January 16, 2009

NASHVILLE -- Republicans used their new majority in the Tennessee Legislature to elect three members of their party as secretary of state, comptroller and treasurer on Thursday. A joint session of the entire state House and Senate voted 70-61 for Tre Hargett, a former GOP House leader, to replace Democratic Secretary of State Riley Darnell.

The vote for former Deputy Gov. Justin Wilson for comptroller was 69-62 along party lines over five-term Democrat John Morgan. Republican Shelby County Commissioner David Lillard was elected treasurer over Democrat Dale Sims by the same margin. Republicans gained a combined 69-63 majority in the Legislature in November's election. The new session began Tuesday.

The vote had been delayed one day after a surprise outcome in the House speaker race. Republicans had hoped to install Rep. Jason Mumpower of Bristol as speaker but he lost by one vote when Rep. Kent Williams, R-Elizabethton, got the backing of all Democrats in the closely divided chamber.

The constitutional officer positions pay $180,000 per year. The secretary of state serves a four-year term, while the treasurer and comptroller are elected every two years.