KENTUCKY — First there were calls for censure now there is a petition calling for Republican Savannah Maddox to resign.
Former Republican gubernatorial candidate William Woods is spearheading the petition and says it has picked up more than 1,000 signatures in 24 hours.
“She has done nothing to help Kentuckians. She has not done her job. She has not even tried to work with Governor Andy Beshear." Woods added, “There is no place in our party or in Kentucky for that matter for the hate that she is spewing."
This comes after Maddox has come under fire for actions during the coronavirus pandemic— from posting pictures with white supremacists and organizers of the protest that led to hanging Governor Beshear in effigy—now old tweets have surfaced. Petition organizers say there is a pattern of racism here.
“You just have to look at how the rhetoric has been escalating from these groups and Representative Maddox and some of her colleagues in the house I think have poured gasoline on this fire. And I think it’s time for us to step back and think about what’s really helpful for Kentucky at this time and I think what is helpful is calm responsible leadership," said Woods.
House Democrats have called for censure from House Republicans, but have not received a response yet.
In a Tweet, Maddox called the censure an attempt to shore up political cover for the economic devastation caused by Beshear.
House Minority Leader Joni Jenkins says that isn't the case.
“I think it was diverting a little bit, a little it of diversion what we talked about yesterday I think we are all concerned about the economic impact that we’ve seen from this pandemic and I know all my colleagues
in the house and senate have been overwhelmed by the number of folks that are having difficulties navigating the unemployment system."
As bipartisan calls for Maddox continue to increase, Jenkins says it isn't her decision to make. “There have been folks on all sides of this that have encouraged me to call for her resignation I believe that is reserved for the most heinous of actions, I believe districts have the right who represents them."
Woods believes something needs to be done.
“This is the responsibility of the GOP leadership to say look we do not support this type of behavior we don’t support this type of language to toward the Muslim faith, toward the black community, toward the Jewish community. Savannah Maddox does not represent the republican party of Kentucky and if they don’t do that then we might as well assume the Kentucky GOP is finished.”
Maddox is running unopposed for re-election this year. A censure would mean the legislative body as a whole is condemning the actions of an individual and giving them a chance to apologize. Maddox would not be removed from office.