Mary Pruitt
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
from the 58th district
In office
1985–2013
Preceded byCharles J. Walker
Succeeded byHarold M. Love Jr.
Personal details
Born
Mary Johnson[1]

(1934-02-03)February 3, 1934
Brentwood, Tennessee, US
DiedSeptember 19, 2020(2020-09-19) (aged 86)
Nashville, Tennessee, US
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1960; died 1985)​
Children3
Alma materTennessee State University[2]

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]

References

  1. ↑ McBride, Robert Martin; Robison, Dan Merritt (1975). Biographical Directory of the Tennessee General Assembly: 1971-1991: 1971-1991. ISBN 9780874020083. Archived from the original on 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  2. ↑ "Pruitt's Widow Reveals Plans To Seek 58th Seat". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. October 8, 1985. p. 14. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Votesmart.com.-Mary Pruitt". Archived from the original on 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  4. 1 2 "House Democratic Caucus". tnhdc.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  5. ↑ Wright, Sharon D. (September 2000). "The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators" (PDF). The Journal of Black Studies. 31 (1): 3–18. doi:10.1177/002193470003100101. S2CID 144185212. Retrieved 2009-03-19..
  6. ↑ "Pruitt, Mary". Our Campaigns. Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  7. ↑ "Pruitt, Mary". Tennessee General Assembly. Archived from the original on 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  8. ↑ Allison, Natalie. "Former Nashville state Rep. Mary Pruitt dies after fall". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  9. ↑ "State Representative Mary J. Pruitt Obituary (2020) the Tennessean".
  10. ↑ "Former State Representative Mary Pruitt passes away". Archived from the original on 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  11. ↑ "Pruitt's Campaign Spending May Have Broken Law". WTVF NewsChannel 5. 11 July 2006. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  12. ↑ "Board Fines Lawmaker for Campaign Spending". WTVF NewsChannel 5. 12 October 2006. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 2009-03-19..
  13. ↑ Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. "Minutes of October 2006" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2007-01-07. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  14. ↑ Rodgers, John. "Election board dismisses $10K fine against Pruitt". The City Paper. Retrieved 2009-03-24..
  15. ↑ Frank, Terry. "Audits Good for Everyone". terryfrank.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  16. ↑ "Lawmaker Says She Works Free, Pockets $43K". WTVF NewsChannel 5. 26 July 2006. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  17. ↑ "Mary Pruitt.org". Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  18. ↑ Citizens Against Government Waste (21 April 2008). "2008 Tennessee Pork Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 13, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
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