Matheny Out As Speaker Pro-Tem

Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell was nominated to lead the lower chamber of the General Assembly on Monday. The 70 members of the House Republican caucus ousted Tullahoma Rep. Judd Matheny from the No. 2 slot, speaker pro-tem. Matheny, of Tullahoma, was defeated Monday by Rep. Curtis Johnson of Clarksville in a secret ballot.
Both positions are elected by the entire 99-member House, but with 70 Republican members, the official votes are expected to be little more than a formality.