My gross delay in blogging was set to remedy today in my idea to write a little piece on tomorrow’s special election for English Only. Though English Only is a massive and pressing issue that could potentially effect the people, government and outside perception of our fine city in a very big and bad way, this morning I came across a much “sexier” topic.
Kent Williams wins Speaker
Two weeks ago the name Kent Williams, meant just about nothing to just about everyone besides a few yokels out in Elizabethton. But the political table-flipping that occurred last week, and yesterday in particular, in the Tennessee House of Representatives has Kent Williams’ name painted in every rag in Tennessee and it ain’t been purdy.
Last week, in what would become one of the biggest shockers in Tennessee politics, presumed Speaker of the House Jason Mumpower lost to the party-crossing Kent Williams in a narrow race for speaker. Williams, a Republican, joined 49 Democrats and voted for himself to defeat Mumpower.
Much to the chagrin of Mumpower and house republicans Williams has maintained this position, despite fruitless schemes to oust him from the party on some random charge or the other. However, all Republican attempts are not lost. Yesterday a memo, penned by Mumpower in April of 2007, made the news.
Representative Susan Lynn
The memo states that in March of 2007 after a legislative reception, a boozy Williams approached Representative Susan Lynn, R- Mt. Juliet, and told her she was beautiful AND…
“I will give you a weeks pay just to see you naked.”
Supposedly, Williams later apologized for the incident and said it wouldn’t happen again.
Now, House Speaker Williams is singing a different tune. In a written statement yesterday afternoon Williams says: I have never sexually harassed anyone nor have I been reprimanded for such behavior.
Mumpower’s political name smearing is no doubt a personal jab, but also a last ditch effort by House Republicans to dispel Williams from power. The convenient timing of the lascivious memo is picture perfect.
Williams seems to be on a quest to disassociate with the fellow members of his party and continues to infuriate his Republican counterparts with his political associations with Democrats like former Democratic House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh.
It was announced that Representative Naifeh, is now the “Speaker Emeritus.” As Speaker Emeritus, Naifeh will maintain close contact with Williams, a position many house Republicans fear to be too close for comfort.
With Naifeh an ornament in Williams’ office, the legislative schedule may reflect a more Democratic agenda. And if Naifeh maintains influence over the House Speaker, it appears that Republicans, though in the majority for the first time since Civil War reconstruction, will lose their new found power over the legislative agenda.
Heads have been rolling at the Tennessee Legislature and given the axe to fall in the hand of a House Republican, we all know which one gets chopped first.
