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Janis Baird Sontany
Janis Baird Sontany (b. August 9, 1946) is a former Democratic member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing the 53rd District from 2002-2012.
Sontany served as a member of the Metro Council of the City of Nashville from 1995 to 2003. She joined the Tennessee State House of Representatives in 2003 and served in that position until 2012.
Sontany is a retired Customer Service Representative for DuPont Corporation.
Sontany received her diploma from Glencliff High School in 1964. She then attended the University of Tennessee - Nashville.
"Skirtgate"
At a meeting of Democratic politicians over the June 12-13, 2010 weekend, Sontany said of women Republican lawmakers in Tennessee, "You have to lift their skirts to find out if they are women. You sure can't find out by how they vote!"[1]
These remarks sparked a controversy that the press in Tennessee dubbed "Skirt-gate."[2] Sontany said of her comment, "That was a glib, off-the-cuff remark that I made that I really wish I had not done. It was not one of my better thought-out statements and I did not mean it to offend. If I have offended anyone, I'm certainly sorry that I did."[1]
National conservative blogger Michelle Malkin said, "When liberals can’t handle GOP women, they infantilize, sexualize, demonize, and dehumanize them."[3]
Committee assignments
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Sontany served on these committees:
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Sontany served on these committees:
- Children and Youth Committee, Tennessee General Assembly
- Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, Tennessee House
- Judiciary Committee, Tennessee House, Secretary
- Subcommittee on Criminal Practice and Procedure, Vice Chair
Elections
2012
Sontany did not run for re-election in 2012.[4]
2010
Sontany was re-elected to the 53rd District seat in 2010. She defeated independent Daniel Lewis and Republican Tonya Miller in the general election on November 2, 2010. She was unopposed in the August 5 primary.[5][6]
2008
On Nov. 4, 2008, Sontany won re-election to the 53rd District Seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives.[7]
Sontany raised $35,555 for her campaign.[8]
| Tennessee House of Representatives, District 53 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
 Janis Baird Sontany (D)
|
14,513 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Sontany has two children.
External links
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002
- Tennessee Votes profile
- State Surge - Legislative and voting track record
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nashville Scene, "Sontany Issues Non-Apology Apology in Skirtgate," June 14, 2010
- ↑ Nashville Post, "Skirtgate," January 14, 2010
- ↑ Michelle Malkin, "TN Dem attacks female Republicans: “You have to lift their skirts to find out if they are women.”," June 14, 2010
- ↑ The Republic, "Sen. Andy Berke becomes 7th Democrat to forgo re-election bid for legislative seat," February 28, 2012
- ↑ Unofficial Democratic state representative primary results from the TN Secretary of State, 2010
- ↑ Official House Election Results, 2010
- ↑ Election Results, Tennessee House of Representatives, District 53
- ↑ District 53 Tennessee House Spending, 2008
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Tennessee House of Representatives District 53 2003–2012 |
Succeeded by Jason Powell (D) |
