NASHVILLE: GOP chairman moves to bounce 'Republican' state Senate candidate off ballot

Friday, April 6, 2012

photo Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney

NASHVILLE - Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney says a former state senator from Northeast Tennessee, who renounced his GOP affiliation in 2007, can't run this year as a Republican.

The former lawmaker, Micheal Williams of Maynardville, is seeking to stage a comeback in Senate District 4. He filed to run Thursday as a Republican.

"You may remember that Mr. Williams renounced his affiliation with the Republican Party in March 2007," Devaney says in an email to state Republican Executive Committee members.

"Later, he ran as an Independent for re-election to the State Senate in 2008 and was defeated by State Senator Mike Faulk (R-Church Hill)."

Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

Devaney says while "making a ruling on an issue such as this is one that I do not take lightly ... I thought it was clear cut as to the question of Mr. Williams' status."

Citing a provision in state GOP bylaws, Devaney says, "I have declared Mr. Williams not eligible to run as a Republican for State Senate and have instructed the proper authorities to remove his name from the ballot."

Williams is currently Union County mayor.