NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - GOP elects Devaney state party chairman

GOP elects Devaney state party chairman

Associated Press - May 31, 2009 3:15 AM ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Chris Devaney of Lookout Mountain has been elected chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party.

Party spokesman Bill Hobbs said Devaney was elected Saturday on the second ballot with 28 votes. The party's state executive committee made the selection.

Devaney is U.S. Sen. Bob Corker's state director and a former executive director for the state GOP.

He becomes chairman immediately, replacing Robin Smith, who served for 22 months.

Devaney said he will focus on maintaining the Republicans' history-making majority in the Legislature.

Republicans in November gained majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly for the first time in 140 years.

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