After 36 years in office, State Representative Frank Buck has announced that he will not seek re-election this year.
In a prepared statement, Buck says “To the people of the 40th Representative District, I wish to announce that I will not seek re-election for a 19th term in the General Assembly. After 18 terms, the re-election percentage in 2006 wasn’t much different than it was upon my first election in 1972. After 36 years of service that was a very flattering vote of confidence for which I shall always be flattered and grateful.”
“Service in the General Assembly is not an easy job. Your job is to protect the folks back home by bringing home highway and other improvements which entail cooperation with the leadership and administration, but as the income tax and ethics crisis illustrate, both groups at times can act in a very misguided fashion. You want to get along with the powers that be, but there are times when you just cannot overlook what you know to be right and wrong. You must never forget who you are, what you believe in and what you know to be right and wrong.”
“During the course of 36 years, I have been everything from the ethical hero to the illegitimate child at the family reunion. But as painful as some of those days were, I have never regretted my role because I knew I was doing right by the people of Tennessee. It is amazing how much respect you gain by ability, being tenacious, and working hard.”
“Again, I thank you for permitting me to serve you for 36 years. I have tried to make you proud of the vote you have cast for me over the years.”
Last month, three people announced their intentions to seek the Democratic nomination for State Representative during the DeKalb County Democratic Party Mass Meeting held at the high school.
Dean Sircy of Lafayette, Cleveland Derrick Bain of Smithville, and Gayla Hendrix of Smithville say they will be candidates in the August 7th State Democratic Primary.
Since then, fifth district county commissioner Jeff Barrett has filed papers with the election commission, to seek the Democratic nomination for State Representative and Nicky Rittenberry of Lafayette has filed papers to seek the Republican nomination for the office.
The 40th Legislative District is made up of DeKalb, Smith, and Macon Counties.
The qualifying deadline for State Representative (State Primary) is noon on April 3rd.
The State General Election is November 4th.

Smithville Police were called to Wal-mart on a shoplifting complaint Monday night and arrested two people.
Lieutenant Steven Leffew says Jared S. Atnip of Smithville was charged with theft under $500, possession of a schedule IV and schedule II controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lisa Piles, wanted on a worthless check warrant out of Warren County, was also arrested.
Lieutenant Leffew says on Monday night at about 9:02 p.m., Smithville Police Officers Randy King and Brad Tatrow responded to Wal-mart in answer to a shop lifter complaint. Wal-mart employees suspected two females of shoplifting. Officers ran a warrants check on the two women, Lisa Piles and Patsy Estes and learned that Piles was wanted in Warren County for a worthless check, but there was no evidence of shoplifting by either of the women. Piles was taken into custody but Estes was released.
According to Lieutenant Leffew, during the investigation of Piles and Estes, the Wal-mart manager approached the officers and advised that there was another person in the store suspected of shoplifting.
The manager reported that the man, Atnip, had allegedly stuffed some things into his clothing. Lieutenant Leffew says when the officers approached Atnip, they noticed that he appeared to be intoxicated, but he denied having any Wal-mart merchandise on him. Atnip began emptying his pockets and did not produce any merchandise. However, when the officers conducted a pat down search of Atnip, they found some Wal-mart merchandise inside his pants. They also found a syringe, a tourniquet, and a small silver container with pills believed to be Xanax and Dilaudid.
Atnip was taken into custody and charged in the case.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has arrested four people since last Wednesday on various charges.
41 year old Dwayne Scott Massengail of Barnes Mill Road, Smithville was charged Wednesday with a first offense of driving under the influence.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says deputies received a call on Keltonburg Road and observed Massengail driving. After stopping Massengail, officers noticed a strong smell of alcohol on his person. After performing and failing field sobriety tasks, Massengail was placed under arrest for DUI. His bond was set at $1,500 and his court date is February 21st.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, 22 year old Joshua William Thomas of High Street, Alexandria was arrested on a violation of probation warrant. Thomas is also listed as a sex offender from DeKalb County with a “Homeless” address. Deputies found that Thomas was residing at 105 High Street in Alexandria where he had been staying since November 8th. Sheriff Ray says Thomas was also charged with violation of the sex offender registry for not listing the address where he has been residing. Thomas’ bond was set at $11,000 and his court date is set for February 21st.
On Friday, 51 year old Johnny W. Trapp of Arrowhead Drive, Smithville was arrested for a fifth offense of driving under the influence and violation of the habitual motor offender law. Sheriff Ray says deputies responded to a call on Arrowhead Road to investigate a vandalism to a residence where someone had broken out a bedroom window. The victim gave the officers the identity of the suspect and they later spotted his vehicle, stopped it, and found Trapp to be the driver. Deputies noticed a strong smell of alcohol on Trapp’s person and asked him to perform field sobriety tasks which he performed poorly. The officers placed Trapp under arrest for a fifth offense of driving under the influence and also charged him with violation of the habitual motor offender law, an offense for which he had been convicted in 2000 in Warren County. Trapp was also charged with vandalism of the window. Trapp’s bond was set at $12,500 and his court date is set for February 21st.
On Saturday, 36 year old Micheal Joseph Foster of King Ridge Road, Dowelltown was charged with no driver’s license and theft of property over $500. Sheriff Ray says on February 4th, Foster allegedly took $850 from a purse at a residence on Hurricane Ridge Road, Dowelltown. Then on February 7th, Foster was stopped on Gentry Avenue in Smithville for a traffic violation and was found to have no driver’s license. Foster’s bond was set at $5,000 and his court date is February 21st.