For the first time in 130 years, a Republican will preside over the Tennessee State Senate. Republican Ron Ramsey won the speaker post over Democrat John Wilder, the 85-year-old who had served longer than any legislative presiding officer in the United States. In Tennessee the Senate speaker is also lieutenant governor.
All 17 Republicans and one Democrat voted for Ramsey today. When Senator Rosalind Kurita of Clarksville announced “Ramsey,” fellow Democrats gasped. Afterwards, Kurita said she did not cross party lines in hope of any political favors.
“I would like to see myself be able to live with my conscience, and that’s why I voted the way I did. You know, that’s all there is, there’s nothing more.”
Two years ago, Wilder was re-elected with the votes of all Democrats and two Republicans – Tim Burchett of Knoxville and Mike Williams of Greeneville. This year both Republicans voted with their majority party caucus.
As the new Senate speaker, Ramsey says he will not tap only Republicans as chairs of the nine powerful Senate Standing Committees…
“There will be bipartisan committee chairmanship. There will be some Democrats that are chairs, I can promise you that. I want to continue to work basically the way it’s done in the past. It’s worked well in the Senate, so I will appoint some Democrat committee chairs.”
In the last 20 years, John Wilder had maintained his 36-year reign by appointing both Democrats and Republicans as committee chairs. In fact last year, Wilder named Ramsey to chair the important Senate Ethics Committee.
In the state House, West Tennessee Democrat Jimmy Naifeh was re-elected to another term as speaker, picking up seven Republican votes. Naifeh has always named only Democrats to committee chairs. He has served longer than any previous House speaker.
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