County Commissioners to meet Wednesday to consider reappointing Pearson
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday will meet to discuss and consider reappointing Justin Pearson to the Tennessee House of Representatives.
"The protests at the State Capitol by citizens recently impacted by the senseless deaths of three 9-year-old children and three adults entrusted with their care at their school was understandable given the fact that the gun laws in the State of Tennessee are becoming nearly non-existent," Shelby County Commission Chairman Mickell Lowery said in a statement. "It is equally understandable that the leadership of the State House of Representatives felt a strong message had to be sent to those who transgressed the rules. However, I believe the expulsion of State Representative Justin Pearson was conducted in a hasty manner without consideration of other corrective action methods. I also believe that the ramifications for our great State are still yet to be seen."
The special meeting to consider reappointing Pearson to the District 86 seat will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
More: Tennessee Capitol protest explainer: Here's what did and did not happen
Pearson was expelled from the state House Thursday along with fellow Democrat, former Rep. Justin Jones, who represented Davidson County, for having led gun-reform chants that briefly disrupted House proceedings three days after three 9-year-olds and three adults were shot and killed at The Covenant School in Nashville.
A third representative, Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, was also threatened with expulsion, but eventually retained her seat by a single vote.
Vacancies at the state House can be filled on an interim basis by the county legislative body until a legislator is elected in a special election.
Lowery previously said he would seek a legal opinion on whether the commission can reappoint Pearson. Marcy Ingram, a Shelby County assistant attorney, told The Commercial Appeal she knew of no legal reason why the commission could not reappoint Pearson.
The County Commission has a Democratic supermajority, and Commissioner Erika Sugarmon has said there are enough supporters of Pearson to successfully reappoint him and that she'll be one of them.
Commission Vice Chair Miska Clay Bibbs has also said she would support Pearson's reappointment.
"I am certain that the leaders in the State Capitol understand the importance of this action on behalf of the affected citizens here in Shelby County, Tennessee and that we stand ready to work in concert with them to assist with only positive outcomes going forward," Lowery said in the statement.
Katherine Burgess contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Special meeting called to consider reappointing Pearson
