Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) announced on Monday that he will name Sammie Arnold his new chief of staff.

Most recently, Arnold served as Assistant Commissioner of Community & Rural Development for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD). In his position, he was appointed by Governor Bill Lee to serve on an economic recovery group aimed at getting Tennessee’s economy going after the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am excited to announce Sammie Arnold as my new Chief of Staff,” said Speaker Sexton in an emailed press release. “I’ve known Sammie and his family for several years and have worked with him extensively throughout his time as a staffer with former Gov. Bill Haslam, as well as in his roles with our Department of Economic and Community Development. Sammie’s extensive knowledge of our Tennessee communities, experience in public policy, and working with the General Assembly over the years not only makes him a great choice for the position but will ensure a smooth transition without missing a beat.”

Earlier this year, Sexton’s interim chief of staff accepted a position in Governor Lee’s administration as an HR administrator with the Tennessee Department of Human Resources.

“It is an incredible honor to join Speaker Sexton and his team as Chief of Staff in the Tennessee House of Representatives. I have known and admired Speaker Sexton since he was first elected to the General Assembly, and no one is better equipped than he is to lead this body during this moment of unprecedented opportunity for our state. I look forward to working with him to ensure he and all of our members continue to serve their constituents with the utmost success,” said Arnold of his new position.

Previously, Arnold worked for former Gov. Bill Haslam as a legislative liaison.

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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Sammie Arnold” by Speaker Cameron Sexton and “Cameron Sexton” by Speaker Cameron Sexton.