Local News

ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM ACROSS THE STATE BACK BILL HASLAM FOR GOVERNOR

Coalition Supports Mayor for His Leadership, Experience at the Local Level and Temperament

NASHVILLE – One hundred and fourteen elected and former elected officials from across the state endorsed today Republican gubernatorial candidate and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam’s bid for governor, saying he has the right experience, the right plan and the right temperament to lead the state as its next governor.

Haslam is currently conducting on his statewide Early Voting Tour, and he knows the right way to develop a plan is take your ideas to the people and include them in the process. His blueprint for making Tennessee the No. 1 state in the Southeast for high quality jobs – released last month – was developed from Haslam’s creative solutions, taking them to the small business owners, parents, educators and various professionals and listening, learning and receiving their input.

“Bill Haslam knows how government works at the local level, and he’s well-versed in our challenges and opportunities,” said Shelby County Commissioner Mike Carpenter. “He believes that the most functional government is close to home and understands that the state can be more of a burden than a help in some situations.”

“I’m supporting Bill Haslam because of his record of management in Knoxville and his conservative fiscal leadership that has helped Knoxville weather these difficult times,” Sevier County Trustee Jettie Clabo said. “The state faces some critical challenges in the next few years, and I believe he has the right experience to lead us through tough times because he’s done it before.”

“Above all else, Bill Haslam has the right temperament to lead us,” Hamblen County Mayor David Purkey said. “He’s shown that he can make the difficult and right decisions that will ultimately lead to a position of strength even though they hurt at the time. I trust Bill Haslam to work with local leaders as he directs our state through the challenging times ahead.”

The Elected Officials Coalition is just one of many coalitions that have backed Haslam’s bid, including: farmers, veterans, young professionals, students and business leaders.

“I’m grateful for the support of so many men and women around the state who have been chosen to represent Tennesseans at various levels of government,” Haslam said. “With less than 10 days before Aug. 5, their support will be critical as we work to get out the vote.”

Elected Officials for Haslam:

