Tennessee Rep. Curry Todd steps aside from committee chairmanship

Monday, October 17, 2011

photo This booking photo released by the Metropolitan Nashville Police shows state Rep. Curry Todd, R-Collierville, who was arrested late Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011, on charges of drunken driving and possession of a gun while under the influence. Todd was a main sponsor of a Tennessee law to allow people with handgun carry permits to bring their guns into bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. (AP Photo/Metropolitan Nashville Police)
Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

UPDATED -- 5:25 p.m.

NASHVILLE - Embattled state Rep. Curry Todd stepped aside from his chairmanship of the State and Local Government Committee today - at least temporarily - after a nearly week-long controversy following his arrest on DUI and possessing a handgun while intoxicated.

"Today, I told Speaker [Beth] Harwell that I would step aside as chairman of the House State and Local Government Committee until this matter is resolved and she has accepted it," Todd said in a statement. "The committee's work is an important aspect of the General Assembly and I do not want my actions to distract from that."

For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.

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PREVIOUSLY -- 4 :30 p.m.

NASHVILLE - House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, this afternoon called on Rep. Curry Todd to step down as chairman of the powerful State and Local Government Committee in the wake of his arrest last week on DUI and possessing a handgun while intoxicated.

"Our actions have consequences, and I believe that Rep. Todd should resign his chairmanship of State and Local Government and concentrate on other things right now," McCormick told the Times Free Press.

Todd, R-Collierville, was arrested by Nashville police Tuesday night after they said the West Tennessee lawmaker was stopped for traveling 60 mph in a 40-mph zone. He failed a field sobriety test and refused to take a breath/alcohol test. A loaded .38-caliber gun was found in a holster that was "stuffed" between the driver's seat and the vehicle's center console, according to an affidavit.

Earlier today, Todd, 63, spent at least part of the morning on a golf course in a charity event.

The lawmaker, who championed a controversial bill that allowed permit holders to bring their weapons into restaurants and bars selling alcohol for on-premises consumption, last week issued a statement saying he was "deeply sorry."

Last week, Todd resigned his chairmanship of a Republican firearms task force. He was to meet with House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, to discuss his continued leadership of the State and Local Government Committee.

A former police officer, Todd faces losing his own handgun-carry permit if convicted of the gun charge. In addition to the DUI, he faces the loss of his driver's license for a year for refusing to take the breathalyzer test.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.