HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Sumner County libraries have a new voice: conservative political activist Riley Gaines.

On Monday night, Sumner County commissioners debated reducing the size of their library board from nine members to seven.

Instead, commissioners voted overwhelmingly to keep it the same and nominated Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer who is known for fighting against transgender policies.

For all intents and purposes, Gaines is replacing board chair Joanna Daniels, whose term was set to end this month. Daniels was not reappointed by the county commission.

“To have Riley Gaines to carry the torch is a huge honor to me,” Daniels told News 2. “I’m blown away right now. If people thought I was loud, Riley Gaines is going to take this (and make it louder).”

At the forefront of Sumner County’s book debate, Daniels has pushed a collection policy that removes any materials with transgender or sexually explicit materials from library shelves.

“We're not against anybody," Daniels said in August. "We are curating a collection to fit in our library that fits the community needs and does not believe any possible way of state law."

Daniels’ policy has repeatedly failed to pass, but she kept bringing it back. With a new majority on the library board, highlighted by Gaines, Daniels believes her policy can cross the finish line. 

“The support was just an outpouring," Daniels said. "The people of Sumner County showed up, and they demanded that people that got elected on the conservative platform actually act according to what their platform was."

“Riley and I have been talking a lot over the last two years,” Daniels continued. “She is very well aware of the battle that I was up against. In this past year, I hope that I have opened up the eyes of the citizens of Sumner County.”

Daniels isn't concerned about Gaines being present for board meetings, despite the 25-year-old being a new mother who often travels around the country.

“Riley is a woman of full integrity," Daniels said. "I don’t think she’s going to take anything on that she can’t fully commit to."

Meanwhile, Sumner County Commissioner (District 23) Tim Jones shared this statement with News 2 on Tuesday:

Riley Gaines will be a strong advocate for Christian, conservative, traditional family values for our community. To be clear, there is no hate from the conservative side of the aisle. The pushback against the more progressive members of our commission should be seen as a referendum on what the community supports. Some are listening, some are not. Promoting and normalizing such behavior cannot be funded, promoted or supported in any way by our tax dollars.

Gaines will join Steve Wasilowski, a Hendersonville business owner, as the new faces on the library board. The freshly aligned board is scheduled to meet again on Nov. 12. 

News 2 attempted to contact Gaines but has not heard back at of publication. She confirmed her appointment on her X page.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/former-sumner-county-library-board-chair-reacts-to-riley-gaines-appointment/