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Former Dem. State Rep. George Fraley Dies At 85

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George Fraley, a former state representative and mayor of Franklin County, has died. He was 85.

The Moore-Cortner Funeral Home in Winchester confirmed it will hold visitation for the former Democratic lawmaker on Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Services have been scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday at Winchester Church of Christ.

Fraley served in the Legislature from 1996 to 2010, when he was defeated in a Republican wave in which Democrats lost 14 seats.

Fraley was among four Democrats who had been expected to vote in favor -- but ultimately declined to support former Republican Governor Don Sundquist's proposal to create a state income tax in Tennessee in 2002.

Despite furious lobbying efforts by Democratic House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, the measure fell short by a single vote.