Tennessee: GOP lawmakers replace constitutional officers

NASHVILLE — Republicans in the General Assembly finally made their majority stick Thursday and swept the Democratic secretary of state, comptroller and treasurer from office, replacing them with Republicans.

Meeting in joint session, House and Senate members voted 70-61 for Republican Tré Hargett, 39, a former House Republican leader and current Tennessee Regulatory Authority member, as secretary of state, defeating longtime Secretary of State Riley Darnell, a Democrat.

They then elected Republican Justin Wilson, 64, a tax lawyer and former deputy governor, as comptroller in a straight 69-62 party line vote over incumbent Democrat John Morgan.

Republican David Lillard, 55, a tax and finance attorney as well as a Shelby County commissioner, prevailed over Treasurer Dale Sims in an identical party-line vote.

The positions are elected by the 132 members of the legislature. Republicans in November strengthened their Senate majority to 19-14 in the 106th General Assembly that began Tuesday. Republicans picked up four seats and have a 50-49 majority over Democrats.

But the GOP’s best-laid plans to elect Republican Jason Mumpower, of Bristol, as speaker collapsed Tuesday amid a Democratic-engineered coup. All 49 Democrats, realizing they could not re-elect Democratic Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, joined to elect Rep. Kent Williams, R-Elizabethton, as speaker.

On Wednesday, House Democrats delayed election of the constitutional officers. But things got back on track Thursday and the elections were held.

“I hope to run the office as efficiently as possible, as effectively as possible,” Mr. Hargett said, noting he intends to make a “full assessment of every division ... And where things aren’t broke, we’re not going to fix them. And where we think we can make a difference, we’re going to.”

Mr. Wilson said he wants to give Tennesseans “good, reliable information to make decisions and handle the public funds under the highest and most strict fiduciary standards.”

Mr. Lillard, 55, said he looks forward “to keeping honesty and integrity in the treasurer’s office and properly administering its affairs.”

All three constitutional officers also serve on the State Funding Board, which sets revenue estimates, among other duties, and the State Building Commission, which oversees building projects.

Comptroller Morgan and Treasurer Sims also provided an independent source of information to lawmakers regarding the state budget.

Some Democrats and the constitutional officers themselves questioned making changes in light of the state’s revenue crisis, which is expected to result in about $900 million in cuts.

“We’ve had several fine people serving us who were focusing on doing the job in a way that served the people of our state and not any particular party,” said Sen. Andy Berke, D-Chattanooga. “I hope we have elected similar people here today.”