House Dems make change in No. 2 leadership position
House Democrats have voted to replace Rep. Vincent Dixie as caucus chair after an election cycle in which the minority’s numbers shrank. The caucus instead elected Rep. John Ray Clemmons for the No. 2 leadership post. Both are Nashville Democrats.
House Democrats lost one Memphis seat to redistricting and other when longtime Rep. John Mark Windle of Livingston decided to run for re-election as an independent. He lost to Republican Ed Butler.
Democrat Ronnie Glynn earlier this month narrowly held on to a Clarksville seat vacated by Jason Hodges and a Caleb Hemmer won an open race for a newly drawn district in southern Davidson County.
Here’s the release from House Democrats:
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee House Democratic Caucus today elected its leadership positions for the upcoming 113th General Assembly of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Rep. Karen Camper of Memphis remains House Minority Leader and Rep. John Ray Clemmons is the newly-elected Caucus Chair. Rep. Clemmons said that he’s “honored by the trust shown in him by the Caucus membership” and said he’s “ready to get to work on the challenges that lie ahead.” Other positions elected today were as follows:
— Assistant Minority Leader: Rep. Harold Love of Nashville
— House Floor Leader: Rep. Bill Beck of Nashville
— Minority Whip: Rep. Jason Powell of Nashville
— Caucus Vice-Chair: Rep. Bob Freeman of Nashville
— Caucus Treasurer: Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville
— Caucus Secretary: Rep. Ronnie Glynn of Clarksville
— Leader Pro Tempore: Rep. Larry Miller of Memphis
In addition to the above, Rep. Dwayne Thompson of Memphis and Rep. Johnny Shaw of Bolivar were elected to fill the 2 House Democratic positions on the Joint Fiscal Review Committee.
Dixie elected chair of House Democratic Caucus

State Rep. Vincent Dixie has been elected chair of the House Democratic Caucus. He succeeds Rep. Mike Stewart, who decided against running for another term as the chamber’s No. 2 Democrat.
Rep. Karen Camper of Memphis was unopposed in her bid for another term as House Minority Leader.
Dixie defeated Rep. Bo Mitchell in the final round of caucus voting. Rep. John Ray Clemmons was eliminated in the first round. All three candidates (plus Stewart) represent Nashville districts. Vote totals were not announced.
Dixie was elected to his second term in the House last month.
State Rep. Vincent Dixie sued by former campaign worker
A former campaign worker for state Rep. Vincent Dixie (D-Nashville) is suing the freshman lawmaker for unpaid wages.
The Tennessean’s Natalie Allison reports that Tamika White, the former field worker, alleges she was evicted from her home last month “in large part due to (Dixie’s) nonpayment” of $4,750 in ages.
Dixie said he had spoken with White a few months ago about paying the remaining balance of her wages over the next three months because he had to replenish his campaign funds and couldn’t raise money during the session.
“We don’t have any written contract,” Dixie said. “I can’t find it.”
“I don’t mind paying what I owe,” said Dixie, who has so far only paid White $1,750. “But I’m not going to pay some amount that (his attorney) has made up and thrown out there and thinks it’s going to stick.”
Dixie had $1,890 in his campaign account as of his most recent filing.