Archive for October, 2009

Crissy and I had great visits during our trips across West Tennessee this week.  Last night’s multi-county Reagan Day straw poll win in Dyersburg with 48% of the vote was the perfect ending to a terrific trip west.

We started in Brownsville where I was led on a fantastic tour with Mayors Sterbinsky, Banks and Smith to see the result of hard work and determination that led to the Haywood County megasite.  It was rainy as we knocked on doors in Jackson, but that didn’t stop us!

On Wednesday, after a small business roundtable where we talked with local business owners about the state of our economy, Crissy and I made our way to Lexington to meet folks at The Ranch House Restaurant.  Then we had a great time knocking on doors in Franklin, and met lots of new friends.  We finished the day with our Ambassadors kickoff event in Nashville.

Business Roundtable in Jackson, TN

During the Humphreys County Community meeting on Thursday, the focus of our conversation was on education and the issues that surround us.  The conversation at the Catfish Place in Benton focused on our courageous men and women in the armed service, and the need to support our veterans when they return from war.

We continued west to Henry County for a meet and greet at Tom’s Steakhouse, and then it was on to Weakley County.  I really enjoyed my visit at Martin, where I got to see all the great things happening there during my campus tour—and I enjoyed visiting with the students, professors and local community leaders.

I met some great folks during the Obion County Chamber of Commerce meeting and my walk around downtown Union City.  We had a terrific visit in Lake County at the Reel Foot Port Site in Tiptonville before we made our way to the Dyer, Lauderdale and Lake Counties Reagan Day Dinner in Dyersburg.

It was not only another busy week, visiting 13 counties in three days, but also another fantastic opportunity for Crissy and me to meet more of our fellow Tennesseans as we continue our trails across the state.

Crissy and I visited Brownsville yesterday for a community meeting and tour of the Haywood County Megasite.  Mayor Franklin Smith and his team did a fantastic job putting together the information and tour.  We were joined by Mayors Sterbinsky and Banks and several other community leaders.

You have to see the site to truly comprehend its magnitude and understand its potential economic impact on West Tennessee, and really our whole state.  The new friends who joined us on the tour were very knowledgeable on the megasite, and I could easily see that their goal was to work together for the good of the community to bring jobs to West Tennessee.

The Haywood County Megasite isn’t just a line item in the state’s budget.  And it isn’t just some isolated parcel of land, (in fact, it’s pretty conventiently located only a mile from the interstate).

The site is a result of a lot of hard work and determination by community leaders and elected officials working together to do something important for their area.  Everywhere I go, as I travel across the state, I meet people who care deeply about their communities, ones who genuinely want to make a difference.  That’s one of the many things that makes Tennessee so great.

To read more about my Haywood County visit as covered in the Jackson Sun, visit:

http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20091028/NEWS01/910280310/Haslam+pays+visit+to+future+megasite

Mayor Haslam had the opportunity to talk about his five point plan for education during the Blount Education Initiative (BEI) forum on Monday night.  He emphasized the necessity of a strong education system in order to make Tennessee the #1 state in the Southeast for high-quality jobs.  Mayor Haslam acknowledged the good work of the BEI and the critical role that grass roots groups like this can play in helping to transform education in our state.

Video of this forum can be found on the BEI website, www.blounteducation.org

What a fantastic seven days it has been for Crissy and me.  We’ve been able to squeeze in visits to 16 counties and have made so many new friends this past week.  And as this week comes to an end, I’m more optimistic than ever that our message is being heard and accepted in all areas of our state.

In Sevier County we had a great meeting at the Chamber of Commerce and I heard loud and clear the importance of the state in helping and supporting the tourism industry.

The following day, Crissy and I really enjoyed our breakfast at the Jamestown VFW in Fentress County.  Later we made it Pickett County and lunch at the Dixie Café.  We are both learning that you eat a lot of good meals on the campaign trail!  The day ended with Jackson County Mayor Hix introducing us to some great folks at the courthouse.

Mayor Purkey planned an outstanding day on Thursday in Hamblen County.  We started with breakfast at McDonald’s with a core group of Hamblen County residents.  It was a lively discussion of the issues affecting that area. We also very much enjoyed our visit with the East Tennessee Clerks Association and the Morristown Chamber of Commerce.  The day ended with a fun Reagan Day diner in McMinn County—what a dedicated group of Republican Women.

The Carter County GOP Women’s BBQ Dinner was well done and a lot of fun on Saturday.  On Sunday, as we were making our way to Nashville, we stopped in at the Bell Buckle Craft Fair in Bedford County—and we even picked up a few gifts for friends!

Monday started with a really fun and interesting meeting with students and parents from the Williamson County Home School Group.  I was so impressed with the students’ questions and depth of understanding of the issues facing our state.  We ended the day in Cumberland County, knocking on doors and having the chance to visit with former Senator Ray Dillion and his wife Burtha.

The Dickson County Chamber hosted us for breakfast on Tuesday morning and we had a good discussion focusing on job creation and economic development.  We left there and made a stop in Montgomery County before making our way back to Davidson County to participate in the Rocketown event at Lipscomb University—what an impressive and innovate urban ministry!

Yes, it has been a busy seven days.   But Crissy and I enjoy so much the opportunity to get to know so many interesting people.  Thanks again for all your support.  I promise to keep you up to date on what we are seeing and hearing on the campaign trail.

It was great to find out that Bill Haslam won the Gibson County GOP straw poll last week with 44% of the vote, leading the closest candidate by 12 points. Thank you for your support.

Straw Poll Results

44% Haslam
32% Ramsey
20% Wamp
4% Gibbons