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Mumpower loses bid to become Tennessee House speaker
After a dramatic series of floor moves, state Rep. Kent Williams of Elizabethton on Tuesday became Tennessee’s first GOP House speaker since retired Republican U.S. Rep. William L. “Bill” Jenkins was elected to the job in January 1969. Williams upset House Majority Leader Jason Mumpower of Bristol, who was the front-runner for the job but came up one vote short. Williams got the votes of all 49 House Democrats, plus himself. He succeeds Covington Democrat Jimmy Naifeh, the longest serving House speaker in the nation. Williams was booed after he came to the front of the House floor to accept the speaker’s post. “I understand the boos,” Williams said. “I’ve been booed before. ... That’s okay. ... I’m a Republican, probably not for much longer because you guys are going to kick me out probably, but I love this state, and I love the people of this state. Today is a historical day in Tennessee, and we knew it was going to be.” Williams said he realizes the disappointment and the hurt felt by fellow Republicans and Mumpower. Williams pledged to be bipartisan. Committee chair appointments, he promised, will be based on seniority and ability. “Today is not about Kent Williams or Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, and it’s not about Jason Mumpower,” Williams said. “It’s not about Democrats and Republicans. Today is about change. ... We need to utilize the talents of all the members of this General Assembly, not just the Democratic Party and not just the Republican Party. ... For too many years, we’ve had talented representatives sit on the sidelines without any input into legislation. A lot of legislation we want to vote on we don’t get the chance. That’s going to change.” Tennessee Republican Party Chair Robin Smith, in an e-mailed statement, was critical of Williams’ election. “Kent Williams has betrayed his constituents and the people of Carter County in breaking his pledge — his signed oath — to vote for the nominee of the Republican caucus for speaker of the House,” Smith said. “He lied, in a quest for personal power, in league with Democrat Speaker Jimmy Naifeh and House Minority Leader Gary Odom, in their desire to retain power despite the results of the 2008 elections.” Williams, like 49 other Republicans, had signed a pledge to vote for a Republican for House speaker. In an e-mailed statement sent by Mumpower last November, Williams said he expected the GOP’s House speaker nominee to be Mumpower. Odom, a Nashville Democrat, had called for a 30-minute recess after House members took the oath of office after 1 p.m. Eastern time. Mumpower objected to the move, but his motion to table the recess failed by one vote — from freshman GOP state Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver of Lancaster. Bloggers reported she didn’t understand what she was voting for. “When we have important events as we have had today, the swearing-in of members of the new General Assembly ... there are some folks who want to have photographs taken, and I think that’s the important thing to do now,” Odom explained in calling for the recess. After Mumpower was nominated, House GOP Assistant Majority Leader Glen Casada of Franklin attempted to cease all other nominations, but Naifeh ruled Casada was out of order. “That’s improper, and I don’t care whether you are a Republican or Democrat, you ought to reject that motion. That’s not the way to conduct business,” Odom, who once was interested in being House speaker, told lawmakers. “We talk about holding fair elections. Let’s hold a fair election and show the people of Tennessee that we do that in this chamber.” Mumpower issued a challenge to Naifeh’s ruling, and that drew applause from the packed gallery. Naifeh then asked to confer with Mumpower and Odom. After a short conference, Mumpower withdrew the challenge. Odom, a Carter County native, then nominated Williams as a man “who puts fairness above partisan politics, values above rhetoric, and reason above power.” Williams then won by a 50-49 vote. In a separate 50-49 vote, incumbent Democratic House Speaker Pro Tem Lois DeBerry of Memphis retained her job by defeating state Rep. Beth Harwell of Nashville, a former Tennessee Republican Party chair. Naifeh stood with Williams at the speaker’s desk to guide him as the House ended its business for the day. State Rep. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, rose to question whether Naifeh will continue to be appointed “House speaker for the day” under a House rule. “Do you have a problem with me being speaker?” Williams asked Kelsey. “I can choose anyone I want to be speaker for one day.” “I have a big problem with you being speaker,” Kelsey replied. Some Northeast Tennessee Republican lawmakers had backed former state Rep. Jerome Cochran in the 4th House District August GOP primary against Williams, but Cochran was defeated by nearly a two-to-one margin. In that bitter race, Cochran’s radio ads were critical of Williams’ past vote for Naifeh as House speaker. In the Senate, Republican Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey of Blountville was easily re-elected by state senators to be lieutenant governor and Senate speaker by a 19-14 margin over Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle of Memphis. Republicans now control both houses of the General Assembly for the first time since Reconstruction.
