Bill Dunn (American politician)

William "Bill' K. Dunn is an American politician, a Republican, and the former Acting-Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Rep. Dunn announced on September 12, 2019 that he would not seek re-election to his post.[1]

Bill Dunn
Speaker pro tempore of the Tennessee House of Representatives
Assumed office
January 8, 2019
Preceded byCurtis Johnson
Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives
Acting
In office
August 2, 2019 – August 23, 2019
Preceded byGlen Casada
Succeeded byCameron Sexton
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
from the 16th district
Assumed office
January 20, 1994
Preceded byCharles Severance
Personal details
Born (1961-07-03) July 3, 1961
Panama Canal Zone, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Stacy Dunn
Children5
EducationUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville (BS, MS)

Bill Dunn was born July 3, 1961 in the Panama Canal Zone to Paul and Mary Dunn. Bill Dunn and his wife Stacy have five children and are members of Holy Ghost Catholic Church of Knoxville, Tennessee.[2]

Biography

Dunn first earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science during 1983 and later completed a Master of Science degree in Extension Education from the University of Tennessee during 1985. Dunn worked as a federal employee for the U.S. Agricultural Extension Service as a 4-H agent in Grainger County, Tennessee, for approximately eight years. Dunn reportedly received several awards for his work in 4-H youth development.[2] Dunn is a certified arborist and General Manager of Cortese Tree Specialists of Knoxville.[3] Dunn is now employed by QualPro.

Tennessee House of Representatives

Bill Dunn has served as a state representative following his moving back to Knox County as to buy his parents' home during 1993 and later being elected to the 99th Tennessee General Assembly during 1994. Dunn represents the 16th district of the Fountain City, Halls Crossroads, and Powell areas of Knoxville, part of Knox County.[4]

Prior to December 2006, Bill Dunn served as the House Republican Leader.[5] Afterward, he was appointed by his successor as Republican Leader to be the freshman coordinator for the House Republican Caucus.[6] Currently, Bill Dunn is the Vice Chair of the House Public Transportation and Highways Subcommittee. He is a member of the House Agriculture Committee, the House Finance Ways and Means Committee, the House Government Operations Committee, the House Calendar and Rules Committee, the House Public Transportation and Highways Subcommittee, and the House Environment Subcommittee.1

Dunn authored and was the prime Tennessee House sponsor of marriage amendment against legal gay marriage and also House co-sponsor of the proposed abortion amendment to the Tennessee State Constitution, more commonly referred as Senate Joint Resolution 127, or simply, SJR 127 (the enactment SJR 127 will appear on the November, 2014 Tennessee general election ballot as amendment question 1). Enactment of the Senate Joint Resolution 127 in various form has been a "primary objective" of Tennessee Right to Life since 2001 and versions of SJR 127 have already passed the Tennessee state Senate four times prior to 2008.[7]

On June 9, 2020, Dunn voted as a member of the House Naming, Designating, & Private Acts Committee against removal of a bust honoring Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest from the Tennessee State Capitol building[8]

Tennessee Right to Life, Inc.

Dunn's wife, Stacy Dunn, currently receives annual compensation of $23,400 as a vice president of Tennessee Right to Life, Inc.[9] and his father Paul Dunn was a former president[10] and manager of the Knoxville affiliate chapter of Tennessee Right to Life, Inc. Paul Dunn once allegedly extended an offer for the "Knoxville Right to Life" (sic; Knox County affiliate of Tennessee Right to Life) to pick up the hotel bill for Neal Horsley to speak on a March 13, 2003 event then sponsored by the University of Tennessee Pro-Life Collegians at the University Center auditorium on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville.[10]

References
  1. Whetstone, Tyler. "Knoxville's Bill Dunn announces he won't run for re-election". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  2. http://www.billdunn.org/About_Bill.php Archived May 4, 2018, at the Wayback Machine About Bill.
  3. http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/24395/bill-dunn#.U-zhluNdXhc Bill Dunn's Biography.
  4. "Tennessee House Member". Legislative Information Services. Accessed December 30, 2006.
  5. "GOP lawmakers buck leadership, pick new ones". Archived January 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Nashville City Paper. Accessed December 30, 2006.
  6. "Dunn Appointed Freshman Coordinator For Tennessee House Republican Caucus". Archived October 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Chattanoogan.com. December 18, 2006.
  7. http://www.lifenews.com/2008/05/01/state-3188/ "Tennessee Pro-Life Legislators Fail to Revive Amendment to Limit Abortions".
  8. 'HJR0686 by Staples',
  9. http://www2.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2012/621/009/2012-621009171-09da1505-9O.pdf 2012 IRS Form 990, Tennessee Right to Life, Inc. p.7
  10. http://www.christiangallery.com/UTSabotage.htm Tennessee Right To Life, Inc. Attempts To Sabotage Horsley Speaking Engagement At the University of Tennessee.
Tennessee House of Representatives
Preceded by
Curtis Johnson		 Speaker pro tempore of the Tennessee House of Representatives
2019–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Glen Casada		 Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives
Acting
2019		 Succeeded by
Cameron Sexton
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