State Rep. Gerald McCormick
Sheila ButtNASHVILLE – Tennessee House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick said he had thought about not seeking re-election to the chamber’s No. 2 post for some time, but delayed making an announcement until this week when he felt the “timing was right.”
The Chattanooga Republican said there were several outstanding issues he was concerned with that were resolved this month.
McCormick said the first was when one of two House lawmakers that McCormick described as having “misbehaved” – Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville – resigned his seat following a federal conviction on tax fraud charges.
Problem No. 2, McCormick said, was resolved last week when the General Assembly convened in a special session called by Gov. Bill Haslam to fix a DUI law. The House used the opportunity to expel the disgraced Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, from the chamber based on a Tennessee attorney general’s investigation over sexual harassment claims involving 22 women.
The third issue was fixing the DUI law, McCormick said.