Frank S. Niceley (born March 3, 1947) is a Republican member of the Tennessee State Senate representing the 8th district, consisting of Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson and Union counties.
Frank Niceley | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Tennessee Senate from the 8th district | |
| Assumed office January 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Doug Overbey |
| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 17th district | |
| In office 2005–2012 | |
| Preceded by | Jamie Woodson |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Farmer |
| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 35th district | |
| In office 1988–1992 | |
| Preceded by | Lynn G. Lawson |
| Succeeded by | Monty E Mires |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Frank Samuel Niceley March 3, 1947 Strawberry Plains, Tennessee |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence(s) | Knoxville, Tennessee |
| Alma mater | University of Tennessee (BS) |
| Profession | Farmer businessman politician |
Niceley had previously served in the Tennessee House of Representatives. In the House, he represented District 17, which encompassed portions of Knox County and the majority of Jefferson County.
Early life, education, and career
editNiceley is a native of Knox County and of the district he served in the state House of Representatives. He was raised around agriculture. After graduating from Jefferson High School, Niceley attended the University of Tennessee, where he received a bachelor's degree in soil science in 1969. Subsequently, he and his wife, Cyndie, moved their residence to neighboring Jefferson County, where he began his career as a farmer and businessman.
Tennessee House of Representatives
editNiceley served in the Tennessee House from 1988 to 1992 (96th and 97th Tennessee General Assemblies). He was elected again in 2004 to serve in the 104th General Assembly, and won re-election in 2006 and 2008 to serve in the 105th and 106th General Assemblies. During his time as a State Representative, he has been a member of the House Agriculture Committee, the House Conservation and Environment Committee, House Environment Subcommittee, and the House Parks and Tourism Subcommittee.
Locally, Niceley serves with the Tennessee Hunter Alliance, and the Farm Bureau, which enables financial services to farmers.[1]
Niceley has argued against making cockfighting a felony in Tennessee and helped defeat a bill that would have increased the $50 fine for cockfighting to $2,500, saying that cockfighting is a cultural tradition. He said: "They pay their taxes. They're not bothering anybody. I don't know what the big deal is." He also noted that cockfighting brings in tourist dollars from other states. "They buy food, they stay in hotels, they buy gas," he said.[2][3]
Statements and controversies
edit2009
editIn 2009, Niceley was one of four Republican members of the Tennessee House to announce plans to join a legal action to force President Barack Obama to release his birth certificate and prove his citizenship.[4][5]
2012
editDuring a Tennessee House committee hearing in February 2012, Niceley declared that coyotes had been introduced to Tennessee by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) for purpose of controlling the wild deer population, but had subsequently become pests that attack livestock. This allegation was investigated by PolitiFact Tennessee. PolitiFact determined that coyotes had arrived in the state naturally, without any involvement by the TWRA. Stating that Niceley had repeated an "urban myth" that had been debunked previously, PolitiFact characterized his statement as a "real howler" and categorized it as "Pants On Fire", indicating a statement that "is not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim".[6]
2017
editNiceley rejects mainstream views of climate science. At a December 2017 meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), he told E&E News reporter Zack Colman: "I think the whole premise that carbon dioxide is a pollutant is flawed. It's not a pollutant, it's just as natural as oxygen. The trees and plants depend on CO2 just the same way we depend on oxygen."[7]
2022
editIn 2022, while speaking in favor of a bill that would make camping on any public property punishable by a $50 fine, Niceley cited Adolf Hitler as an example of someone who worked his way out of homelessness. Niceley stated, "So, all these people — it's not a dead end, they can come out of this, these homeless camps, and have a productive life or in Hitler's case, a very unproductive life."[8][9]
References
edit- ^ "TN General Assembly - Senator Frank S. Niceley". capitol.tn.gov. Tennessee General Assembly. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013.
- ^ Harrison, Kate (May 21, 2011). "Bill to boost cockfighting penalty again defeated: May is prime cockfighting season". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Chattanooga, Tenn. p. B1. ProQuest 867912119.
- ^ Pacelle, Wayne (June 23, 2011). "Other Views: Tennessee laxity lures criminals to fights". Opinion. The Tennessean. Vol. 107, no. 174. Nashville, TN: Gannett Co., Inc. p. A10. Newspapers.com 283855862.
- ^ Emery, Theo (February 13, 2009). "Four Tennessee legislators want Obama to prove citizenship / 4 legislators to be part of Obama suit". Local News. The Tennessean. Vol. 105, no. 44. Nashville, TN: Gannett Media Corp. p. B2. ISSN 1053-6590. ProQuest 239917425, Newspapers.com 283321442.
- ^ Woods, Jeff (February 13, 2009). "Democrats Ridicule Lawmaker for Demanding Obama's Birth Certificate". Nashville Scene. Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
- ^ "House committee chairman claims state agency delivered coyotes to cull deer population". PolitiFact Tennessee. February 23, 2012. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012.
- ^ Colman, Zack (December 11, 2017). "POLITICS: Inside the battle for the right's climate conscience". www.eenews.net. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020.
- ^ Metzger, Bryan (April 14, 2022). "Tennessee Republican uses Hitler as an example of a homeless person who 'went on to lead a life that got him in the history books' while pushing to criminalize camping on public property". Business Insider. Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ Ramirez, Alejandro (April 13, 2022). "Anti-Camping Bill Passes Senate Vote". Nashville Scene. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
External links
edit- Rep. Frank S. Niceley, Tennessee General Assembly web site
- Frank Nicely said, What?, Frank S. Niceley's blog
- Sen. Frank Niceley, Twitter account