Tension surrounding the choice for a new Lieutenant Governor came to a head (today/yesterday) in a Senate Republican Caucus meeting held to elect new leadership.
Democratic Lieutenant Governor John Wilder has maintained his seat even with a GOP majority in the 33-member Senate. Unlike the Deputy Governor, the Lieutenant Governor presides over Senate sessions and is elected by the body. Republican Senator Ron Ramsey received the party’s nomination today, but he could be defeated yet again by Wilder.
Republican Senator Mike Williams broke rank last year. Considering the GOP’s one seat majority, Ramsey says he’s been pushing Williams not to do the same this year.
“We have 16 that are very unified, so that narrows it down to the 17th. So when you have 16 votes you know where you have to work for the 17th one. That’s what we’ll be doing for the next four weeks.”
In a handwritten note mailed to Williams, Ramsey told the Maynardville Senator that Democrats were taking advantage of him, laughing behind his back and calling him a quote-“patsy.”
“A lot of things could be said about me, but I don’t think no person could ever say that I’m a patsy. I think former Governor Sundquist who proposed an income tax and I fought that in the best interest of the citizens of this state. My record reflects that. Spoke out on the Legislative Plaza when certain senators around were no where to be found. I think my record speaks that I’m anything but a patsy.”
Williams took a pass when asked to vote for or against Senator Ramsey’s nomination. Williams says he may still vote for Wilder but hopes to make an announcement before the January 9th vote in Senate Chambers. Ramsey does not deny that he would look to a Democrat to find his 17th vote.
In other Republican leadership shifts, Senator Mark Norris of Collierville beat out caucus leader Randy McNally for the chairmanship.
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