NASHVILLE – Make no mistake, the contest to become the Tennessee Senate’s next majority leader is getting downright fierce.
After Senate Commerce and Labor Committee Chairman Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, gave voters – i.e. members of the 28-member GOP caucus – nice pens engraved with their names, Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, chairman of the Government Operations Committee, knew he couldn’t let that go unanswered.
So when the GOP caucus met Wednesday, Bell, an avid game hunter, struck back. Resting on the conference table for colleagues’ snacking pleasure were bowls brimming with spicy bear and deer sausage balls.
Both Bell, whose district includes a fair portion of Bradley County, and Johnson say it’s a friendly rivalry in their attempts to succeed current Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, who has been nominated by President Donald Trump to fill a U.S. District Court judgeship in West Tennessee.
“I think it’s close, it’s completely up in the air,” Bell said of the contest, adding, “there’s absolutely no animosity between Jack and I.”