Mary Pruitt

Mary Pruitt is a Tennessee State Representative from Nashville, representing the 58th district.

Biography

A longtime member of the Tennessee House of Representatives since 1985, Pruitt was originally elected in a special election upon the death of her husband, Charles Pruitt, who had previously held the position.^[1][2][3]

Pruitt is a National Honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho, member of the Order of Eastern Star, 100 Black Women of Middle TN, a State Fair Board Commissioner, and a member of the Meharry Medical College Board of Trustees. She has a B.S. and M.ED. from Tennessee State University^[4] and matriculated, but did not graduate from, the University of Northern Colorado.^[1]

Controversies

Pruitt was the subject of several investigations focusing on inappropriate or illegal use of funds. In 2006, it was discovered that she was renting a campaign office from herself, but the building was not used, and for some time, did not have utilities.^[5] Rep. Pruitt denied the charges, charging entrapment, but was fined $10,000 for failing to appear before the Registry of Election Finance (later reversed).^[6][7] Pruitt's attorney argued that utilities were routinely disconnected to discourage vandalism.^[8]

Investigations of public records also found several potential conflicts of interest. A scholarship fund which she directed awarded a scholarship to her relative. A legislative earmark she requested awarded $55,000 to a corporation Re. Pruitt founded. She requested a daily per diem allowance for travel and lodging, despite living two miles from her office.^{[9][10][11][12]}

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "House Democratic Caucus". tnhdc.com. http://www.tnhdc.com/view_rep.php?id=42. Retrieved 2009-03-18. 
2. ^ Wright, Sharon D. (September 2000). "The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators" (PDF). The Journal of Black Studies 31 (1): 3–18. http://jbs.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/31/1/3.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-19. .
3. ^ "Pruitt, Mary". Our Campaigns. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=60084. Retrieved 2009-03-19. 
4. ^ "Pruitt, Mary". Tennessee General Assembly. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/house/members/h58.html. Retrieved 2009-03-24. 
5. ^ "Pruitt's Campaign Spending May Have Broken Law". WTVF NewsChannel 5. 11 July 2006. http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=5419372. Retrieved 2009-03-19. 
6. ^ "Board Fines Lawmaker for Campaign Spending". WTVF NewsChannel 5. 12 October 2006. http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=5528265. Retrieved 2009-03-19. .
7. ^ Tennessee Registry of Election Finance (PDF). Minutes of October 2006. http://www.state.tn.us/tref/forms/2006-10_minutes.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-19. 
8. ^ Rodgers, John. "Election board dismisses $10K fine against Pruitt". The_City_Paper. http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=53697. Retrieved 2009-03-24. .
9. ^ Frank, Terry. "Audits Good for Everyone". terryfrank.com. http://terryfrank.net/?p=89. Retrieved 2009-03-19. 
10. ^ "Lawmaker Says She Works Free, Pockets $43K". WTVF NewsChannel 5. 26 July 2006. http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=5419440. Retrieved 2009-03-19. 
11. ^ "Mary Pruitt.org". http://www.marypruitt.org/. Retrieved 2009-03-19. 
12. ^ Citizens Against Government Waste (21 April 2008) (PDF). 2008 Tennessee Pork Report. http://www.cagw.org/site/DocServer/TennPorkReport2008.pdf?docID=3081. Retrieved 2009-03-19. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Mary Pruitt's profile at the Tennessee General Assembly website

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