Harwell Steps Down After Two Successful Election Cycles

NASHVILLE - - With United States Senators Frist and Alexander in attendance, the State Executive Committee of the Tennessee Republican Party voted unanimously to elect Bob Davis as the new chairman on Saturday. Davis, currently the deputy chairman, will take over for Beth Harwell. Harwell is stepping down after two successful election cycles in which Republicans picked up multiple seats in the state house and took the majority in the senate for the first time in 140 years.

"The 2006 election cycle is going to be very important for Tennessee and for our party," Davis said. "We have to protect our majority in the state senate, and continue our climb to majority status in the state house." Republicans have a 17-16 majority in the senate, and Democrats hold a 53-46 margin in the house.

Bob Davis has been involved in Republican politics for almost 20 years. Prior to being deputy chairman at the state party, he served as state director for U.S. Senator Fred Thompson during his eight years in office. He served as political director for the state party in the early 1990’s including the historic 1994 election cycle that saw the Republicans sweep all three statewide offices. Davis is a native of Maryville and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. He and his wife, Linda, have two children, Ashton, 14 and Reese, 10.

In addition to the chairman’s election, three more state party officers were elected on Saturday. Robin Smith of Chattanooga was elected vice chairman; Ed Roberson of Memphis is the new treasurer; and Beth Scott Clayton of Nashville was reelected as vice treasurer.