GOP challenge planned to TN lawmaker who urged lower sentence in child porn case


              FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2015, file photo, state Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, speaks at a news conference at the legislative office complex in Nashville, Tenn., while Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, left, looks on. Voters in the home county of Durham, a top Republican in the state house, are receiving robocalls demanding his resignation. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig, File)
FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2015, file photo, state Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, speaks at a news conference at the legislative office complex in Nashville, Tenn., while Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, left, looks on. Voters in the home county of Durham, a top Republican in the state house, are receiving robocalls demanding his resignation. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig, File)
photo FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2015, file photo, state Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, speaks at a news conference at the legislative office complex in Nashville, Tenn., while Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, left, looks on. Voters in the home county of Durham, a top Republican in the state house, are receiving robocalls demanding his resignation. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig, File)

FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- A Franklin man is planning a Republican primary challenge to embattled state Rep. Jeremy Durham.

Retired Army Col. Sam Whitson tells The Tennessean newspaper that he has assembled a team for the planned challenge.

Whitson says the Williamson County district needs a representative with what he called "character, courage and a total commitment to our county rather than any personal or future political ambition."

Durham's role as House majority whip is the subject of a GOP caucus meeting on Jan. 12 that follows revelations that:

- Prosecutors recommended charges against him for altering prescriptions, though a grand jury in 2014 declined to indict.

- He wrote a character reference in the sentencing phase of a former youth pastor who pleaded guilty to child porn possession and later to statutory rape.

- House Speaker Beth Harwell had the Legislature's human resources chief discuss "appropriate behavior" with Durham. Harwell would not give specific reasons for why she asked for the discussion to take place last year.

Durham did not respond to a request for comment. He has denied any wrongdoing in the past.

While Republican caucus votes are generally open to public, House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada told the newspaper that he wants any discussion of Durham's leadership position to occur behind closed doors.

"If it only deals with intra-caucus issues, nothing to do with caucus policy, it's closed," Casada told the paper. "If it deals with votes, legislation, then it's open."

Casada is a public supporter of Durham remaining as caucus whip, though he has privately discussed stepping aside with his Williamson County colleague. He acknowledged recommending closed caucus meetings in the past, only to be overruled by his GOP colleagues.

House Speaker Beth Harwell leaves it up to each party caucus to determine whether their meetings will be open, said spokeswoman Kara Owen. But she added: "Speaker Harwell has always supported open meetings."

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