Rick Womick disavows puppet depiction of Beth Harwell

photo Tennessee state Rep. Rick Womick, who is challenging House Speaker Beth Harwell in upcoming leadership elections, is disavowing this illustration showing House cCerk Joe McCord as a puppet master manipulating Harwell and her aides.
Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

NASHVILLE - State Rep. Rick Womick, who hopes to unseat Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell in Dec. 10 leadership elections, is disavowing anonymous email images portraying Harwell and two key legislative allies as puppets on a string controlled by the House clerk.

In an email to House members, Womick said he will "not allow" his challenge "to degrade into a campaign centered around character assassination."

"While I appreciate the efforts of undisclosed supporters across the state, I am not responsible, do not condone, and do not support these, or any future emails, that degrade, attack, or misrepresent the character of any individual associated with the Tennessee House of Representatives," he wrote.

The image is one of several landing in Republicans' email in-boxes. The puppet email's message states: "Tennessee deserves leaders who won't have their strings pulled. Be there. Vote Rick."

The illustration features the grinning face of House Clerk Joe McCord, a former Republican House member, pasted on to a body holding marionette strings. The puppets dangling from the strings bear the faces of Harwell; House Finance Committee Chairman Charles Sargent, R-Franklin; House Speaker Pro Tem Curtis Johnson, R-Clarksville; and former Republican Caucus Chairwoman Debra Maggart.

A conservative Tea Party lawmaker, Womick has denounced Republican Gov. Bill Haslam as a "traitor" to conservative causes and accused Harwell of failing to stand up to administration efforts to unseat conservative representatives in August primaries.

"I want everyone to understand that my bid for speaker is based on a fundamental disagreement in leadership style and a lack of accountability to the members of our caucus," Womick said in his email to House members. "My challenge to Speaker Harwell is not of a personal nature and I will not allow it to degrade into a campaign centered around character assassination."

McCord became Harwell's clerk when she assumed office in January 2011.

Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.

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