Third District Rep. Resigns

An East Tennessee state representative has resigned from the house. Rep. Scotty Campbell, who represents the 3rd district resigned his house seat after an ethics committee determined he violated the General Assembly’s discrimination and harassment policy. The ethics violations were brought to light in late March after at least one legislative intern complained of alleged sexually harassing communications from Scotty Campbell. On Thursday, Campbell turned in a letter of resignation to house speaker Cameron Sexton. Sexton says he was unaware of an wrongdoing by Campbell until the ethics charges were brought against him. Campbell’s resignation was effective immediately. County commissioners can appoint someone to take over that now vacant seat in the house until a special election can be held later this summer. A special election will have to be held as state law reads that if a member is ousted or resigns and there are 12 months or more before the next general election, a special election must be held.

The 3rd district is comprised of all of Johnson County and part of Carter, Hawkins, and Sullivan counties.