• Williamson County Clerk Elaine Anderson
• Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson
• Knox County School Board Member Sam Anderson
• Knox County Commissioner Bud Armstrong
• Knox County Court Clerk Foster Arnett, Jr.
• Madison County Commissioner Jimmy Arnold
• Former Halls Mayor Sammie Arnold
• Former State Senator Ben Atchley
• Former U.S. Senator Howard H. Baker
• Knox County Assessor of Property Phil Ballard
• Morristown Mayor Sami Barille
• Franklin Alderman Clyde Barnhill
• Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk Debbie McMillan Barrett
• Hamblen County Trustee-Elect John Baskette
• Blount County Sheriff Jimbo Berrong
• Memphis City Councilman Bill Boyd
• Knox County Commissioner Richard Briggs
• Fairview Mayor Ken Brison
• State Representative Harry Brooks
• Knox County Commissioner Mike Brown
• Cumberland County Clerk Jule Bryson
• Shelby County Commissioner Wyatt Bunker
• State Senator Tim Burchett
• Shelby County Commissioner Mike Carpenter
• Knox County School Board Member Karen Carson
• Sevier County Trustee Jettie Clabo
• Hamblen County Register of Deeds Jim Clawson
• Oak Hill Vice Mayor Jennifer Claxton
• Hamblen County Commission Vice Chairman Guy Collins
• Former Red Bank Mayor Howard Cotter
• Sumner County School Board Member Beth Cox
• Blount County Clerk Roy Crawford, Jr.
• Brentwood Mayor Betsy Crossley
• Former Clarksville Mayor Ted Crozier
• Williamson County Trustee Joey Davis
• Former Dyersburg Alderman Bob Dean
• Congressman Jimmy Duncan
• Nashville Metro Councilman Randy Foster
• Former Cheatham County Mayor Karl Francis
• Hamblen County Commissioner Doyle Fullington
• Former Columbia Mayor Bill Gentner
• Atoka Councilman Brett Giannini
• Knoxville Councilman Duane Grieve
• Former State Representative Doug Gunnels
• Knox County Commissioner Mike Hammond
• State Representative Mike Harrison
• Hamblen County Commissioner & Retired School Superintendent Herbert Harville
• State Representative Beth Harwell
• Blount County Circuit Court Clerk Tom Hatcher
• State Representative Ryan Haynes
• Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill
• Parrottsville Mayor Ronnie Hommell
• Jackson City Court Clerk Daryl Hubbard
• Maryville City Councilman Tommy Hunt
• Williamson County Juvenile Court Clerk Brenda Hyden
• Hamblen County Commissioner Louis “Doe” Jarvis
• Madison County Commissioner Arthur Johnson, Jr.
• Former Fairview Mayor Stuart Johnson
• Knox County Sheriff J.J. Jones
• Former State Representative Tim Joyce
• Henderson Mayor Bobby King
• Knox County School Board Member Indya Kincannon
• Dyersburg Alderman Bob Kirk
• Knox County Commissioner Craig Leuthold
• Blount County Commissioner Mike Lewis
• Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Long
• Former Lincoln County Mayor Jerry Mansfield
• Hamblen County Commissioner Tom Massey
• Knox County Criminal and Domestic Relations Court Clerk Joy McCroskey
• State Representative Steve McDaniel
• Clarksville City Councilman Deanna McLaughlin
• Cocke County Mayor Iliff McMahan
• Oak Hill Mayor Austin McMullen
• Maryville City Councilman Fred Metz
• Alcoa Mayor Don Mull
• Knox County School Board Member Dan Murphy
• Knox County Commissioner Tony Norman
• Franklin Alderman Ann Petersen
• Hamblen County Commissioner Nancy Phillips
• Clarksville Mayor Johnny Piper
• Halls Mayor Eugene Pugh
• Hamblen County Mayor David Purkey
• Former Hamblen County Sheriff Otto Purkey
• Knox County Circuit and General Sessions Court Clerk Cathy Quist
• Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale
• Wayne County Mayor Jason Rich
• Knox County School Board Member Patrick Richmond
• Knoxville Councilman Marilyn Roddy
• Former Memphis Mayor Jim Rout
• Former Bolivar Mayor Bobby Sain
• Hamblen County Commissioner Reece Sexton
• Franklin Mayor John Schroer
• Knox County Commissioner Ed Shouse
• Cumberland County Assessor of Property David Simcox
• Knox County Trustee Fred Sisk
• Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith
• Knox County Commissioner R. Larry Smith
• Knox County Public Defender Mark Stephens
• Former Huntingdon Mayor Bill Stout
• Maryville City Councilman (and former Mayor) Joe Swann
• Madison County Commissioner Doug Stephenson
• Knox County School Board Member Rex Stooksbury
• Knox County Commission Chairman Thomas Tank Strickland
• McNairy County Mayor Jai Templeton
• Cumberland County Trustee Carolyn Turner
• Dyer County Commissioner John Uitendaal
• Williamson County Register of Deeds Sadie Wade
• Hamblen County Commissioner Dana Wampler
• Maryville Vice Mayor Andy White
• Cocke County Constable Nathan White
• Hamblen County Clerk Linda Wilder
• Former Hawkins County Executive Heiskell Winstead
• Knoxville Councilman Chris Woodhull
• Knox County Commissioner Dave Wright

Mayor Haslam is the two-term Republican Mayor of Knoxville, reelected in 2007 with 87 percent of the vote. A hardworking, conservative public servant, Haslam led Knoxville to become one of the top ten metropolitan areas for business and expansion, while reducing the city’s debt, tripling the rainy day fund, reducing the number of city employees to the lowest amount in 15 years and bringing property taxes to the lowest rate in 50 years.  An executive leader with a proven record of success, he helped grow his family’s small business from 800 employees into one of Tennessee’s largest companies with 14,000 employees. For more information on Bill Haslam, please visit www.BillHaslam.com.

MAYOR BILL HASLAM’S JULY 27-28 EARLY VOTING TOUR SCHEDULE

Stops in: Knoxville, Loudon, Athens, Englewood, Madisonville, Maryville, Dandridge, Morristown and Jefferson City

Wednesday, July 28

Mayor Haslam’s Early Voting Tour will make stops in Knoxville, Loudoun, Athens, Englewood, Madisonville and Maryville.

