A spokesman for the Randy Boyd campaign told The Tennessee Star on Friday afternoon that Boyd “fully expects the anti-sanctuary city legislation passed this session to become law, and as Governor he will work to enforce that law.”
Here is the full statement provided to The Star by Chip Saltsman, spokesman for the Randy Boyd campaign:
Randy Boyd has made it clear and will continue to make it clear that he is absolutely opposed to cities or counties in Tennessee becoming sanctuaries for illegal aliens. He fully expects the anti-sanctuary city legislation passed by the legislature this session to become law, and as Governor he will work to enforce that law.
As The Tennessee Star reported earlier on Friday, “The anti-sanctuary city legislation sponsored by State Sen. Mark Green (R-Clarksville) and State Rep. Jay Reedy (R-Erin) and passed overwhelmingly by the Tennessee General Assembly has been signed by Speaker of the House Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) and on Thursday was formally transmitted to the office of Gov. Haslam,” adding:
The governor arrived back in Nashville this morning from an overseas trip, so the ten day clock in which he must either veto the bill–testing Speaker Harwell’s resolve to call a special session of the General Assembly to override the veto–sign it, or allow it to become law by returning it to the General Assembly unsigned, has begun ticking. He also has the option of returning it unsigned before the ten days expire and allow it to become law.
Gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd, a member of Haslam’s administration until he resigned to run for governor, is the only one of four candidates for the GOP nomination who has not yet taken a position on whether Gov. Haslam should sign the bill. This silence is in stark contrast to his recent television advertisements, in which he has portrayed himself as a strong opponent of illegal immigration in all its forms.
Today, the rubber meets the road for Mr. Boyd.
He must decide to either maintain his silence, thereby acquiescing to whatever actions Gov. Haslam may take on the bill, or step forward and demonstrate that the words of his anti-illegal immigration ads are backed up by the corresponding actions.
Two of Boyd’s rivals for the GOP gubernatorial nomination have delivered personal statements on the anti-sanctuary city bill.
Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06) has urged Gov. Haslam to sign the bill, while Williamson County businessman Bill Lee has said as governor he would sign the bill.
A third rival, Speaker of the House Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) voted for the bill and, according to sources, has threatened to call the Tennessee General Assembly into special session in the event Gov. Haslam vetoes the bill.
