Governor Refuses to Endorse Widow

Democrats criticized Republican Gov. Don Sundquist for refusing to endorse the widow of slain state Sen. Tommy Burks, whose GOP opponent was charged with his killing. Sundquist has disavowed Byron (Low Tax) Looper, who remains on the ballot even though he was arrested Friday and charged with first-degree murder. But he balked at endorsing widow Charlotte Burks, who announced her candidacy as a write-in Democrat two days after her husband’s funeral. Burks’ body was found Oct. 19 in his pickup truck on his farm in Monterey, Tenn.