NASHVILLE - State Rep. Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, says her House speakership race with Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada will be decided within the 64-member House Republican Caucus.
"I will not be a part of a Democrat/Republican coalition and I have made no promises to any individuals," Harwell said in an e-mail sent Friday to fellow House Republicans.
Harwell, a former Tennessee Republican Party chairman, also gave an "assurance" to caucus members "that all committee chairmanships will be Republican and that each committee will have a Republican on them. My complete loyalty is to this Republican Caucus and the principles of the Republican Party."
Harwell and Casada both consider themselves conservatives, but Casada is widely perceived as having stronger ties to the hard right wing of the party.
In last week's midterm elections, House Republicans gained 14 seats and won a 64-34 majority with a lone independent, the current speaker, Rep. Kent Williams of Elizabethton. Williams said he is not running for speaker and announced he is backing Harwell.
Due to retirements and some GOP primary defeats, there will be 22 freshmen Republican lawmakers in the 107th General Assembly. Republicans plan to hold their caucus elections on Dec. 8, but some lawmakers are hoping top leadership posts can be decided without a potentially divisive election.
For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.