NASHVILLE - After becoming Tennessee's new House speaker Friday with no opponent and overwhelming bipartisan support, Republican Cameron Sexton promised representatives a return to normalcy for the often strife-riven GOP-led chamber.
Sexton takes over from a controversial predecessor, fellow Republican Glen Casada, who was driven out of the job by fellow Republicans months after he became speaker. Shortly after he took power, Casada was beset by a series of scandals and pushback from fellow lawmakers over his hard-driving style that ultimately led his own caucus to approve a no-confidence motion.
"My promise as speaker is simple," Sexton said after winning the seat 94-0, with two Democrats abstaining. "We won't always agree on every issue, but I will always make sure that every voice is heard."
Casada controversies
- Embattled Tennessee speaker Glen Casada resigns from leadership role
- Gov. Lee says he knows nothing of alleged Casada bribe to break school voucher vote deadlock
- Tennessee House Republican Caucus Chairman Cameron Sexton nominated by GOP lawmakers to be next speaker
- Casada denies offering National Guard promotion, pork barrel projects to win votes on Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's school voucher bill
- Embattled House Speaker Glen Casada says he can't afford alimony
- Tennessee House GOP candidates for speaker vow not to follow Casada's style
- Democrats call on Tennessee Comptroller, Nashville DA to investigate Speaker Casada spending, hires
- Gov. Lee calls for August special legislative session to replace House Speaker Glen Casada
- Tennessee House GOP to meet July 24 to nominate replacement for Speaker Casada
- Gov. Lee to call Tennessee lawmakers into August special session to replace Speaker Casada
- House Democratic Caucus chairman says Speaker Casada's 'cronies' hope to retain power with special session
- Hamilton County lawmakers want House Speaker Casada to go sooner, not later
- Critics decry 'disgraced' House Speaker Casada's ability to name appointees to new sports gaming advisory, judicial discipline panels
- Rep. Curtis Johnson announces bid for Tennessee House speaker, pledges to 'restore credibility, trustworthiness'
- Vanderbilt poll: Voters across political spectrum say Glen Casada should step down from House speakership
- Casada, Carter trade barbs over Tennessee House speaker's resignation, replacement
- Embattled Tennessee House Speaker Casada announces Aug. 2 resignation, asks Gov. Lee to call special session on replacement
- Rep. Smith hopes to gain support from fellow freshmen in potential Tennessee House speaker bid
- Post-Casada job requirement: Ability to restore public trust
- Rep. Robin Smith on House speaker bid: 'I'm not saying I would never run, but at this time, I'm watching'
- Chattanooga area lawmakers share thoughts on GOP Caucus' no-confidence vote on Casada
- Timeline: The rise and fall of Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada
- Rep. Carter pledges 'clean break' as he announces bid to replace Casada as Tennessee House speaker
- Rep. Carter preparing petition to remove Casada as General Assembly member, not just as House speaker
- Tennessee Republican House Speaker Glen Casada announces his resignation
- Gov. Lee calls on House Speaker Glen Casada to resign or face special session
- Tennessee House GOP hits embattled Speaker Glen Casada with no-confidence vote
- Reps. Carter, Smith offer different takes on embattled Tennessee House Speaker Casada
- Embattled House Speaker Casada faces 'no confidence' vote today in GOP Caucus but supporters may offer censure motion
- Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada attacks Mike Carter over criticisms
- Former top aide for Tennessee's embattled House speaker to stay on payroll until July
- Rep. Carter: If ethics panel is not 'above rank political maneuvering and conniving then we as a body are lost'
- Ethics Committee member Mike Carter calls on Tennessee House Speaker Casada to resign amid text messaging scandal
- Tennessee House GOP Caucus members to meet to discuss political fate of embattled Speaker Glen Casada
- Glen Casada controversy opens old wounds from 2018 Hamilton County state House GOP primary
- Tennessee legislative Black Caucus calls on Speaker Glen Casada to resign over racial texts, other issues
- Yet another Tennessee Republican House member calls on Glen Casada to resign
- Embroiled in controversies, Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada battles on after Lt. Gov. McNally says it's time to go
- Reps. Hazlewood, Carter lose faith in Tennessee Speaker Glen Casada amid text messaging scandal, other issues
- Tennessee Firearms Association head calls on House to oust Glen Casada as speaker
- Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada apologizes for text message controversies, pledges changes after some Republicans call for his resignation
- Tennessee House Democrats demand federal investigation into claims that Casada eavesdropped on private meetings
- Bill Lee wants public confidence 'fully restored' after Casada text message scandal
- Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada 'sorry' over text scandal but won't resign
- After admitting drug use, Tennessee House speaker's top aide resigns amid allegations of racist and sexually explicit texts
Sexton, 48, a Crossville business development executive with a Putnam County-based bank, told the chamber that the "good news is we agree on a lot more than we disagree on. We all want great schools, great jobs, great infrastructure, and great health care. The challenge is - we won't always agree on the pathway to get there, but together we will get there."
He also said he wants to "always encourage robust but respectful debate on the pathway to the shared goals of all Tennesseans. Debate and conversations make us stronger. Respect for those on the opposing side will make us better - in our legislative lives, at home, and in our communities."
And he pledged to work with but preserve the House's independence in dealings with both Republican Gov. Bill Lee and the GOP-led Senate.
Absent from Friday's special session was Casada, who in just four short months managed to become embroiled in a series of controversies, including the disclosure of sexually explicit texts he exchanged with a top aide, as well as his pushing his fellow Republicans hard - sometimes against home-district constituents' wishes - to approve Lee's controversial school voucher bill.
Sexton has said he won't try to force Republicans to vote against their districts.
Democrats, meanwhile, complained that Casada, among other things, ignored their efforts to get recognized on the floor to speak or ordered mics of Democratic speakers shut off when displeased by what they were saying.
In May, two-thirds of the 73-member Republican Caucus voted to say they no longer had confidence in Casada's ability to lead them. After initially balking, Casada soon announced he would step down Aug. 2 following a threat from Lee to call lawmakers into special session.
Two Democrats, Reps. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville and Bo Mitchell, of Nashville, were the only representatives who abstained from voting for Sexton in Friday's vote.
Following the new speaker's election, the chamber quickly moved into partisan mode as Johnson sought to push a resolution to expel Rep. David Byrd, R-Waynesboro, a retired school coach accused by three former basketball players of sexually assaulting them in the 1980s.
Knowing her intentions, Sexton nonetheless recognized her and allowed her to speak both on the resolution, which was sent to a standing committee for further examination, as well as Johnson's second effort to expel Byrd on a motion. That failed, as well.
But her mic was never turned off.
Minority Leader Karen Camper, D-Memphis, who during Casada's tenure had her mic turned off in at least one encounter with Casada, was among Democrats voting for Sexton.
"I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt," she said later. "I think he's going to be even handed."
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow him on Twitter @AndySher1.