Editing Byron Looper (section)

== Career ==
In 1992, Looper returned to Tennessee and became a [[United States Republican Party|Republican]]. He lost a race for the [[Tennessee House of Representatives]] in 1994, when he ran against incumbent legislator [[Jere Hargrove]].<ref name= "SuspectRanAP" />

In 1996, he legally changed his middle name from Anthony to "(Low Tax)" and ran successfully for the post of [[Putnam County, Tennessee|Putnam County]] tax assessor, defeating a 14-year incumbent after a campaign in which he did not make any public appearances nor participate in debates, instead relying heavily on negative [[campaign ad]]s.<ref name="SuspectRanAP" /><ref name= "BostonGlobe2000">{{cite news |url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8611691.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141011214556/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8611691.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2014 | title=High Drama in Tenn. Trial of 'Low Tax' Candidate Convicted of Killing Incumbent |newspaper=Boston Globe | first= Krista | last= Reese |date=August 27, 2000 |access-date=June 5, 2012}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

As tax assessor, Looper used his office's equipment to send numerous [[press release]]s to Tennessee news media, making positive claims about himself and alleging various shortcomings on the part of other local officials.<ref name= "WashPost23Oct98">{{cite news| url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-698907.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141011093644/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-698907.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2014 |title=In Tennessee, a Lawmaker Dies and His Rival Vanishes; Police Seek to Question GOP Challenger In Shooting That Shook Rural Community |first=Sue Anne | last= Pressley |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 23, 1998 |access-date=June 5, 2012}} {{subscription required}}</ref> He seldom went to work, and many instances of irregularities in property tax assessments were reported.<ref name="BostonGlobe2000" />

In March 1998, following an investigation by the [[Tennessee Bureau of Investigation]], Looper was [[indicted]] on 14 counts of official misconduct, theft of services and official oppression for theft, misuse of county property, and misuse of county employees.<ref name="BostonGlobe2000" /><ref name= "WashPost23Oct98" /> He claimed the charges were politically motivated due to Democratic control of Putnam County politics and the [[Tennessee General Assembly]]. The ''Cookeville Herald-Citizen'' newspaper regularly reported the Republican tax assessor's bizarre antics and public verbal assaults of Putnam County elected officials. The Tennessee Republican Party soon claimed no connection with Looper.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moehringer |first=J. r |date=1998-10-24 |title=Tennessee Lawmaker Killed; Election Opponent Arrested |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-24-mn-35639-story.html |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

The ouster suit led to Looper's removal from office in January 1999.<ref>[http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?page=2&xmldoc=200027586SW3d189_1275.xml&docbase=CSLWAR2-1986-2006&SizeDisp=7 Final Ouster Appeal], ''State ex rel. Jones v. Looper'', 86 SW 3d 189&nbsp;– Tenn: Court of Appeals, Middle Section</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tmaa.us/pdfs/09winter/beyke_feb09.pdf |title=The Ins and Outs of Ouster |first=Karen | last= Beyke |pages=11–12 |date=February 2009 |publisher=Tennessee Municipal Attorneys' Association |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140611183544/http://www.tmaa.us/pdfs/09winter/beyke_feb09.pdf |archive-date=2014-06-11 }}</ref>

Looper also faced legal problems from a former girlfriend, who sued him for $1.2&nbsp;million, saying that she became pregnant and bore a child after he [[rape]]d her and that he had used his official position to steal her house.<ref name="WashPost23Oct98" /> Earlier, he had run campaign ads in which he falsely represented the same girlfriend as his wife.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-53139268 |title=A Tragic Southern Twist (Republican charged with murder of Democratic Senator Tommy Burks) |newspaper= [[Newsweek]] |date=November 2, 1998 |first=Jill Jordan | last=Sieder |access-date=June 5, 2012}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

After Looper's removal from office and conviction for murder, prosecutors decided not to pursue the criminal indictments filed in March 1998.<ref name="BostonGlobe2000" />