Nestled in the foothills of Tennessee, Cookeville is a town where the pace of life is slow and the taxes are low. Named 'America's Most Affordable City' by USA Today, Cookeville is a good place to raise a family. It is also a good place to retire, particularly on a budget.

One of the fastest growing cities in the state, it is a favourite destination for lower-middle class retirees drawn by the low cost of living and Tennessee's lack of an income tax.

However, one Cookeville newcomer in the 1990s was not a retiree. Instead, he was looking to start a career in Republican politics. His name was Byron Anthony Looper, but not for long. After moving to town, Looper ran for Property Assessor, promising to keep taxes low.

In fact, low taxes became Byron's middle name-literally. Before the election he had his name legally changed from Byron Anthony Looper to Byron Low Tax Looper. His theatrics worked and Byron Low Tax Looper was elected but Looper's political aspirations ran higher. He had his sights set on Nashville, the state capital.

In 1998 he announced his decision to run for State Senate against incumbent Tommy Burks. A Democrat, Burks was a five-term senator who was as popular as he was hard-working. Looper seemed certain to be defeated. That is until, with the election only weeks away, Tommy Burks was forced to withdraw from the race due to his unexpected death.