| Sources |
- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 29 Aug 1999.
Sam Ellis Obituary
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 25 Jan 2012.
Attorney Andrew Farmer to run for State House seat
Andrew Ellis Farmer has announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for the District 17 Tennessee House of Representatives seat currently held by incumbent Frank Niceley. This district has been restructured following the 2010 Census and now includes a large area of Jefferson and Sevier counties. The Republican Primary is Aug. 2.
“I have decided to run for the Republican nomination in District 17 because of my deep love for this area and my commitment to making our community an even better place to live," he said.
Some of the most important issues to Farmer include continued improvement of educational opportunities for children, respect and support for teachers, aggressive programs for job creation, cooperation with local governments and communities that will improve economic opportunities and the quality of life for citizens. He will also make every effort to ensure law enforcement gets the proper tools they need to safely and effectively protect the community.
"As an attorney, I have witnessed the devastating toll that prescription pills have taken on our community and if elected, will aggressively push for legislation that will more closely regulate pain clinics and the doctors prescribing unnecessary and addictive prescription pain pills and to provide help to citizens who are battling their addiction to these drugs. I hope to be able to address these issues and others important to folks in this district,” said Farmer. “Having been blessed with an extended and loving family, I learned from birth the values of faith in God, responsibility for my family and the constant obligation I have as a citizen to improve my community.”
Farmer is a native of Sevier County, and graduated from Sevier County High School in 1998. He earned a bachelor's from East Tennessee State University and a law degree in 2007 from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Mich. While attending Law School, Farmer worked with the office of the public defender in Ann Arbor.
He completed his post-graduate studies in Knoxville interning for the Tennessee Supreme Court. He was admitted to practice law in Tennessee in May 2008.
Farmer operates a law office in Sevierville. He is a member of the Farm Bureau, National Rifle Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Knoxville Bar Association, and Sevier County Bar Association.
Farmer is engaged to Mariah Treadway, daughter of Renee and Dennis Huskey of Gatlinburg and a 1999 graduate of Gatlinburg-Pittman High. She has a daughter, Chloe Treadway.
His parents are Don and Patsy Farmer. His sister, AnneMarie LaPrees is married to Clayton Laprees.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 26 Jun 2012.
District 17 candidates tout experience
by RACHEL OSBORN
The three men seeking the Republican nomination in House District 17 agree on a lot of things, but not on school vouchers, teacher unions and, in some cases, their opponents' actions.
After the recent redistricting, the new District 17 is about 55 percent Jefferson County and 45 percent Sevier County.
Republicans Larry Boggs, Andrew Farmer and Roger Griffith are competing in the Aug. 2 primary, while Democrat Mike Dockery is unopposed. Farmer is the only Sevier County resident among the four.
Andrew Farmer
Farmer is a Sevierville lawyer, born and raised in Sevier County.
He said he is running because of his "vested interest" in the district — with family living here for generations and owning several local businesses — and his ability to understand legislation that's needed to support the economy and job creation.
"Attorneys are specially trained to read and understand statutes and laws. As a representative, you do that often. I'm a problem solver. I do it every day in my law practice. Nashville needs more problem solvers. We don't need to send people there who will end in gridlock."
He said his opponents don't have that insight or training. He points to some of Griffith's advertising as an example.
"My biggest issue is the negative advertising, campaigning and mud-slinging," he said. "I have run a 100 percent positive campaign. I believe the citizens of Sevier and Jefferson counties deserve more respect than that. I've tried to conduct my campaign with respect."
Over the last few months, Griffith has circulated campaign materials that portray Farmer "as evil, personally and viciously attacking (him) and (his) family," Farmer said.
Farmer has been criticized for a Gatlinburg liquor store that he financially manages for his family after a family illness.
Farmer points out that although Griffith has tried to showcase him as someone who defends drunken drivers and supports heavy alcohol use and lenient DUI laws, Griffith regularly deals with alcohol-related agenda items as part of the Jefferson County Commission.
"He's trying to hide his own record," Farmer said. "I won't attack him personally, but I will attack his record as a county commissioner. He voted for beer permits at the last county commission meeting and scrutinized me for the liquor store. He's attacked me personally on issues where he's done the same thing. I don't think that's right.
"He vowed he would run a respectful campaign. When he (sent out those campaign materials) he chose to ignore his vow to the citizens of Sevier and Jefferson counties. I fully expect Griffith to continue to do this. I choose to focus on the issues.
"I truly thought I'd be running against two honorable opponents in this race. I can't say that now. It's disheartening."
Farmer also disagrees with other choices Griffith has made as commissioner, like adding to Jefferson County's debt and supporting a school voucher system for the state.
"I find it hard to believe that Griffith can understand issues with public education," Farmer said. "He's made the choice to send zero of his nine children to public schools (homeschooling them instead). He has no faith in public education."
Farmer opposes school vouchers because they would "take public education dollars away from the children in our public schools.
"Our state provides a public education. You either take advantage of it or not. Vouchers could bankrupt our state and take money away from the public schools. I'm afraid of that."
While he doesn't support NEA and their "political positions," he thinks TEA — which has endorsed him — has done some good for Tennesseans.
"I do not believe that professional organizations such as the NEA or TEA should have the right to strike," Farmer said. "The TEA is not a union. It's an association. They don't have the right to strike. I think people get that confused.
"I'm not pro-union. My bottom line is, I support the kids."
He would support job creation by keeping taxes low; controlling government spending; reducing red tape and regulations; and keeping government out of the way.
"If I was elected, it would be my role to support and facilitate a conducive environment for businesses to grow and prosper — not only new businesses, but existing ones too," he said.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 2 Aug 2012.
Farmer winner in new House district
by JASON DAVIS
SEVIERVILLE —Republican Andrew Farmer cleared his biggest hurdle in the quest for the newly-created District 17 State Representative seat Thursday night with a decisive victory over opponents Roger Griffith and Larry Boggs in the Republican primary.
Farmer, a Sevierville native, was thrilled with the outcome of the primary, and immediately addressed his supporters at the River Plantation Conference Center, where they had gathered to celebrate his victory.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 7 Nov 2012.
Farmer wins, heads to House
by ROBBIE HARGETT
Tennessee House District 17 voters elected Republican favorite Andrew Farmer on Tuesday to serve in the Legislature.
Sevierville attorney Farmer defeated Democratic opponent Mike Dockery of New Market by a considerable margin, with a final count of 14,255 to 4,476.
"I feel great. It's like I was stuck in limbo between the primary and the general (election), even though I had a Democrat running against me in two pretty red counties," Farmer said during his victory celebration at The Chop House in Kodak. "But I never gave up, just continued to let people know that I was there, and I was going to be there for them."
The recently redrawn District 17 is 45 percent Sevier County and 55 percent Jefferson County, but Farmer defeated two Jefferson County Republicans in the August primary to win the Republican nomination.
Dockery was unopposed in the Democratic Primary. He could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
"I had a pretty good idea (that I was going to win), but I didn't allow myself to believe that," Farmer said. "What I wanted to do was go in with an attitude that I was behind, and continue to meet as many, if not more, people that I would have met in the primary. I think that really showed with the vote difference."
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