Political Organizer And Nashville Native Seeks To Recall Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton
Official Press Release
For Immediate Release
Friday, December 1, 2023
News Media Contact:
Dr. Quintessa Hathaway
[email protected]
(615) 473-3213
Crossville, Tennessee -- The 113th Tennessee General Assembly has made national political headwinds this year and the 83rd Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Cameron Sexton (R), District 25 of Crossville, is at the center of anti-democratic tailwinds. From the expulsions of Reps. Justin Jones (D), District 52 of Nashville and Antioch, and Justin J. Pearson (D), District 86 of Memphis, and the narrow one (1) vote to retain Gloria Johnson (D), District 90 of Knoxville, also known as the “Tennessee Three” who were vocal on gun reform following the Covenant School mass shooting, to plausible accusations of not living in his district, to the most recent event to reject approximately $1.9 billion in federal funding for education; Rep. Sexton is putting a stain on Republicans and Democrats are ready to clean up the mess.
Political Organizer and Nashville Native Dr. Quintessa Hathaway is vying to unseat him through a multipronged recall initiative prior to the start of the General Session on January 9, 2024. Although, Tennessee Code Annotated § 2-5-151 expresses such action is limited to municipal and county public officials. Expulsion and censorship are the only options according to said law. Both will likely never come up for a vote due to the Republican supermajority with seventy-five (75) House and twenty-seven (27) Senate seats and Democrats holding twenty-four (24) in the House and six (6) Senate seats.
We, Democrats must respond with a call to action by enlisting an army of volunteers to canvass and collect 17,000-28,000 registered voters’ signatures for recall petition. It reads:
This recall petition shall amend the Tennessee Code Annotated § 2-5-151. Registered qualified signatories and voters seek:
(a) to establish the process and to expand said law;
(b) to express recall for state elected officials and not limited to municipal or county officials;
(c) for a recall of state official elected from State House of Representative District 25;
(d) the total population used to derive the minimum threshold of fifteen percent (15%) established by the statute based on standing municipal or county law;
(e) the petition for recall would have to be signed by fifteen percent (15%) of the total registered and qualified voters in House of Representative District 25 (including Cumberland and parts of Putnam Counties) and residential address as recorded on voter registration identification;
(f) upon verification of the fifteen percent (15%) qualified registered voter threshold, the officer shall be removed, and the office shall be vacant until it is filled after a special election held which in voters will decide a successor;
(g) the recall election shall be conducted, canvassed, and the results declared in substantially the manner provided by law as for a regular election for the office.
The objective is to amend the state statute, conduct a new and updated voter registration campaign, vet a candidate for special election, and phone banking and voter mobilization in House District 25. Rep. Sexton’s abuse of power and maneuvering has sparked a movement in Tennessee politics.
This work draws upon the inspiration of civil rights causes and political activism which the state has a historic legacy. To volunteer or discuss candidate recruitment, please contact Dr. Hathaway via email, [email protected] or directly at (615) 473-3213.
Dr. Hathaway was a 2006 Democratic Candidate for the Tennessee House of Representatives (District 53) and the 2022 Democratic Nominee for Arkansas' Second Congressional District.
Note: Media outlets have the permission of Dr. Hathaway to utilize the photograph below.
