Gloria Johnson calls on Rep. Eddie Smith to demand expulsion of Rep. Durham

GLORIA JOHNSON CALLS ON REP. EDDIE SMITH TO DEMAND EXPULSION OF REP. DURHAM
Knoxville, Tenn. (July 12, 2016) — Candidate for State House District 13, Gloria Johnson called on Rep. Eddie Smith to demand a special session to expel the embattled Rep. Durham.
“The Attorney General’s report proved that Rep. Jeremy Durham sexually harassed young women and interns.^[1] Now the people of the district deserve to know where Representative Eddie Smith stands. He has a simple choice, either Rep. Smith stands with the 22 victims of Rep. Durham’s sexual harassment and will join me in calling for a special session immediately to vote to expel Rep. Durham or he can continue his failure of leadership and refuse to hold Durham accountable for his disturbing and disgusting behavior.”

“As a career teacher, I know for certain that any teacher would be fired for behaving in the way Rep. Durham has. Voters send our Representatives to Nashville to do a job and it’s past time to hold our political leaders to the same standards as hard working Tennesseans.”

“I understand Rep. Eddie Smith may feel some lingering sense of loyalty to Rep. Durham, a fellow Representative who promoted him to a leadership position^[2], but now that the facts are in^[3], the people of Knoxville deserve to know whether Rep. Eddie Smith will vote to expel, not just disapprove of his behavior.^[4] Protecting the person who promoted you to a leadership position instead of demanding the legislature be a safe working environment for women, is putting politics ahead of people and another example to add to the growing list of reasons why it is time for new leadership in our district.”