7:30 – 8:10 a.m. EST         Mayor Haslam will stop and speak at a meet and greet at Pete’s Coffee Shop in Knoxville. Media invited to attend.

LOCATION:         540 Union Ave, Knoxville

9 – 9:30 a.m.                       Mayor Haslam will stop into the Jewelry Television studios in Knoxville. Media invited to attend.

LOCATION:         10001 Kingston Pike Southwest, Knoxville

10:30 – 11 a.m.                  Mayor Haslam will speak to supporters at the Loudon County Courthouse. Media invited to attend.

LOCATION:         101 Mulberry St, Loudon

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Mayor Haslam will stop into the local restaurant Mexi Wing and then attend a meet and greet at the McMinn Co. GOP headquarters. Media invited to attend.

LOCATION:         206 N. White St, Athens

12:35 – 12:50 p.m.            Mayor Haslam will meet and speak to employees in the McMinn Co. Courthouse Annex building. Media invited to attend.

LOCATION:         5 S. Hill St, Athens

1 – 1:25 p.m.                      Mayor Haslam will walk through Englewood City Hall and Police Department. Media invited to attend.

LOCATION:         103 N. Niota Rd and 101 N. Niota Rd, Englewood

1:45 – 2:15 p.m.                Mayor Haslam will attend and speak at a meet and greet in Madisonville. Media invited to attend.

LOCATION:         Bert’s Hometown Grill, 902 Tellico St. S, Madisonville

3 – 3:20 p.m.                      Mayor Haslam will meet Cherokee Mill Wright employees in Maryville. Media invited to attend.

LOCATION:         1034 Ross Dr, Maryville

4 – 4:30 p.m.                      Mayor Haslam will attend and speak at a meet and greet at the Blount Co. Courthouse. Media invited to attend.

LOCATION:         327 Court St, Maryville

Thursday, July 29*

*no bus this day

Mayor Haslam’s Early Voting Tour will make stops in Dandridge, Morristown and Jefferson City.

9:30 – 10 a.m. EST            Mayor Haslam will stop and rally supporters at the Jefferson County Courthouse. Media invited to attend.

LOCATION:         202 W. Main St, Dandridge

10:45 – 11:25 a.m.            Mayor Haslam will walk through the Downtown Farmers Market and then stop into various business including Java Garden Restaurant and the Little Dutch Restaurant. Media invited to attend.

LOCATION:         202 W. Morris Blvd, Morristown

12 – 12:45 p.m.                  Mayor Haslam will attend and speak at a meet and greet lunch in Jefferson City. Media invited to attend.

LOCATION:         City Community Center, 1247 N. Highway 92, Jefferson City

2:45 – 3:15 p.m.                Mayor Haslam will cast his ballot in the Republican Primary. Media invited to attend.

LOCATION:         City/County Building, Knoxville

Mayor Haslam is the two-term Republican Mayor of Knoxville, reelected in 2007 with 87 percent of the vote. A hardworking, conservative public servant, Haslam led Knoxville to become one of the top ten metropolitan areas for business and expansion, while reducing the city’s debt, tripling the rainy day fund, reducing the number of city employees to the lowest amount in 15 years and bringing property taxes to the lowest rate in 50 years.  An executive leader with a proven record of success, he helped grow his family’s small business from 800 employees into one of Tennessee’s largest companies with 14,000 employees.

For more information on Bill Haslam, please visit www.BillHaslam.com.

HASLAM ANNOUNCES STATEWIDE NEIGHBORHOOD KNOCK FOR THIS SATURDAY

Campaign Volunteers to Knock on Doors across State Marking the Final Countdown to Aug. 5

KNOXVILLE – Knoxville Mayor and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam knocked on thousands of doors in nearly 150 communities across the state during the first 19 months of his campaign, and he’s now asking his strong group of campaign volunteers across the state to join him in knocking on doors in the days leading up to August 5.

This Saturday, July 31, Haslam campaign staff and volunteers will take to the streets and backcountry roads to knock on doors and ask their neighbors to vote for Bill Haslam.  Those interested in volunteering should contact their nearest Bill Haslam for Governor Office or call the Campaign Headquarters at (615) 254-4799.

