Naifeh wants more answers from prospective GOP office holders

Current Speaker of the House calls one candidate for state constitutional officer a 'political hack'

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

Jimmy Naifeh

Embattled Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh told media this morning that he has concerns about the candidates that Republicans are considering for the offices of State Treasurer, State Comptroller and Secretary of State. He also stated that he is "talking to members" in an effort to convince at least one Republican to vote for him next week as speaker.

Republicans hold a one-seat majority in the Tennessee House of Representatives and any GOP defections coupled with a unanimous Democratic vote would keep Naifeh in the speaker's chair. In past years, anywhere between six to a dozen Republicans have voted for Naifeh. But the battle is more tense this year now that the GOP has the majority and all 50 of their members have signed a loyalty pledge.

Naifeh said that if the Republicans were really interested in keeping the best people on the job in the constitutional offices, they would vote for the people already in the job – State Treasurer Dale Sims, State Comptroller John Morgan and Secretary of State Riley Darnell.

Among the issues Naifeh has with some of the Republicans seeking the posts are questions about their past political practices and experience. He said that he would like to see Justin Wilson, the former aide to Gov. Don Sundquist who is up for comptroller, answer questions about how contracts were awarded when he was in the governor's office.

Naifeh also said that Tre Hargett, who is up for secretary of state – the position that oversees the Division of Elections – should answer allegations that he removed an opponent's campaign paraphernalia from cars when he was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives.

Perhaps most interesting, Naifeh called Ira Brody, a candidate for state treasurer, a "political hack" who has thrown money around to Republican candidates in an attempt to get the job.

The elections for the constitutional offices will occur either Wednesday or Thursday of next week.