Ron Ramsey | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ramsey in 2006 | |
| 49th Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee Speaker of the Tennessee Senate | |
| In office January 20, 2007 – January 9, 2017 | |
| Governor | Phil Bredesen Bill Haslam |
| Preceded by | John Wilder |
| Succeeded by | Randy McNally |
| Member of the Tennessee Senate from the 4th district | |
| In office January 1997 – January 9, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Holcomb |
| Succeeded by | Jon Lundberg |
| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 1st district | |
| In office January 1993 – January 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Holcomb |
| Succeeded by | Steve Godsey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ronald Lynn Ramsey November 20, 1955 Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Sindy Parker (m. 1980) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | East Tennessee State University (BS) |
Ronald Lynn Ramsey (/ˈræmzi/; born November 20, 1955) is an American auctioneer, politician, and lobbyist, who served as the 49th lieutenant governor of Tennessee and speaker of the State Senate from 2007 to 2017. A Republican from Blountville in East Tennessee, Ramsey succeeded long-term Democratic Lieutenant Governor John S. Wilder in 2007, who had held the office of lieutenant governor since 1971.
Tennesseans do not elect their lieutenant governor; rather, the speaker of the Senate, who is first in the line of succession to the governor, is granted the title by statute.
Ron Ramsey announced that he would not seek re-election in 2016, and would instead retire from politics. State Representative Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol) won the primary election on August 4, 2016, to take Ramsey's seat.