread our state’s conservative governing principles and Christian values to other states and usher in a national revival of the American spirit.
What relevant experience do you have? I already know the job, and I’m good at it. As your incumbent Committeeman, I have a year and a half of successful participation in SEC meetings in Nashville and elsewhere. I’ve written resolutions for our county party organizations and advocated for their priorities at the State level, helped our county chairmen to organize and operate efficiently, updated Tennessee Republican Party bylaws, and approved its budgets. I have built alliances among prominent Republicans in Blount, Monroe, Polk and Bradley Counties, and Tennessee-wide.
Why should voters elect you? As well as being a veteran and having experience in the position, I am truly in tune with our region. My wife and I both grew up as military brats, modern-day Gypsies. Having lived in Europe and Asia, as well as in both New York and California, I know the difference between good government and bad, between honest politicians and corrupt ones, and between a Godly society and a decadent one. I love Tennessee and Tennesseans and have the determination, energy and experience to preserve what is special about them.
What makes you different from the other candidates for office? Because US military cadets and officers cannot be overtly political, I did not spend my whole adult life playing politics. I have only been doing this for a few years, giving my political convictions an idealism and zeal that you might not expect from a “senior citizen.” Likewise, my allegiance to east Tennessee is by choice, not by family history, but those who know me can see that it is genuine and deep!
Name: Darrell Tipton
Age: 75
Political affiliation: Republican
Occupation: Real Estate Broker
Office sought: GOP State Executive Committeeman (SEC)
Biographical info: My roots run deep in Blount County; the Tipton’s arrived here in the early 1800’s. My wife is Teena and we are the proud parents of 3 daughters, Wendy Teffeteller, Tammy Holloway, & Dusten Zientek. We’ve been blessed with 3 grandchildren, Wyatt, Lucas, & Madelyn. We are members of Maryville First Methodist Church and I’m a 50-year member of Rockford Lodge #469. After attending the University of Tennessee, I have been fortunate that my entire work career has been in Maryville. I have been active in the community and served in various civic organizations as well as elected and appointed political positions.
Why are you running for this position? While most people may have heard of the Republican State Executive Committee (SEC), few really understand how important a role that it plays in who may be serving in elected positions, locally and on a state level. The SEC has the ability and obligation to verify that only people who qualify to seek office as a Republican have demonstrated through previous actions that they believe government actions should be reflected of values adopted by the Republican party.
If elected, what would your top two priorities be? As a member of the State Executive Committee, it is important to work with each county executive committee recruiting quality candidates for each and every elected Office on a local as well as the state level. The SEC holds an important role in communicating with state official’s issues that are important to the voters of the communities they represent.
What relevant experience do you have? My entire life has revolved around listening to people and providing services to help people achieve the results they desire. When serving in elected positions, my goal was to work and make votes that served the greater good of the community. Experience has taught me that time should be given to gathering all the facts available before making a decision.
Why should voters elect you? No other person who is seeking this positron will be as accessible and responsive to the voters as I am and will be.
What makes you different from the other candidates for office? My responses to previous questions provide a definite contrast to me and others. In summary, my knowledge of the history of this district, a lifetime of working with the public and a deep understanding of what is expected from a person who seeks elected office as a republican. In 2015 I was proud to be an early supporter of President Trump and served as Chairman for his campaign in Blount County.
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