MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Gov. Bill Lee's office says the Republican governor has named former Democratic state Rep. John DeBerry Jr. as a senior adviser.
Lee said in a statement Monday that DeBerry begins work Tuesday on the Republican governor’s executive leadership team and he will have an office in the Tennessee State Capitol.
DeBerry came up short in his bid to return to the state House when he lost to Democrat Torrey Harris in the Nov. 3 general election.
DeBerry ran as an independent candidate after the Tennessee Democratic Party removed him in April from the ballot for the August primary election.