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September 6, 2009
Speaker Kent Williams Attempts to Regain GOP Status
Today's Kingsport Times-News has the latest in House of Representatives Speaker Kent Williams' fascinating journey away from, and back towards, membership in the Tennessee Republican Party.
District 10 State Executive Committee member Oscar Brock is quoted in the article:
“The most obvious question is this: If he voted against the House Republican Caucus nominee (Mumpower), sided with 49 members of the House Democratic Caucus on the most important vote of the two-year cycle, how can anyone consider Kent Williams to be a bona fide member of the Republican Party?” Brock asked. “He abandoned our party on the day when we needed him most, on a day that he had sworn to be with us.”
However, other committee members appear to be ready to give Speaker Williams a chance to regain his standing. Williams' own comments suggest that he still plays for the Republican team, at least in spirit.
“There’s a lot of important issues coming up after 2010. ... The most important is redistricting,” Williams said. “We only have to have the majority by one. I feel that’s how Democrats have kept their majority through the years is because of redistricting. This is a tremendous opportunity for our party. When I say our party, I mean the Republican Party."
What do you think? Did Kent Williams irrevocably de-list himself as a Republican by getting elected to the position in the way he did (and, as is pointed out in the above article, by subsequently allocating certain committee chairs to Democrats)? His constituents don't seem to think so. (I'd love to hear from any Carter County or other District 4 voters.)
I know I'll be watching for the next page turn in this drama.
Political News | By joe lance | 11:50 AM
Comments
Kent Williams has always been a Democrat. People in Carter County vote mostly Republican. It is hard for a Dem. to be elected. Just register yourself a Republican and you have a better chance.
Carter County Citizen
Posted by: Lee at October 8, 2009 1:50 PM