A Franklin man has been planning a Republican primary challenge to embattled state Representative Jeremy Durham.
Retired Army Colonel Sam Whitson said he has assembled a team for the planned challenge.
Whitson said the Williamson County district has been needing a representative with what he called "character, courage and a total commitment to our county rather than any personal or future political ambition."
Durham's role as House majority whip has been set to be the subject of a GOP caucus meeting on January 12 that follows revelations that prosecutors once recommended prescription fraud charges against him, that he wrote a character reference for a former youth pastor who pleaded guilty to child porn possession and statutory rape, and that House Speaker Beth Harwell had the lawmaker spoken to about his behavior.
