Haslam: Partisan politics played no role in selection

NASHVILLE — Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s office is pushing back against criticisms levied by a Democratic senator who questions why no Democrats were appointed to a just-named working group on school safety.

“The governor appointed experts in each of these fields [education, safety and mental health] from across the state. Political affiliation did not play a role in asking these people to serve on the group. Period,” said Haslam Press Secretary Jennifer Donnals in an email Tuesday. “I cannot reiterate this enough.”

Donnals called it “very disappointing that this baseless story gained any traction.”

The criticisms were publicly raised by Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris, D-Memphis, after the governor on Monday appointed the 16-member working group.

Members are tasked with coming up with quick safety proposals for Tennessee schools to take following the deadly mass shooting last month at a school in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 students and faculty dead.

According to Donnals, the governor asked House Speaker Beth Harwell and Senate Speaker Randy McNally, both Republicans, to name two members each. They did. The two senators and two representatives are all Republicans.

In a statement, Harris blasted the panel, charging that “not only did the governor set up a solid Republican task force on an issue where bipartisan consensus is sorely needed, he went out of his way to exclude voices who are committed to evidence-based solutions to prevent gun violence.”

He said the task force “also lacks representation for Shelby County schools, the largest school system in the state.”

But Donnals said one of the appointments is from Shelby County. She said the governor did not ask members he appointed about their political affiliations.

“He sought out individuals with various, but relevant, perspectives to serve on the working group, which does, in fact, include a member from Shelby County,” Donnals added.

McNally’s spokesman, Adam Kleinheider, said the Republican speaker named Senate Education Committee Chairman Dolores Gresham, R-Somerville, and Transportation and Safety Committee Chairman Paul Bailey, R-Sparta, because their respective panels’ “subject matter intersects most directly with the issue of school safety.

“On this important issue, he believed it was important to put subject matter expertise above any other consideration,” Kleinheider added.

Harwell spokeswoman Kara Owen did not respond to a Times Free Press email on the House speaker’s reasons for naming Republican Caucus Chairman Ryan Williams of Cookeville, and Rep. David Byrd, R-Waynesboro.

Byrd is pushing a controversial bill that would allow school districts to designate school personnel to be trained and carry firearms. The retired school principal says it’s necessary because rural counties such as his cannot afford to hire school resource officers who are law enforcement officers who receive additional training to work in schools.

In an interview later, Harris was unapologetic about his criticism of the governor.

“You form your own committee and hand off the job of forming the committee to someone else? There’s a leadership vacuum,” the Memphian said.