House Speaker Who Allied With Democrats Says He Remains "A Carter County Republican"
posted February 9, 2009
The Tennessee Republican Party on Monday announced it was evicting from the party state Rep. Kent Williams, who combined with Democrats to win the Speaker of the House post.
Chairman Robin Smith said the expulsion was based on "the principles of the Republican Party. We must stand on the foundation
of integrity, honesty and good character."
Speaker Williams retorted that he "may not be a Robin Smith Republican," but he said he remains "a Carter County Republican."
He stated, "Robin Smith has determined that I am not a Robin Smith Republican - that is a Republican in her mold.
"I have hoped for some time that my party would work to build a bigger tent, a more inclusive tent. My hopes may have been in vain. The tent Robin Smith wants is a small tent. A narrow-minded tent. A tent with no room for alternative ideas. No matter what type tent she wants for the State Republican Party it is clearly not the tent of the Carter County Republican Party. I remain a Carter County Republican with the same principles that brought me to the General Assembly in the 2006 elections.
"I own a small business and as reported in the Tennessean on this past Sunday I have a 100% voting record with the National Federation of Independent Businesses. I am a supporter of Second Amendment Rights to bear arms. I am a supporter of SJR 127, the anti-abortion constitutional amendment. I do not want government involved in all aspects of our citizens’ lives.
"I believe all members of the General Assembly should be treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve. I believe all legislation should receive a fair hearing. I believe we have a lot of capable and smart people in the House from both parties. In this time of crisis we need to utilize all of this talent and harness everyone who has the desire and ability to be a leader.
"Apparently, these are not the traits of a Robin Smith Republican. She has made her decision. So be it.
"Now let us move past this distraction and get to the real work at hand. This is a challenging time in our history. The people of Tennessee expect and deserve our very
best as we move forward to address the major challenges before us.
"Balancing the budget while still funding those items that are essential to keeping our state progressing will be a difficult task, but it is one that the General Assembly is up to if we join hands and work toward the common goal of what is best for the people of our state.
"We have a lot of work to do. We have to put our distractions behind us, join hands and work together.
"Let’s move forward.
"Together."
Ms. Smith, who is from Hixson, said, "The last few weeks have provided us the opportunity to view the nature and character of an individual. This man chose himself to be the highest ranking official in the Tennessee House. We are of course speaking of Kent Williams.
"Within our party we have had a frank conversation over the last 28 days deliberating how to view the
actions of Rep. Kent Williams. The single goal of this committee since I was elected to serve as Chairman in August of 2007 has been to gain the majority in the Tennessee General Assembly. All of our efforts, all staffing, all recruitment, all activities were done with this goal in mind.
"All members of the Tennessee State Committee, all members of the Republican Legislative leadership, all members of the legislative body and all supporters have believed this was the only reasonable goal.
"We were working to Take the Hill. On November 4, the Tennessee Republican Party in partnership with the Republican Caucuses elected 14 new Republican members to achieve of a Republican Majority in both legislative chambers for the first timein recent history.
"Immediately following these victories, our Caucus Leadership and Bylaws Subcommittee had several conversations and meetings. We all wanted to confirm the provisions that have existed in the TRP Bylaws that address the support for the Republican Caucus nominees for Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore.
"These discussions and meetings were very clear in purpose and occurred with an uncontested outcome: The Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee and the Republican Caucus were unified in having the nominees for these two leadership positions be fully supported and elected.
"The provisions in the governing documents of our Party were to be used in this process to encourage this agreed outcome.
"In November, candidates for the positions of Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore were made known by the House Caucus. Kent Williams had made no effort and expressed no interest in running as a candidate in the Caucus elections for either position. Jason Mumpower and Steve McDaniel were elected to serve as the Republican Caucus nominees to represent the Republican Majority.
"As background I would like to lay out some of the facts leading up to the House’s leadership votes.
"While attending the hearings for Constitutional Officer candidates at Legislative Plaza, I introduced myself to Rep. Williams on December 15, 2008 in the cafeteria.
