Party Leaders Challenge Williams’ Status as ‘Bona Fide’ Republican
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State Rep. Gary Odom
State Rep. Gary Odom
Source: Tennessee General Assembly
State Rep. Kent Williams, R-Elizabethton, became House Speaker Tuesday, the first day of the 2009 legislative session in Tennessee.
Not surprisingly, new Tennessee House Speaker Kent Williams is already facing a challenge from within his own political party.
Eighteen members of the Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee have signed a written document, presented Tuesday to Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith, challenging the “bona fide” status of Williams as a Republican.
The action, which triggers a review under party bylaws, comes after Williams, R-Elizabethton, sided with Democrats – and voted for himself – to become the next speaker. Many were caught by surprise since Jason Mumpower, a Republican from Bristol, was considered the top contender for the position.
In a Tuesday press release, the Tennessee Republican Party says Williams broke a signed oath – and many verbal promises made to various Republican lawmakers and party officials –to vote for Mumpower.
If Williams is stripped of his status as a member of the Republican Party, the press release says, he cannot run on the Republican ballot in 2010.
“Williams put personal ambition ahead of honor and lied his way into the Speaker’s chair,“ said Bill Hobbs, Communications Director for the Tennessee Republican Party.
“Elected by Republican voters in the historic 2008 elections that saw Republicans win a majority of House seats for the first time since 1868, Rep. Williams chose to betray his party and his constituents. Party bylaws – which Williams was aware of - provide a clear and straightforward process for the challenge to Williams’ status as a bona fide Republican as a result of his actions today. We expect the process will move quickly,” Hobbs is quoted as saying.
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Reader Reactions
Congratulations to Kent and the good folks over in Carter County. It seems that Jim Bailey and Josh Smith are more upset than anyone else. Whats up with that?
..Witch Doctor not understand strange talk you speak of. New cabana girls does my HTML, she not bright but she makes dang good martini! Witch Doctor throw bones later..bones never lie
LOL, Bones….
Good job on the blog. Heh,
Something is wrong with your Google Sign in. Word verification does not appear.
Just a heads up.
Amazingly funny. I have never seen that tactic used so smoothly and proficiently.
Shows just how dumb the TNGOP is. They should have seen that coming.
Morons, LOL!
Like taking candy from a baby.
Thanx to Williams for doing the best thing for the people of TN and thanx to the TNDP for finally finding a spine.
Jason Mumpower is a Right-Wing clown and a crooked hypocrite. He would have set this state back 100 years with his proven poor judgment and back-assward beliefs.
I’m laughing at you, Jason. See you at church.
Witch Doctor introduce self to new Tenn neighbors. My family photos I put up so you see. If you like good, if not bones say keep mouth shut like sewn zombie lips.. bones never lie
http://witchdoctoring.blogspot.com/
I think he should be removed as speaker, and then impeached. If a person will lie, and do the things he has done to get to be speaker imagine what other crimes and ethic violations he will commit. He does not deserve to represent the people.
Carter County big winner.Williams pay back for what Ramsey,Crowe Mumpower and the Gregory family money did to him in the last election.Way to go Kent.Remember what this same group did to Ralph Cole?
HeHeHaHa….
Well I think it’s time that someone from out state stood up and said, let’s do this for the people, not for personal gain. I’m glad that Mr. Williams has stood up to his party and basically told them to sit down and shut up! I consider myself Independent and vote for the person that I feel will do the job required to improve my way of life and my neighbors. I want Tennessee a top state in education, high wages, low unemployment, good health care and quality of life in our big cities and small communities. If Speaker Williams can give me these things, who gives a flying pig what party is written by his name. I don’t think we should have to declare a party affiliation during a primary. All this bull that Ramsey is vomiting out of his mouth is just that vomit! Tennessee the last time I checked, is a free state and with that comes freedom of speech, and why is everyone upset that Mr. Williams voiced his freedoms. Because he didn’t tuck his tail between his legs and bow down and kiss the feet of the Republican Party!!! Well if anything, it makes more glad that I don’t label myself as a Republican or a Democrat. I’m a free individual, living in a free country, and I hate labels. Why must we be labeled? It must make people feel safe. I for one can’t tolerate it! Let’s get rid of our labels and those old prejudices and stand up for the people of Tennessee and this great country of America! You go Speaker Williams!! Congrats!!
What a GREAT piece of theatre that was! I say let them throw him out of their party. He could then become a Democrat and shift control back to the Democratic Party. Ha ha ha ha
Both men are playing the politics game. If Mumpower were allowed to take that seat, then we would only have in Tennessee what our country went through in the last eight years with Republican “rule”. They would dismantle every program they could get their hands on.
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