Devaney new state GOP chief
By Andy Sher asher@timesfreepress.com
NASHVILLE — Chris Devaney was narrowly elected the new chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party Saturday in a victory over fellow Lookout Mountain resident Oscar Brock. The 28-25 win in the state GOP’s executive committee came on the second ballot. Mr. Devaney called the 2010 legislative elections, after which legislative districts will be redrawn, “the most important election of our lifetime.” He said winning strong majorities in the Tennessee General Assembly is his No. 1 priority, followed by the governor’s race. “The fight for our conservative cause is not over,” said Mr. Devaney, a former state GOP executive director who now works as state director for U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R- Tenn. “2010 is our time; 2010 is our place in history.” Following the vote, Mr. Devaney told reporters he would stay out of the GOP’s 2010 gubernatorial primary, noting, “I have no dog in that fight. ... My only agenda again is to win state legislative races and help the governor’s (nominee) where we can.” Mr. Brock said Mr. Devaney, who stressed his work as the former party executive director, made a “very compelling case” to other executive committee members. “I think he’s going to be an effective chairman,” said Mr. Brock, the party’s treasurer. Mr. Devaney replaces Robin Smith, of Hixson, as chairman. Mrs. Smith is stepped down after 22 months to explore running in the 3rd Congressional
District’s GOP primary. The state GOP has made “some tough choices” during her chairmanship Mrs. Smith said, but she noted, “We’ve chosen to stand on principle rather than always be politically expedient.” She said her theme of “Take the Hill” bore fruit in 2008 when the state party strengthened its control of the state Senate and won a majority of seats in the state House for the first time since Civil War Reconstruction. One of those choices Mrs. Smith may have been referring to was her decision under party bylaws to bar House Speaker Kent Williams of Elizabethton from running again as a Republican. Rep. Williams broke ranks with fellow Republicans and added his vote to all 49 Democrats to become speaker in January. Mrs. Smith accused him of lying and betraying the party. But a number of House Republicans have mended fences with Rep. Williams and there have been news reports that two Republican gubernatorial candidates, U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam have made overtures. Asked whether the party should reconsider its decision, Mr. Devaney said, “Our bylaws have consequences. ... We’ll have to look at that when it comes. I do think that we do have an obligation to speak to Speaker Williams if he comes to us, but right now that’s just hypothetical.” Mr. Devaney said he will resign his job with U.S. Sen. Corker but plans to maintain his home on Lookout Mountain. Chris Devaney