The statewide door knock is indicative of the size, organization and dedication of the campaign Haslam has built over the past year and a half.  No other campaign can match the intensity, passion and determination Haslam sparks in those willing to dedicate their time to his campaign.

Haslam has knocked on doors in the pouring rain, freezing cold and sweltering heat in 147 communities, allowing him and his wife Crissy to speak face-to-face with thousands of voters about why his leadership, experience and temperament make him the best candidate for governor of Tennessee.

“Listening and talking to Tennesseans on their front porches is the surest way to hear what issues are important to local communities,” Haslam said.  “It is a terrific way to learn about the state’s challenges and opportunities.”

Haslam has spent time gathering input from voters about his ideas to make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for jobs, and the result is Jobs4TN – the most thorough jobs plan of any candidate in the race.

“I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve put in during the last 19 months,” Haslam said. “We’ve been to all 95 counties, driven more than 80,000 miles and knocked on thousands of doors across the state.  Crissy and I are grateful for the strength of support from our campaign volunteers along the way and during these final days leading up to the primary.”

Mayor Haslam is the two-term Republican Mayor of Knoxville, reelected in 2007 with 87 percent of the vote. A hardworking, conservative public servant, Haslam led Knoxville to become one of the top ten metropolitan areas for business and expansion, while reducing the city’s debt, tripling the rainy day fund, reducing the number of city employees to the lowest amount in 15 years and bringing property taxes to the lowest rate in 50 years.  An executive leader with a proven record of success, he helped grow his family’s small business from 800 employees into one of Tennessee’s largest companies with 14,000 employees. For more information on Bill Haslam, please visit www.BillHaslam.com.

EARLY VOTING TOUR STOPS IN PIGEON FORGE, SEVIERVILLE, WEARS VALLEY AND TOWNSEND

Haslam to Continue Tour up into Northeast Tennessee Tuesday, July 27

TOWNSEND – Republican gubernatorial candidate and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam took his Early Voting Tour into the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, making stops in Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Wears Valley and Townsend.

Haslam will continue his tour through July 31st, and on Tuesday, July 27 he will stop in Johnson City, Elizabethton, Kingsport and Greeneville to rally supporters and encourage everyone to vote early in the Republican Primary Aug. 5.

Recent polls giving Haslam a double-digit lead over his next closest competitor and an endorsement from former Gov. Mitt Romney have given Haslam the momentum heading into the final 10 days before the Aug. 5 Primary.

After spending the morning working on city business, Mayor Haslam boarded the bus and headed to a meet and greet lunch in Pigeon Forge, sitting down with supporters before heading to the Sevierville City Hall, Police Station and Sevier County Electric System offices.

Tourism is one of the largest employers in many small towns and rural areas throughout Tennessee, and Mayor Haslam believes the next governor must leverage this key asset for regional job creation.

Haslam previously explained that his approach to tourism as governor will be two-fold: First, he will help the state establish a clear brand to attract more visitors. Second, he will continue and improve the state’s efforts to drive tourists to locations throughout Tennessee in order to support tourism jobs in big cities and small towns alike.

In Wears Valley, Haslam spoke to 30 people, thanking them for their support and asking them to vote early before July 31. He then headed on to Townsend where he shook hands with approximately 25 voters at the Little River Outfitters.

“I encourage everyone to early vote because you never know what can happen on Aug. 5,” Haslam said. “Your car can break down. Your kid can get sick. Anything can happen, so make sure your voice is heard and vote early.”

Mayor Haslam is the two-term Republican Mayor of Knoxville, reelected in 2007 with 87 percent of the vote. A hardworking, conservative public servant, Haslam led Knoxville to become one of the top ten metropolitan areas for business and expansion, while reducing the city’s debt, tripling the rainy day fund, reducing the number of city employees to the lowest amount in 15 years and bringing property taxes to the lowest rate in 50 years.  An executive leader with a proven record of success, he helped grow his family’s small business from 800 employees into one of Tennessee’s largest companies with 14,000 employees. For more information on Bill Haslam, please visit www.BillHaslam.com.