Mary Pruitt Explained

Mary Pruitt
State House1:Tennessee
District1:58th
Term Start1:1985
Term End1:2013
Preceded1:Charles J. Walker
Succeeded1:Harold M. Love Jr.
Party:Democratic
Birth Name:Mary Johnson[1]
Birth Date:3 February 1934
Birth Place:Brentwood, Tennessee, US
Death Place:Nashville, Tennessee, US
Alma Mater:Tennessee State University[2]
Children:3

Mary Pruitt (February 3, 1934 – September 19, 2020) was an American politician and Tennessee State Representative from Nashville, representing the 58th district from 1985 to 2013.

Biography

Pruitt was born in Brentwood, Tennessee in 1934.[3] A 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.[4] [5] [6]

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[7] and matriculated, but did not graduate from, the University of Northern Colorado.[4]

"She really was an advocate for education," U.S. representative for Nashville Harold Love Jr. said of Pruitt. Pruitt, a retired teacher with both an undergraduate and graduate degree from Tennessee State University, "realized the importance of that [education]." "She knew that if kids were given the opportunity to have a good learning environment, then of course the world was theirs."[8]

She died after a fall on September 19, 2020, at the age of 86.[9] [10]

Investigations

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.[11] Rep. Pruitt denied the charges, charging entrapment, but was fined $10,000 for failing to appear before the Registry of Election Finance (later reversed).[12] [13] Pruitt's attorney argued that utilities were routinely disconnected to discourage vandalism.[14]

Investigations of public records also found several potential conflicts of interest. A scholarship fund which Pruitt directed awarded a scholarship to her relative. A legislative earmark Pruitt requested awarded $55,000 to a corporation she founded. Pruitt requested and received a per diem allowance for travel and lodging, despite living two miles from her office.[15] [16] [17] [18]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Biographical Directory of the Tennessee General Assembly: 1971-1991: 1971-1991 . 9780874020083 . 2020-09-21 . 2020-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200923050344/https://books.google.ca/books?id=YKJLAQAAMAAJ&dq=Charles+Pruitt+tennessee+rep+born&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Charles+Pruitt+tennessee . live . McBride . Robert Martin . Robison . Dan Merritt . 1975 .
  2. News: Pruitt's Widow Reveals Plans To Seek 58th Seat. The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. October 8, 1985. 14. September 20, 2020. September 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200923050344/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59692083/the-tennessean/. live.
  3. Web site: Votesmart.com.-Mary Pruitt . 2020-09-21 . 2020-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200923050344/https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/24437/mary-pruitt . live .
  4. Web site: House Democratic Caucus . tnhdc.com . 2009-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717064344/http://www.tnhdc.com/view_rep.php?id=42 . 2011-07-17 . dead .
  5. The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators . Sharon D. . Wright . The Journal of Black Studies . 31 . 1 . 3–18 . September 2000 . 10.1177/002193470003100101 . 144185212 . 2009-03-19. .
  6. Web site: Pruitt, Mary . Our Campaigns . 2009-03-19 . 2011-06-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110615094755/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=60084 . live .
  7. Web site: Pruitt, Mary . Tennessee General Assembly . 2009-03-24 . 2020-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200923050400/http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/house/members/h58.html . live .
  8. Web site: Allison. Natalie. Former Nashville state Rep. Mary Pruitt dies after fall. 2020-09-22. The Tennessean. en-US.
  9. Web site: State Representative Mary J. Pruitt Obituary (2020) the Tennessean.
  10. Web site: Former State Representative Mary Pruitt passes away . 2020-09-21 . 2020-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200923050359/https://www.wsmv.com/news/former-state-representative-mary-pruitt-passes-away/article_739cddda-fb9a-11ea-9058-9f4dc1001219.html . live .
  11. News: Pruitt's Campaign Spending May Have Broken Law . WTVF NewsChannel 5 . 11 July 2006 . 2009-03-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120214102215/http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=5419372 . 14 February 2012.
  12. News: Board Fines Lawmaker for Campaign Spending . WTVF NewsChannel 5 . 12 October 2006 . 2009-03-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120214102219/http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=5528265 . 14 February 2012. .
  13. Web site: Minutes of October 2006 . Tennessee Registry of Election Finance . 2009-03-19 . 2007-01-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070107002039/http://www.state.tn.us/tref/forms/2006-10_minutes.pdf . live .
  14. News: Election board dismisses $10K fine against Pruitt. . John . Rodgers . 2009-03-24. .
  15. Web site: Audits Good for Everyone. Frank. Terry. terryfrank.com. 2009-03-19. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724092956/http://terryfrank.net/?p=89. 2011-07-24.
  16. News: Lawmaker Says She Works Free, Pockets $43K. WTVF NewsChannel 5. 26 July 2006. 2009-03-19. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120214102239/http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=5419440. 14 February 2012.
  17. Web site: Mary Pruitt.org . 2009-03-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110727070135/http://www.marypruitt.org/ . 2011-07-27 .
  18. Web site: 2008 Tennessee Pork Report . . Citizens Against Government Waste . 21 April 2008 . 2009-03-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090113091038/http://www.cagw.org/site/DocServer/TennPorkReport2008.pdf?docID=3081 . January 13, 2009 .

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