Lt. Gov. Ramsey Declares Candidacy For Governor
Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, a Republican state senator from Blountville and the Speaker of the Tennessee Senate, made it official here Friday night, announcing formally that he is seeking to be the GOP candidate for governor in 2010.
Ramsey made the announcement at the annual Lincoln Day dinner hosted by the Greene County Republican Women at the General Morgan Inn.
His job on the program was to have been to introduce the keynote speaker, state Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith -- which he did, after making his own announcement. (Please see accompanying article.)
Ramsey had been mentioned as a likely gubernatorial candidate for several weeks in various publications, including The Greeneville Sun.
He spoke after getting an enthusiastic introduction from state Rep. David Hawk, R-5th, of Greeneville, and after three other GOP candidates for governor -- Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, and U.S. Rep. Zack Wamp, R-Chattanooga -- had also made brief remarks.
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Haslam cites executive experience in launching campaign for governor
Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam declared his intent today to run for Tennessee governor in 2010, saying he's ready for the double-duty "marathon" of campaigning statewide while continuing his second term in local office.
Haslam, who was joined by his family for the breakfast announcement at Pete's Coffee Shop downtown, cited his six years in the city's top executive office, as well as his corporate background, as the sort of experience needed in such financially "critical times." The state is forecasting a $1 billion budget shortfall for the coming fiscal year.
"I think it does help having executive experience," said Haslam, citing Gov. Phil Bredesen's own tenure as mayor of Nashville after years as a successful businessman.
He cited Knoxville's recent successes with recruiting new employers such as national food distributor Sysco Corp. and Vermont-based Green Mountain Coffee Roasters as the sort of short-term approach needed to improve Tennessee's economy. Long term, Haslam said improving the state's education status nationally also is a priority.
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Frist Bows out; Gibbons will run for Tennessee Governor
Attorney general says he'll focus on crime and schools By Jody Callahan (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Bill Frist is out and Bill Gibbons is in.
The race to become Tennessee's next governor took a huge step forward Sunday when the former U.S. Senate majority leader said he wouldn't run, triggering the immediate announcement from the Shelby County district attorney general.
Frist's decision had long been anticipated by Gibbons, 58, and other state Republicans considering a run to replace Gov. Phil Bredesen when his second term expires in 2010.
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Wamp will seek Governor's seat
U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., today asked members of the Hamilton County Pachyderm Club today to join in to help elect him governor in 2010. Meanwhile, State Sen. Andy Berke, D-Chattanooga, said Monday he is actively exploring a gubernatorial bid.
Rep. Wamp announced this morning that he will be running for Tennessee governor in 2010.
“I believe the time is at hand for me to expand my service to help even more people in our great state by pursuing the office of governor,” he said in a written statement.
Rep. Wamp said he plans to travel his congressional district, Tennessee’s 3rd, in the coming days, and to file paperwork to begin raising money for the gubernatorial race.
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McMillian in governor race
Former legislator, Bredesen adviser makes it official: She's 'in it to win it'
Kim McMillan's quest for the Tennessee governor's office enters a new phase effective today.
The Clarksville Democrat is making it official that she will seek her party's nomination to succeed Gov. Phil Bredesen in 2010, she told The Leaf-Chronicle.
"I'm no longer exploring a run for governor. I am now officially in the race. I'm in it to win it," McMillan, now 47, said.
After long speculation, last April McMillan told The Leaf-Chronicle for the first time that she was interested in a gubernatorial bid and had formed an exploratory committee.
Since then, the former state House majority leader, former senior adviser to Bredesen and current executive director for Community and Business Relations at Austin Peay State University has been making appearances across Tennessee to gauge support and get her name, face and message out there.
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Gubernatorial candidate bringing out the big guns
Democratic candidate for governor adds major media player and pollster to his team
Memo to all you politicians out there that thought the Democratic primary for governor was only going to be seriously contested by Knoxville businessman Doug Horne, former Clarksville legislator Kim McMillan or even Democratic House Leader Gary Odom: This Ward Cammack guy is serious about getting your vote.
Cammack, a prominent member of Nashville's financial services industry, told NashvillePost.com earlier this year that he was entering the 2010 governor's race. Not very well known, if at all, in most Democratic circles, Cammack's announcement didn't seem to ruffle the feathers of any other potential candidates.
That should change with this bit of inside baseball news.
The powerhouse political firm of Murphy Putnam Media has joined up with Cammack's campaign, according to the Cammack team. Haven't heard of them? They did a few other political campaigns you may remember like Gov. Phil Bredesen, Mayor Karl Dean, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and a fellow named Barack Obama media.
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