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Senator won't intervene in GOP dispute with Williams

Published November 11th, 2009 | 0 Comments

ELIZABETHTON — At a town hall meeting in Elizabethton on Wednesday, GOP U.S. Sen. Bob Corker fielded a loaded question on the minds of many Carter Countians interested in Tennessee politics.

The question that came from an audience member was: Tennessee House Speaker Kent Williams was elected as a Republican from this community, so what can you do to convince the Tennessee Republican Party to restore his “bona fide” GOP affiliation?

Corker’s response: “Nothing.”

“Kent is a friend of mine,” Corker continued. “People on the other side of this issue are friends of mine. This is a local and state issue. ... I got more fish than I can fry now. I’m going to let you guys figure all this out.”

The TRP stripped Williams of his party status early this year after his surprise election as House speaker over House GOP Leader Jason Mumpower of Bristol with the votes of 49 House Democratic lawmakers.

Williams, a self-proclaimed Carter County Republican who would have to seek re-election in 2010 as an independent if he isn’t reinstated, was not at Corker’s event.

At this point, it does not appear Williams will have a GOP opponent in his attempt to be re-elected to his 4th House District seat.

That goes against the wishes of Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, who pledged at a Sullivan County GOP Reagan Day Dinner last May to target Williams’ seat.

One high-ranking county GOP official who did not want to be identified said “it would be political suicide” for a local Republican to be on the ballot against Williams.

Carter County Mayor Johnny Holder, a Republican with countywide name identification, admitted a number of people have been recruited to run against Williams.

Holder didn’t say who the recruiters were.

“A couple people asked me if I was going to (run against Williams), and the answer is still ‘no,’” Holder said at Corker’s event. “...I like the job where I’m at, and I’m going to stay with what I’ve got. I’m going to take care of county business.”

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