Knoxville's Bill Dunn removes himself from House speaker race

Well, things may not be boring in Nashville after all.

Bill Dunn confirmed Wednesday he has taken himself out of consideration for the speaker of the House race. Dunn, R-Knoxville, said in May that he could “bring a level of boredom” to the speaker’s role, what may have appeared an enticing option after the short-lived rule of upheaval of Speaker Glen Casada.

"I was willing to keep us from having people running against each other (for speaker) and to continue on as acting speaker and avoid having a special session and everything that goes with it, but obviously others thought we’d have a special session and I’m OK with that," he said Wednesday.

Dunn, the second-highest ranking member of the House as speaker pro tem, originally said he was uninterested in the Speaker role in early May, but after Casada’s vote was held, he sounded more like someone who would take on the job if asked.

“I think that it hasn’t been my dream, but is it my duty?” he said at the time. “What I need to do is look to see how we get back to calmness and order and I need to determine whether I can be part of that. I think I can bring a level of boredom to the position.”

Former House caucus chairman Ryan Williams and Reps. Mike Carter, Matthew Hill, Curtis Johnson, Jay Reedy and Cameron Sexton have all said they intend to run for speaker.

Dunn doesn't plan on endorsing a candidate and said he hopes dirty tactics don't come into play and that the candidates just run on their merits.

Tumultuous tenure 

Casada took over as speaker after a floor vote in January. His forthcoming resignation comes amid a scandal largely involving misogynistic text messages he exchanged with his former chief of staff Cade Cothren, who resigned May 6.

The House GOP caucus approved a resolution with a 45-24 vote stating it had no confidence in Casada’s continued leadership.

The legislature will reconvene in August after Gov. Bill Lee announced he would call a special session, with the purpose of replacing the House speaker and approving administrative rules regarding the state Supreme Court.

Casada is expected to resign Aug. 2 and the legislature won't convene until Aug. 23, giving Dunn three full weeks as acting speaker.

“I plan on having a boring three weeks as acting speaker,” Dunn joked. “No driver. No state plane.”