Controversial ex-State Sen. Stacey Campfield may run for office again

Ex-state Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, who generated local and national controversy over the years, has picked up a petition, the first step to run for state office again.

When reached by phone Monday and asked if he was running for a House seat, Campfield said he had picked up a petition but had not filed it yet. He did not say which position he would seek, although it is likely he would run for House of Representatives District 89, currently held by outgoing Rep. Roger Kane.

Campfield didn't comment further, but told USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee that he'd call back later.

Adam Ghassemi, communications director for the Tennessee Secretary of State, said as of Thursday, the last business day before Monday, Campfield had not filed any paperwork.

The deadline to file for state and federal offices is noon Thursday.

Former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison, Justin Lafferty, Jesse D. Nelson and Guy L. Smoak have filed petitions with the state as Republicans for Kane's House seat. Keifel A. Agostini and Coleen Martinez have filed as Democrats.

Campfield was no stranger to controversy or national headlines during his 10-year stint in Nashville. His last interaction with politics saw him thumped by State Sen. Richard Briggs in the 2014 Republican primary, 13,977 votes, 67 percent, to 5,824 votes, 28 percent. He was originally elected to the State House in 2004.

He had a reputation for getting his name called out on the likes of Comedy Central's Colbert Report, while angering Democrats and even making some of his Republican colleagues uncomfortable.

Memorable comments and moments included: unsuccessfully trying to join the Tennessee Legislature's Black Caucus; blaming AIDS on a gay airline pilot having sex with monkeys and saying the disease is "virtually impossible" to contract during heterosexual intercourse; and posting on his blog that "Democrats bragging about the number of mandatory signups for Obamacare is like Germans bragging about the number of mandatory signups for 'train rides' for Jews in the 40s."

There were bills such as the famous "Don't Say Gay" legislation.

In 2009 Campfield was escorted from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville's home football game on Halloween after an incident with him wearing a Luchador's (Mexican wrestler's) full head mask during the game against South Carolina. This was despite publicity before and during the game that Halloween masks were not allowed inside Neyland Stadium. No charges were filed.

After his comments about gays and the origin of the AIDS virus In 2012, Campfield was ordered out of downtown Knoxville’s Bistro at the Bijou by owner Martha Boggs.

"When I saw him at the front door, I told him to leave," Boggs said. "It's just my way to show support for the gay community and stand up to somebody I think is a bully. He's really gone from being stupid to dangerous. I think he needs to know what it feels like to be discriminated against."

Campfield responded at the time with a blog post comparing himself to Jesus Christ and to the civil-rights demonstrators of the 1960s. He later said he was discriminated against because his Catholic faith does not support the act of homosexuality.

"Unfortunately, some people do not let facts get in the way of their prejudice," he wrote. "I guess some people still support segregation. Just segregation of thought."