A world of symbolic meaning was
encapsulated in a bit of routine Wednesday-lunch business last week
when the Shelby County legislative delegation met at the Tennessee Municipal
League building, two blocks from the Capitol, to elect new officers for
the current legislative session.
The returning chairman was
Republican state representative Curry Todd of Collierville, who had become the
fill-in chairman last year when Democratic state rep Gary Rowe, who held the
position, unexpectedly fell ill (of cancer) and died. Todd wanted a full term in
his own right for what is, after all, traditionally an honorific office.
But he drew opposition from an
unexpected source – Jim Kyle, the Senate Democratic leader and prospective
candidate in 2010 for either Shelby County mayor or Tennessee governor. More
than a few delegation members, curious as to Kyle’s reasons for seeking the
post, speculated wryly along the lines of “He wants to be in charge of something!”
Other possibilities: (1) The
position will give aspiring candidate Kyle greater visibility. (2) It might give
him an edge up on consolidating delegation support for this or that legislation
he chooses to push; (3) It might allow Governor Phil Bredesen, his patron, a
little more leeway with the large Shelby contingent; (4) All of the above.
In any case, Kyle went on to win –
no doubt on a party-line vote. (The totals weren’t announced.)
The fun would come later. Todd,
who exchanged gracious speeches with Kyle, was elected vice chairman by
acclamation. (State Senator Beverly Marrero, in seconding the nomination of the
conservative Todd: “And we know how he feels about vice!”)
And when nominations were sought
for delegation secretary, the following dialogue ensued:
Republican State Representative
Brian Kelsey: “I’d like to nominate my good friend G.A. Hardaway.”
Democratic State Representative
Ulysses Jones (pretending to mishear): “Your new friend? How many does
that make? Three?”
Kelsey: “Oh, I’m up to at least
six!”
The laughter around the linked,
semi-circular tables was both spontaneous and bi-partisan – but decidedly
nervous.
And, oh yes, State Representative
Hardaway, a Democratic counterpart of sorts to GOP provocateur Kelsey, won.
