Williams Focused On Boosting GOP

State House Speaker Kent Williams says he’s not worrying about his prospects to stay on as speaker after next year.

Instead, he says he’s focused on helping secure a Republican majority in the House next fall.

The state GOP stripped Williams of official Republican status earlier this year. That’s after he voted alongside 49 Democrats to make himself speaker. But now the state party has a new chairman, who’s left the door open to Williams’ reinstatement.

Williams says he’s working to help the party. He supported the Republican in October’s special election in the Shelbyville area, which clinched GOP control of the House. And he’ll continue campaigning for the party next year.

“I don’t intend on supporting any Democrats in any elections, and I’ve started my PAC, which will have our first fundraiser November 6, and those dollars will be used to help incumbent Republicans and go after open seats.”

Williams says ensuring Republicans keep the House next fall is crucial. That’s because afterward the controlling party can redraw voting districts for the legislature and Congress.

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Williams spoke to WPLN at the swearing-in ceremony for Representative Pat Marsh (R-Shelbyville).

He discussed the changeup to the House committee structure, covered here.

Some have suggested Marsh’s recent victory is a political bellwether for next fall’s election, which in turn could affect Williams’ chances of being re-elected speaker by the House.

Williams:

“I’m just going to keep doing the best job that I know how to do, and if I decide to run for speaker I hope my colleagues vote on my performance and not on the way I handle politics.”

Williams also says while he doesn’t meet regularly with the state GOP chairman, Chris Devaney, he hopes he’s earning some credit for his efforts to help the party, which could boost his prospects of being reinstated as a Republican.

Hear the full conversation:

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