Former state senator turned candidate for governor Mae Beaver’s last day as a senator was Sept. 1. Upon clearing out her office she had some very special items she thought would look good on the walls of the DeKalb County Courthouse and DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce.
In a quick visit Wednesday, Beavers brought a set of framed Fiddler’s Jamboree posters from the 40th to 45th anniversary, a unique numbered limited-edition Center Hill Lake piece of art and an older original piece of artwork from the start of the Jamboree.
“We started collecting these a few years ago at the Jamboree and we even had to go back and get my husband (Jerry Beavers) to find one at his office for 2012. He did and that made our collection complete,” Beavers said. “We’ve just gotten last year’s framed and since I’ve moved out of my office I thought the place for these would be the chamber office and the courthouse.
“My administrative assistant gave me the Center Hill piece for Christmas one year and I talked to her yesterday and she thought that it was appropriate that it come up here as well,” said Beavers.
DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce Director Suzanne Williams was on hand for the donation, and was grateful for the donation.
“Mae Beavers has donated her framed collection of Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree posters and Center Hill Dam print to the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce,” said Williams. “I am so excited to have this Jamboree and Center Hill Lake art at the Chamber office. This generous gift will be displayed proudly to be enjoyed by many for years to come. What a beautiful addition to our office.”
Beavers resigned from her office Aug. 30 to devote her efforts towards the governorship.
“It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing that next Wednesday (Aug. 30th) at noon, I plan to deliver a letter to Governor Bill Haslam and Lt. Governor Randy McNally informing them that I am resigning from the State Senate,” Beavers said on her website.
“My travels across our state to campaign for governor should not deprive the taxpayers of the 17th Senatorial District of the devoted and consistent conservative representation they have come to expect.”
By resigning now, a special election can take place later this year and ensure that the 17th District has a “fully focused representative in place the day that session begins.”
Since 2003, Beavers has represented the 17th District, composed of Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, and Wilson (and previously Sumner and Trousdale) counties. Previously, she represented Wilson County as county commissioner from 1990-1994 and then as a state representative from 1994 through 2002. Beavers has consistently been recognized as one of the most conservative and effective legislators throughout her public service. She also received the most statewide votes as delegate for President Donald Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential primary and was chosen as Tennessee Delegation Chairman by her fellow delegates to the Republican National Convention.