Tennessee Former State Employee’s Lawsuit Further Proof Of Republican Vote-Tampering
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2010
Former State Employee’s Lawsuit Further Proof Of Republican Vote-Tampering
NASHVILLE - Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said the recent lawsuit filed by a former state employee against Secretary of State Tre Hargett is another piece of evidence pointing to a scheme by Republicans to maintain power in the state by stealing elections.
William Jay Reynolds accused Hargett of firing him for political reasons, according to the lawsuit filed in Davidson County Chancery Court. Reynolds formerly served in the secretary of state’s office as an administrative law judge but was terminated soon after the General Assembly appointed Hargett in January 2009.
“Appears to me that Mr. Hargett is getting rid of anyone in the secretary of state’s office who isn’t an avowed fan,” Forrester said. “That is a petty and arguably illegal action by Mr. Hargett.”
Reynolds, who is disabled, alleges in his suit that “he was asked to communicate” with newly elected Republican state Rep. Vance Dennis about whom he would support “in the election for constitutional officers, specifically the secretary of state.”
After Reynolds met with Dennis in January 2009, the state representative then alerted House Republican Leader Jason Mumpower about the meeting, the complaint notes. The House Republican leader then discussed the nature and substance of the Reynolds and Dennis meeting with Hargett and Republican Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, the complaint continues, adding that Hargett “discriminated and retaliated against” Reynolds the following month by firing him.
“We have a group of Republicans who will say and do anything to stay in power,” Forrester said. “They just overturned a law meant to provide more fair and accurate elections here in the state. And they have unjustly fired a bunch of county election administrators just because they were perceived to be Democrats.
“Doesn’t take a genius to understand what is happening here. I just hope voters get angry about the shenanigans going on over in the state Legislature and fire some of the Republicans responsible for this when they go to the polls in November.”
Senate Republicans last week delayed implementation of the Tennessee Voter Confidence Act, which requires all county election commissions to make the switch to optical scan machines and paper ballots before the November 2010 elections. About $35 million in federal funds had been set aside to purchase the machines and train workers on them.
“Tennessee voters got the shaft by a shameless group of Republican politicians bent on winning at all costs when the Tennessee Voter Confidence Act was delayed,” Forrester said. “Now it appears that anyone working for state government who doesn’t blindly agree and go along with them may get fired.
“Actions like that are wrong and ultimately hurt the services the state is trying to provide its citizens. It only goes to show you how some of those in the Republican leadership think. If you don’t like the rules, change them. If you don’t like an employee, fire him,” he added.
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Contact: Keith Talley
TNDP Communications Director
615-327-9779 (office)[email protected]