"During our brief conversation, Rep. Williams told me of his plans to vote for both Republican Caucus nominees (by name) but spoke of a possible vote for a Democrat-incumbent for one of the Constitutional Officers. I asked him to speak with his Caucus leadership on the matter. I communicated this directly to Leader Jason Mumpower and made no demands of Mr. Williams.
"On January 13, 2009, there was still no indication from Kent Williams that both of his votes for leadership would be cast for anyone other than the Republican Caucus nominees. Evidence that Rep. Williams continued to support his Republican colleagues included a personal phone call received from a current member of the Republican U.S. Congressional delegation to confirm his support of the caucus nominees.
"Mr. Williams twice caucused with the other 49 Republican members of the House, once immediately prior to the opening session and then only minutes before the nominations for both leadership positions. In none of these instances did Williams offer any indication as to his orchestrated plans. Instead he offered constant reassurances to other members that he would vote for the nominees.
"In one of these meetings, Kent Williams joined Representatives Jason Mumpower, Glen Casada and Charles Sargent in prayer less than 30 minutes prior to his betrayal.
"Rep. Kent Williams was elected Speaker of the Tennessee House by the votes of 49 Democrats and his own vote. Rep. Kent Williams, then, cast his vote for Democrat Rep. Lois DeBerry to work with him as Speaker Pro Tempore rather than for the Republican Caucus nominee. Both of these votes were in complete contradiction to countless statements, promises and pledges he had made to support the Republican Caucus nominees.
"After the vote I received 30 written challenges questioning the Bona Fide status as a Republican of Kent
Williams as provided in the Bylaws of our Party.
"Two meetings were held by telephone with the State Committee members as well numerous meetings with
elected Republican officials.
During this period of time since January 13, the State Committee has passed overwhelmingly the resolution
specifically calling on me to act as Chairman on the challenges and the actions of Kent Williams.
"I have personally corresponded with each member of the Republican House Caucus asking for information
showing Kent Williams to be a supporter of the Tennessee Republican Party, the Republican House Caucus
or an individual candidate for office during his 2-year tenure.
"Of 6 emails received and a very few phone messages, no evidence of Rep. Kent Williams has been
submitted to contradict the 30 written challenges to his party status.
"We have watched during the last 28 days to see if Kent Williams would assign the 13 Committee Chairmanships to the Republican Majority. He did not.
"We watched to see how Rep. Williams would assign office space and staff to the Republican Majority. He
has crammed 49 of his colleagues in 46 offices.
"We have watched Rep. Williams maintain the same wage practices with Democrat staff earning more than
the Republican staff, even as democrat staffers are assigned to fewer representatives.
"We have learned that Mr. Williams has met with Governor Bredesen as the "Republican Representative" on
the critical issue of the budget. Mr. Williams has withheld all of this information from the Republican
Caucus encumbering their policy statements and decisions.
"I have been repeatedly informed that Rep. Williams refuses to caucus with the Republicans.
"During last week, the topic of Mr. Williams' party affiliation was discussed with him by two colleagues. To one, he indicated he might "leave the party." To the other colleague, he stated his refusal to leave if asked.
"Today, I am responding to Kent Williams untrustworthy behavior and his demonstration to continue to undercut his Republican colleagues. He is cultivating an environment of distrust proving that his only allegiance is to himself.
"The principles of the Republican Party must stand on the foundation of integrity, honesty and character
Our deliberations reveal that the choices of Kent Williams are not partisan or bi-partisan. His choices appear to be only self-serving and that is wrong.
"Without question, it would be easier and more politically expedient for the Party to ignore the actions of Rep. Kent Williams.
"The credibility of this Party, our principles and our great people are not to be jeopardized, compromised or bargained away for personal gain. Tennesseans deserve leaders who treat their public service as a trust, not a personal possession.
"As Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, I regret the necessary response. I will honor and enforce the resolution passed by the State Committee on February 2, 2009 as supported by the Tennessee Code Annotated, and no longer recognize Rep. Kent Williams as a Republican in good standing in the state of
Tennessee."
