NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Senate on Monday confirmed Gov. Bill Lee’s appointment of Chris Devaney of Lookout Mountain, a Republican political consultant and Lee’s 2018 campaign manager, to serve on the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Senators approved Devaney’s confirmation as one of a raft of resolutions and bills. The resolution must pass the House before he would be placed on the panel to serve until Feb. 27, 2027.
Also confirmed by senators to the Fish and Wildlife Commission was Stan Butt, a Columbia businessman and farmer, as well as Wally Childress of Bogota, former Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew and William Wiley Cox Sr. of Collierville.
Concerns previously were raised about Devaney’s outdoors background by Sens. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, and Mike Bell, R-Riceville, who pointed out that Devaney’s Tennessee hunting licenses only go back to 2017.
Devaney said he has been an avid hunter and fisherman since childhood in Texas, showing the Times Free Press multiple licenses he has held in past years there and in Alabama. He also provided a copy of his hunting education certification as a Texas teenager.