Deputy Speaker Of The Tennessee House Curtis Johnson Announces Plans To Retire At Conclusion Of Term
Image Credit: State Representative Curtis Johnson / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Representative Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville-District 68) has announced that he does not plan to seek reelection for an 11th time after he completes his current term in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
Johnson, 71, was elected to the house in 2004. He currently serves as the deputy speaker and previously held the position of speaker pro tem from 2013 to 2018.
“I make this announcement with a profound sense of gratitude to the people of Montgomery County who have backed me in 10 successive campaigns over the last two decades. I am incredibly thankful for their support, friendship, and kindness,” Johnson stated. “My service to the people of this district has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I will greatly miss the many friends and colleagues who have partnered with me during this time to strengthen our local communities and make Tennessee a better place to live.
Johnson was runner up to Glen Casada in his 2018 run for the Republican nomination for House Speaker. His platform was one of avoiding “division or scandal.” He was also runner-up after Casada resigned in 2019, losing to current House Speaker Cameron Sexton.
Johnson currently serves in the Tennessee House as Deputy Speaker and is also chair of the Ethics Committee and a member of the Commerce Committee, Insurance Committee, State Government Committee, Select Committee on Rules, Business & Utilities Subcommittee, and the Public Services Subcommittee.
Prior to joining the Tennessee House, Johnson was on the Clarksville City Council for eight years.
Following Johnson’s statement, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Smith announced his bid for the soon to be open spot in the state House.
Smith, a Republican, as elected to the county commission in 2018 and was recently appointed mayor pro tem.
“It has been an honor to serve as your county commissioner for the last five years, and I look forward to taking the next step,” Smith said. “I am committed to continuing the incredible legacy of retiring Deputy Speaker Curtis Johnson by being a state representative who serves the people of our amazing community at the state level. Together, we can keep Clarksville-Montgomery County moving in the right direction.”
Hopefully the Tennessee Conservative will help sort out the key races where conservatives are running against centrists/tepid conservatives so we know where to send our financial support well before next year’s Republican primary.