U.S. Sen. Tim Scott speaker for Tennessee GOP event

Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., will be the keynote speaker July 9 for the Tennessee Republican Party's annual fundraising dinner in Nashville.

A former U.S. representative, Scott was appointed to the Senate by South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, to replace then-Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who left in January to become the head of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative group.

Scott, a conservative, is the only black lawmaker now serving in the Senate. And he became the first black Republican from a Southern state to serve in the upper chamber since Reconstruction.

This year's chairman of the state GOP's Statesmen's Dinner is Marty Dickens, a former president of AT&T operations in Tennessee.

In a recent statement, Dickens said, "We want to reclaim the American spirit of innovation, achievement and success that seems to have been lost recently."

For Republicans to do that, Dickens said, "We must remain united. With Sen. Scott speaking and being hosted by our talented Tennessee leaders like Gov. Haslam, we're going to move forward together like never before."

Tickets range from $250 for a reception and dinner to $10,000 for two that includes a Senate Roundtable with Scott and U.S. Republican Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and a table of 10 for the dinner.

Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfree press.com or 615-255-0550.

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