Party Leaders Challenge Williams’ Status as ‘Bona Fide’ Republican

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.