Longest-serving legislative chief ousted

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - The nation's longest-standing leader of a state legislative body, Tennessee's wily and eccentric Senate speaker, lost a bid for another term Tuesday.

Democrat John Wilder, 85, had managed to lead the state Senate since 1971, no matter which party held the majority. In the past, he was able to get at least one Republican senator to vote for him.

Not this time. Republicans, who control the Senate 17-16, and Democratic Sen. Rosalind Kurita selected Republican Sen. Ron Ramsey in an 18-15 vote.

Wilder appeared stunned by the vote. "Why did Kurita do that?" he said quietly to himself.

Kurita said later: "I voted my conscience, no more, no less."

Wilder had previously said he might resign if he was not re-elected speaker, but said after Tuesday's vote: "I'm still a state senator, and I will keep on keeping on."

The winner, Ramsey, thanked Wilder for his service to the state.

Wilder was famous for goofy, disjointed speeches, but also for his light, bipartisan touch in guiding the Senate. His mantra was "The Senate is the Senate."

Wilder's years leading the Senate make him the longest-serving presiding officer of a legislative chamber in modern U.S. history, according to researchers at the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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Associated Press writer Erik Schelzig and AP photographer Mark Humphrey contributed to this report.