Armstrong And Turner To Battle For House Caucus Chair

By Kleinheider Posted on September 6, 2008 at 12:38 pm

From Tom Humphrey:

[Rep. Joe] Armstrong said that colleagues had encouraged him to seek the caucus chair, “a frontline position where I can help manage the agenda of the Democratic caucus” and provide a geographic balance to House leadership.

House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh is from West Tennessee, and House Majority Leader Gary Odom is from Middle Tennessee. Armstrong said it would be appropriate for the Democratic chair to come from East Tennessee.

“We would have a balance of leadership across the board,” Armstrong said.

Turner began campaigning among Democratic representatives and candidates in late May, shortly after Rinks announced he would give up his House seat and instead seek to replace Riley Darnell as Tennessee’s secretary of state.

“I think I’ve got the votes (to win),” [Rep. Mike] Turner said. “Joe is my friend, and I think he’d do a good job (as caucus chairman). I just think I’d do better.”

Turner characterized himself as a little more vocal and more willing to stand up and fight than Armstrong, who characterized himself as a leader able to build a consensus.

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Tags: caucus chair, Joe Armstrong, Mike Turner, Randy Rinks