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From TN Journal: On the Hill: Gov.-elect Bill Lee announces transition team

The Transition’s Senior Leadership Team includes:

• Butch Eley – Chairman
• Blake Harris – Executive Director
• Chris Devaney – Deputy Director and Legislative Liaison
• Laine Arnold – Press Secretary

The Inaugural Committee’s senior leadership team includes:

• Stuart McWhorter – Chairman
• Kim Kaegi – Executive Director

From the Tennessean: Bill Lee: Where does Tennessee’s new governor stand on key issues?

When asked about his education priorities

Lee: “We need real vocational, technical, and agricultural education in our public schools and we don’t need a massive, costly government project to do it. We have willing partners in the private sector. I know, because I’ve done it in my company, which employs hundreds of skilled tradesmen. We created our own technical school that led to great careers.”

When asked about broadband

Lee: “I’m a product of rural Tennessee, and I know it’s a problem. In fact, we don’t even have broadband at my house, and I know it’s a disadvantage. Whether it’s health care, economic development, or education, we need broadband to support our rural communities.”

The final spending total in this race is expected to reach $90 million.

• Former state Senator and Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett (replacing retiring Jimmy Duncan)
• Former Agriculture Commissioner and current Tennessee State Fair Board Member John Rose (replacing Diane Black who retired to run unsuccessfully for Governor)
• State Senator Mark Green, MD. (replacing newly elected Sen. Marsha Blackburn)

When does session start?

The 111th General Assembly convenes at noon on January 8, 2019. That week each chamber will formally elect a House Speaker/ Lt. Governor who will appoint committee chairmen and committee assignments.

State House by the Numbers

New members:

• 30 of 99 will be newcomers to the TN House.
• 2 of those 30 are returning former members and 2 were elected in special elections earlier this year giving us 26 truly new faces.

Party Analysis:

• 2 Urban seats went from R to D – House Speaker Beth Harwell’s vacated seat in Nashville was won by democrat newcomer Bob Freeman and Republican incumbent Rep. Eddie Smith in Knoxville was defeated by former democrat State Representative Gloria Johnson.
• 1 Open rural seat went D to R – Republican Chris Hurt of Halls won the seat vacated by Rep. Craig Fitzhugh who unsuccessfully ran in the Democratic primary for governor.
• House D’s netted 1 seat, bringing their numbers up to 26 compared to 73 R’s in the House.

House Leadership Elections:

The House Republicans plan to caucus November 20th to elect their leadership positions.

Republican House leadership candidates:

• Speaker: Glen Casada, David Hawk, Curtis Johnson
• Majority Leader: William Lamberth, Ryan Williams
• Assistant Leader: Ron Gant, Jay Reedy
• Caucus Chairman: Cameron Sexton, Jason Zachary
• Speaker Pro temp: Bill Dunn, Kelly Keisling, Dennis Powers
• Caucus Whip: Tim Rudd, Rick Tillis

The House Democrats have not announced a date for caucus elections. Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh did not run for re-election leaving that post open. Expect some shifting of roles and leaders.

 

State Senate by the Numbers

New members:

• 6 of the 33 will be new faces…but not really.
• Of those 6, 5 are coming up from the House to give the Senate 1 true newcomer to the TN General Assembly – Sen. Katrina Robinson from Memphis who defeated incumbent Reggie Tate in the Democratic Primary

Party Analysis:

• Party lines remain the same in the Senate – 5 D’s to 27 R’s
• 3 of the 5 D’s in the Senate will be new – Sen. Brenda Gilmore, Sen. Raumesh Akbari and Sen. Katrina Robinson
• 4 of the 5 are women – the 3 newcomers plus Sen. Sara Kyle
• All 5 of the D’s are from either Nashville (2) or Memphis (3)
• New Republican Senators and former House members Mark Pody and Sen. Art Swann both won special elections earlier this year
• New Republican Sen. Dawn White and former House member won the open seat vacated by Sen. Ketron’s exit to become Rutherford County Mayor

Close race:

• Senate Judiciary Chairman Brian Kelsey defeated Democrat Gabby Salinas, 51-49.

Special Elections on deck:

• With Senator Mark Green’s congressional win and Senator Mark Norris’ appointment to the federal bench, there will be two open seats that will be filled by special elections.

Senate Leadership Elections:

• Speaker/Lt. Gov: The Senate will reelect Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge)
• Majority Leader: Ken Yager, Becky Massey
• Caucus Chairman: Mike Bell, Jack Johnson

All but Senator Massey are committee chairmen, so these outcomes will change the dynamics of committees depending on leadership positions.

The Senate Democrats have mostly new members in their caucus and have not determined leadership positions or a meeting date.

 

• Retiring House member Joe Pitts defeated the Incumbent and former House Majority Leader Kim McMillan to become Clarksville’s new Mayor.
• Local attorney Chaz Molder defeated the incumbent to become Columbia’s new Mayor. Chaz is the son-in-law of retiring House Democratic Leader Craig Fitzhugh.

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