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I don't know Mr.Williams, but I hope he remembers who he represents in the state. Heaven knows East Tenn. can use all the help she can get! In my humble opinion, the whole state is in trouble, and especially, Eastern Tenn! They sit in their ivory towers with all the haughty reps. in the state{Including our Gov.}, while the little people of our area are totally forgotten!
So let me get this straight, the republicans are outraged by Kent voting for a Republican? like he said he would? If i may use a quote from Jason Mumpower i think this is sour grapes on the part of the Republicans and Mr Mumpower himself. Ron Ramsay did the same thing in the Senate, but ohhh wait a minute it's ok if the republicans do it. Mr Mumpower and his Right wing, John Gregory financed Washington style take over of the state of Tennessee just hit another road block after David Davis lost his seat and now MR Mumpower setback. I watched the last election and saw how dirty the campaigns where that they ran and NOW they going to CRY about Kent Williams Honor and integrity??? OMG YOUR KIDDING RIGHT!!!! LMAO this is the best really T.V. I have ever seen so folks please don't touch that dial there's more Hypocrisy to come.
Typical dem shennanigans to gain/retain power. There was a day when I proudly voted democrat. Never again.
http://tnga.granicus.com/ASX.php?view_id=2&clip_id=202&r=e0d3534271636108d87d41181c2e3649&xp=y&intro=1&sn=tnga.granicus.com&sn=tnga.granicus.com
Cut and paste that link in your web browser. The meeting actually starts 20 minutes into the video. The Mumpower funnies start about 37 minutes into the video.
well this couldnt make me any happier to hear that mr. mumpower got his hat handed to him. i guess we can mark this up to poetic justice. now go read a comic book mr. mumpower
Somebody had to be videotaping this event as it unfolded...
Thanks for the link Eric. Poor Jason Mumpower...one reaps what one sews I guess.
Here is a post from Stacey Campfield House rep
"How do you describe what happened today? How can you? We all had great hopes for Tennessee. For helping education, the second amendment, life, a whole host of ideas. We all now realize those hope are more or less gone now at least for all intense and purposes.
What can you say about Kent? He swore an oath. He broke it. He signed pledges, he broke them. He lied. He lied to all of us. He lied to our faces over and over. He lied to my face. He even lied to us today right before the vote. I could have handled it better had he been straight up with us all along. But he wasn't. Many people worked incredibly hard. For the last few weeks people were putting in 70+ hour weeks getting ready for the change. Waisted time. I know some people who quit jobs and moved to Nashville just to be a part of the new administration. They are screwed.
Dems are all giddy and trying every way they can to rub salt in. We are all incredibly let down. We know the capitol will stay more or less the same whore house with just a different piano player. He will be a puppet for Naifeh and the Dems. He will offer some small meaningless scraps to give people the false impression he is being bipartisan but we all know the truth.
I have always been warned "Watch out for people who's ambition exceeds their conviction. They will run you over in a second" We just got hit."
Tennessee Republican chairwoman Robin Smith
"“Kent Williams has betrayed his constituents and the people of Carter County in breaking his pledge - his signed oath - to vote for the nominee of the Republican caucus for Speaker of the House. He lied, in a quest for personal power, in league with Democrat Speaker Jimmy Naifeh and House Minority Leader Gary Odom, in their desire to retain power despite the results of the 2008 elections.”
SO if you like a liar and a true politician. Mr. Williams is your man enjoy.
It has nothing to do with Nathan Vaughn.No one cares about him he can continue to cry in the corner.
A much better account of the Speaker Vote: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090113/NEWS02/90113034
So Mr. Mumpower, after much bragging in the media about his coronation, came up short. That is the best news I've heard all day. I know the article doesn't say, and we will never know what negotiations took place, but the timing of Nathan Vaughn's ethics complaint could have had something to do with this. Who wants a House Speaker under investigation for an ethics violation? If this is the case, and I know it is just speculation on my part, but if it is the case fair play to Nathan Vaughn.
Wow...I don't know Mr. Williams, but to take the game from Mumpower, I applaud you sir.
one step forward two steps back. No change, hes a dem in disguise.
Welcome back to the Stone Age...folks!! Thanks!!
I hope that Mr. Williams and Mr. Ramsey take care of us.I have a feeling that the house voted the best of the two in. Mr. Munpower has some questions that need to be answered.