A Resolution of the State Executive Committee of the Tennessee Republican Party Responding to State Representative Kent Williams
Whereas the stated purpose of the Tennessee Republican Party is to elect Republican candidates to office and foster good citizenship; and
Whereas the Tennessee Republican Party believes good government and the people's faith in the process is undermined when leaders put their own ambition ahead of the people's interests; and Whereas the Tennessee Republican party believes, as do the voters of Tennessee, an elected office is a trust held based on stated principles and not a personal possession; and Whereas the Tennessee Republican Party believes good government and the people's faith in the process is undermined by elected officials who gain power through betrayal and deliberate deception; and
Whereas dishonor, deception and betrayal undermine and negate the core values of the Tennessee Republican Party; and
Whereas the Tennessee Republican Party raised more than $2 million in campaign funds from supporters across the state on the promise that it would be spent on an all-out effort
to win a majority in both houses of the state legislature; and
Whereas the Tennessee Republican Party won a majority in the state House; and
Whereas the supporters, voters and donors of the Tennessee Republican Party have a right to expect that, having collectively campaigned for and won a majority in the state
House for the first time since 1868, both houses of the legislature would be lead by loyal Republican leadership; and
Whereas Representative Kent Williams, having first won his House seat in 2006 as a Republican, cast his first vote in the General Assembly in January 2007 to re-elect the
incumbent Democrat as Speaker of the House; and
Whereas Representative Kent Williams had verbally committed to countless individuals his votes for the House Republican Caucus nominees for leadership and even signed a
pledge to do the same; and
Whereas Representative Kent Williams stated many times to various media outlets and Republican colleagues that he would vote for the House Republican Caucus nominee for
Speaker of the House on January 13, 2009; and
Whereas Representative Kent Williams caucused with the other 49 Republican members of the majority during the 30-minute recess that immediately preceded the nominations and vote for Speaker of the House and, during that time, joined with Representatives
Jason Mumpower, Glen Casada and Charles Sargent in prayer and offered no hint or indication of his intent to betray his Republican colleagues and break his solemn promises less than a half-hour later; and
Whereas the evidence shows that Representative Kent Williams had been planning his betrayal for eight weeks and conspiring with Democrats to crown him Speaker in exchange for betraying his fellow Republican caucus members; and
Whereas the evidence shows that Representative Kent Williams intentionally concealed the conspiracy for eight weeks by telling lies to fellow Republican colleagues, members of the media, and even to the public via the radio airwaves; and
Whereas two other Republican House members were solicited by Democrats to betray the Republican caucus but refused, choosing honesty, integrity and loyalty over deception
and betrayal; and
Whereas Representative Kent Williams showed no such personal integrity; and
Whereas Representative Kent Williams was elected Speaker solely with Democrat votes, receiving no votes from Republican lawmakers other than himself; and
Whereas Representative Kent Williams rewarded his Democratic allies with committee chairmanships, putting at risk the Republican agenda the majority of Tennessee voters
voted for; and
Whereas the Tennessee Republican Party is concerned that the people of Tennessee will wrongly assume Representative Kent Williams' pattern of lies and dishonor is tolerated
by the Tennessee Republican Party; and
Whereas Kent Williams' actions and words provide indefensible evidence to the 30 written challenges questioning the Bona Fide status as a Republican; and is entitled to its
constitutional right of Freedom of Association; and
Whereas the Tennessee Republican Party seeks to disassociate with Representative Kent
Williams;
BE IT RESOLVED:
1. That state Representative Kent Williams of Carter County, Tennessee, be forever barred from seeking elective office in Tennessee on a Republican ballot; and
2. That the Tennessee Republican Party immediately request all media outlets in Tennessee to cease referring to Representative Kent Williams as a Republican.
3. That Kent Williams receive no support, endorsements, or financial backing by those affiliates of the Tennessee Republican Party.
Adopted January 30, 2009
Nashville, Tennessee
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