Dewayne Bunch
Encyclopedia
Dewayne Bunch is a Republican
politician in Tennessee who formerly served in the Tennessee General Assembly
and is now a state administrative law judge
.
degree from Tennessee Technological University
in 1981. He obtained a master's degree
from East Tennessee State University
in 1984 and a J.D.
from University of Tennessee
College of Law at Knoxville in 1990.
Bunch served as wrestling coach for Cleveland Junior High (Cleveland, Tennessee
) in the early 1980s. After entering the legal profession, he was an attorney and partner at McCoin, McCoin, Bunch and Associates.
for eight years (1999-2006), in the 101st through 104th General Assemblies, representing the 24th district, which consisted of part of Bradley County. He was elected to the Tennessee State Senate for the 105th General Assembly and served one four-year term as a state senator, representing the 9th senatorial district in the 105th and 106th General Assemblies (2007-2010).
As a member of the state legislature, Bunch was once recognized as the Tennessee School Board Legislator of the Year, was a two-time recipient of a “Friend of the Family” award, and received an "Equal Access to Justice" award from the Tennessee Alliance of Legal Services and Legal Aid of Tennessee. He was also critical of Tennessee laws that allow for appointment of judges.
In December 2010, Tennessee Secretary of State
Tre Hargett
appointed Bunch to a position as a state administrative law judge. Unlike the state's other administrative law judges, who are based in Nashville, it was announced that Bunch would live and work in East Tennessee
.
sustained a critical head injury while intervening to break up a fight between two students in the cafeteria at Whitley County High School in Kentucky
.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician in Tennessee who formerly served in the Tennessee General Assembly
Tennessee General Assembly
The Tennessee General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional structure:According to the Tennessee State Constitution of 1870, the General Assembly is a bicameral legislature and consists of a Senate of thirty-three members and a House of Representatives of...
and is now a state administrative law judge
Administrative law judge
An administrative law judge in the United States is an official who presides at an administrative trial-type hearing to resolve a dispute between a government agency and someone affected by a decision of that agency. The ALJ is usually the initial trier of fact and decision maker...
.
Education and early career
Bunch graduated with a Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from Tennessee Technological University
Tennessee Technological University
Tennessee Technological University, popularly known as Tennessee Tech, is an accredited public university located in Cookeville, Tennessee, US, a city approximately seventy miles east of Nashville. It was formerly known as Tennessee Polytechnic Institute , and before that as Dixie College, the...
in 1981. He obtained a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is an accredited American university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities, the nation's sixth largest system of public education, and is the fourth largest university in the state...
in 1984 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
College of Law at Knoxville in 1990.
Bunch served as wrestling coach for Cleveland Junior High (Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland is a city in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 41,285 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bradley County...
) in the early 1980s. After entering the legal profession, he was an attorney and partner at McCoin, McCoin, Bunch and Associates.
Political career
Bunch served in the Tennessee House of RepresentativesTennessee House of Representatives
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional requirements:...
for eight years (1999-2006), in the 101st through 104th General Assemblies, representing the 24th district, which consisted of part of Bradley County. He was elected to the Tennessee State Senate for the 105th General Assembly and served one four-year term as a state senator, representing the 9th senatorial district in the 105th and 106th General Assemblies (2007-2010).
As a member of the state legislature, Bunch was once recognized as the Tennessee School Board Legislator of the Year, was a two-time recipient of a “Friend of the Family” award, and received an "Equal Access to Justice" award from the Tennessee Alliance of Legal Services and Legal Aid of Tennessee. He was also critical of Tennessee laws that allow for appointment of judges.
In December 2010, Tennessee Secretary of State
Tennessee Secretary of State
The Tennessee Secretary of State is the state secretary of state for the State of Tennessee.The office is created by the Tennessee State Constitution. The Secretary of State is responsible for many of the administrative aspects of the operation of state government of Tennessee...
Tre Hargett
Tre Hargett
Tre Hargett is an American Republican Party politician who currently is serving as the Secretary of State of Tennessee. He is the son of Tennessee Adjutant General Gus L. Hargett, Jr.-Education:...
appointed Bunch to a position as a state administrative law judge. Unlike the state's other administrative law judges, who are based in Nashville, it was announced that Bunch would live and work in East Tennessee
East Tennessee
East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee, one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law. East Tennessee consists of 33 counties, 30 located within the Eastern Time Zone and three counties in the Central Time Zone, namely...
.
Mistaken identity
In April 2011 several news outlets erroneously reported Tennessee State Senator Bunch the victim of a violent encounter when Kentucky State Representative Dewayne BunchDewayne Bunch (Kentucky)
DeWayne Bunch is a teacher and a Republican politician in Kentucky.Bunch teaches math and science at Whitley County High School in Williamsburg, Kentucky. He also was a member of the Kentucky National Guard for 23 years and served a tour of duty in Iraq...
sustained a critical head injury while intervening to break up a fight between two students in the cafeteria at Whitley County High School in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.