Naifeh Republican Comes Back On Conservative Critics

By Kleinheider Posted on July 22, 2008 at 8:52 am

Adam Groves reports that Naifeh Republican Kent Williams has struck back against his conservative colleagues who came out with a press release castigating him for accepting a donation from Assistant Democratic House Caucus Leader John Litz.:

Williams turned to criticizing the lawmakers who criticized the donation, saying about Reps Chris Crider, Eric Swafford and Mike Bell that, “they haven’t accomplished very much in their home districts. It’s people like this who are killing our Republican Party … I dare say that if a Democrat introduced legislation to give every one in the state a goose that laid the golden egg, these three would vote against it.”

Groves reports additionally that Williams has also run “afowl” of a former conservative legislator for his unauthorized use of letter thanking him for an anti-abortion vote. Go get your daily dose here.

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Tags: Chris Crider, David Fowler, Eric Swafford, John Litz, Kent Williams, Mike Bell, Naifeh Republicans  

Kent “No Political Aspirations” Williams Under Fire From Fellow Party Members

By Kleinheider Posted on July 15, 2008 at 8:55 pm

A confederation of conservative Republican state legislators tonight are rebuking a fellow caucus member calling on him to return an unusual donation to his reelection campaign account. Recently filed campaign finance reports for freshman Rep. Kent Williams reveal a $250 campaign donation from Representative John Litz, the Assistant Majority Leader for the House Democratic Caucus. Via a press release from the conservative confederates:

“This is an outrage,” said State Representative Eric Swafford (R-Pikeville). “It is a slap in the face to his colleagues in the House Republican Caucus. By accepting this money from a leader in the House Democratic Caucus, it seems that Rep. Williams is saying that he is okay with the Democrats killing common-sense proposals like SJR 127 and legislation that protects our Second Amendment rights.”

State Representative Chris Crider (R-Milan) cited Williams’ vote in January of 2007 for House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, adding that this vote, coupled with the monetary donation from a member of the House Democratic Caucus, shows where he stands on the issues.

“You can’t claim to be pro-life and pro-Second Amendment, and then support and take money from those who repeatedly stop legislation that supports those values,” said Representative Mike Bell (R-Riceville).

All candidates are required to file campaign financial disclosure reports periodically, which are public record. All donations above $100 must be reported. Representative Frank Nicely (R-Strawberry Plains) said that after the most recent filing deadline on July 10th, the donation to Williams showed up on his disclosure statement.

Swafford concluded, “I think we know where Kent Williams’ intentions and loyalties lie. They are certainly not on the side of conservative values.”

As noted, Rep. Williams, was one of the “Naifeh Seven” in this past Speaker’s election, an influential yet dwindling tribe of Republicans who pledge fealty to the all-powerful Speaker of the Tennessee State House by recognizing the inevitable and pushing the button for the longtime Democratic Speaker.

Rep. Williams is finishing up his first term in the legislature and faces a primary challenge from the man he beat in 2006, conservative former Rep. Jerome Cochran.

Cochran has some interesting donations in his own right. Incumbent Republican State Senator Paul Stanley has kicked in $250 to the Cochran campaign kitty. Cochran and Stanley served together in the House before Stanley was elected Senator. Republican Senator Rusty Crowe, in a 2007 Year End Supplemental Report, is also listed as a contributer to Cochran.

SEE ALSO:
The Williams/Campfield clash over SJR 127

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Tags: Chris Crider, Eric Swafford, Frank Nicely, Jerome Cochran, Kent Williams, Mike Bell, Stacey Campfield, Susan Lynn