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Article published May 7, 2008 State Rep. McCord says he allowed smoking in state office
From staff and wire reports
State Rep. Joe McCord, R-Maryville, has run afoul of a law prohibiting smoking in state buildings.
McCord acknowledged Tuesday that he and others had been smoking in his legislative office suite in violation of state law.
“The answer is yes,” he said. “People have smoked in my office. That started back in January. Some secretaries asked if they could smoke in the office (instead of going out in the cold). I said, ‘That’s up to you,’ I should have told them no. ... It really doesn’t matter what I think of it. That’s the provision of the law.”
McCord confirmed he had smoked, too.
“I have smoked before,” he said. “I don’t smoke much, but I have smoked before.”
A state law passed two years ago prohibiting smoking in state buildings. McCord voted for the bill.
“There was smoking in my office,” McCord said. “In compliance with the law, there will be a warning issued to my office. I just spoken with them at Workforce and Labor Development. There have been 11 warnings issued over the years. I’m sure I will receive my warning. They’ll put it the in mail, I’ll get it (today), and it just won’t happen any more. I’ll not allow anyone to smoke in the office.”
A Nashville television news crew had filmed individuals smoking inside McCord’s office.