Archive for December, 2009

Metro Pulse / The Tennessean

Mayor and GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam has made Nashville newspaper The Tennessean’s list of top political movers in 2009.

The paper thinks Haslam’s got the best chance to succeed Gov. Phil Bredesen:

(From The Tennessean)The current mayor of Knoxville and a leading contender in the bid for the Republican nomination for governor, Haslam appears most likely to be able to ride Gov. Phil Bredesen’s pro-business coattails, despite the different party affiliation…and won a coveted endorsement of GOP stalwart Howard Baker.

Today, following a visit to Decatur, Tennessee in Meigs County, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam announced that he had campaigned in all 95 counties this year.  He is the first candidate for governor to visit every county in 2009.

“This has been a great year on the campaign trail for Crissy and me,” said Haslam.  “I’ve now campaigned in every county, talking to Tennesseans on their front porches, in their offices, in restaurants and town squares, and what we hear everywhere we go – in every area of the state – is the need to help grow and retain good jobs in Tennessee.”

“There are so many things that unite us as a people, as Tennesseans – a great geographic location, a strong work ethic, a set of common values we hold dear – and I see these at work everywhere I go,” Haslam continued.  “Together, we’re going to take these uniting qualities and make our great state even better.”

“Bill and Crissy are working hard, meeting people face to face, earning every vote,” said Mark Cate, Campaign Manager. “No one in this race will out work Bill Haslam, and the fact that he’s the only candidate to visit every county reinforces that.”

Last month, the campaign announced the first phase of its statewide leadership headed by former Senator Howard Baker, Jr.  The group consists of more than 1,000 community and grassroots leaders and represented every county.  The campaign also announced last month that it had received more than 6,000 contributions and had raised another $1 million since June.

Today’s announcement means that Mayor Haslam leads in counties visited, political organization, funds raised, and total contributors, and shows that Tennesseans are investing their time, energy, and money in his campaign.

“Bill has worked diligently traveling the state this year, visiting every county, talking to people where they work and live, listening to their concerns and sharing his plan for Tennessee’s future,” continued Cate.  “And he’s doing it for the right reasons – because he loves Tennessee and wants to help our state be the best it can be.  Tennesseans know this election is about our future, and Bill Haslam is the right person with the best ideas, the right temperament, and the proven executive experience needed to lead our state through the difficult times ahead.”

Knocking on Summit Avenue

Crissy and I had another busy week!  We are counting up to all 95 counties visited, and we are getting close!  After today’s visit, we have traveled to 92 counties in Tennessee.  These aren’t just stops along the road; they are meet and greets, courthouse visits, small business roundtables, breakfast with community leaders, lunches with business leaders, dinners with neighborhoods, mega site visits, tours of academic villages, young professional events and my favorite: neighborhood knocks.  I enjoy every opportunity to meet my fellow Tennesseans, but there is something special about talking to folks on their own front porches.

The past few days were full of knocks.  In Putnam County, we knocked in Cookeville.  It began to feel like winter, as the lawns were dusted with a light snow, and Crissy and I watched folks putting up their Christmas lights and decorations.  It’s fun for us to walk along neighborhood blocks as it gets dark and see all the different lights.  When we stopped in Williamson County to knock, we certainly weren’t expecting the torrential rain and winds that kept us from knocking.  We appreciated those who opened their doors for Crissy and I to come inside and sit with groups of neighbors, learning about issues that affect them.  We had a great talk on jobs that day and how folks want to help create a better business climate for Tennessee.  Yesterday, Crissy and I knocked through a Smyrna neighborhood.  We enjoyed the neighborhood filled with young families, willing to brave the cold out on their front porches with us.  We talked about small businesses and how their growth affects an entire community.  They spoke of the impact successful small businesses have had on Rutherford County, and the impact these businesses could have on the state.

As we make our way to visiting all 95 counties, I continue to be humbled by the support we receive along the Tennessee trail.  Crissy and I have so much appreciation for those who take time to talk with us on their front porches, or let us into their homes to meet their families.  I started knocking on doors to learn the needs of those in Knoxville when I ran for Mayor, and I will continue to knock on doors to learn the needs of every Tennessean in every corner of this great state.

Joe's Place in Cannon County

Crissy and I continued our state travels yesterday and made visits through middle Tennessee.  We started our morning in Warren County and met with folks at the Main Street Bakery in McMinnville for breakfast.  We talked about issues that were important to those in Warren County: jobs, education and the auto industry’s impact on their community.  We then traveled to Cannon County where we met with another great group at Joe’s Place in Woodbury, a local favorite.  What a fun group of people! After a great morning, we made our way to Nashville to meet with local business leaders, and then it was time to knock on doors.  Crissy and I are always grateful getting to meet more folks on their front porches, but with the monsoon of rain that was pouring outside, we were really appreciative when we were invited indoors.  We had a good time meeting neighbors in Traceside and enjoyed getting to know more Tennesseans as we continue our Tennessee trails!

Click here to watch video of Cannon County visit.

Last week, Mayor Haslam announced the first round of the campaign’s statewide leadership team chaired by former Senator Howard Baker, Jr.  This group included more than 1,000 grassroots and community leaders and represents all 95 counties, making Mayor Haslam the first candidate to be organized in all counties across the state.

Support and momentum for Mayor Haslam’s campaign continues to grow and many are now seeing him as the “odds-on” favorite to win the Republican nomination.  Other stories about his leadership team include:

“Haslam’s Dickson County ‘Leadership’ Team Formed”
The Herald/The Tennessean
Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam’s recently announced statewide “leadership team” has nine Dickson County residents, including former state Republican Party Chairman Tom Beasley…

“Piper, Crozier and Smith Join Haslam Campaign Team”
The Leaf-Chronicle
Earlier this week, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam – a leading Republican seeking the next Tennessee gubernatorial bid – announced first round of his statewide campaign leadership…

Today, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam announced the first round of his statewide leadership team chaired by former Senator Howard Baker, Jr. The group includes more than 1,000 grassroots and community leaders and represents all 95 counties.

“I’ve enjoyed the opportunities I’ve had so far to meet people all over Tennessee – in their offices, on their front porches, in small settings and in large groups,” said Haslam, “I’m honored and humbled by the support we’re receiving in every county for our campaign.”

Mayor Haslam said that he and his staff have been working from day one to build teams in every county across the state so that each Tennessean will have the opportunity to hear his message and be a part of his campaign that focuses on job growth, education reform and fiscal responsibility. These leadership teams have already been vital in helping set up campaign events and they are actively recruiting other grassroots supporters in all 95 counties.

“We started out with the goal of making sure we had leadership in every county by the end of 2009,” Haslam said. “We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of people that have called us and wanted to be part of our campaign, and that’s allowed us to create a deep roster of leaders across the state. We look forward to building an even stronger team as we move into 2010.”

In November, the campaign announced it had received more than 6,000 contributions and had raised another $1 million since June, bringing the total raised to $4.89 million.

Today’s announcement means that Mayor Haslam leads in grassroots organization, funds raised, and total contributors, and shows that Tennesseans are investing their time, energy, and money in his campaign.

“This initial list is comprised of passionate grassroots and community leaders who understand what a critical time it is for our state,” said Mark Cate, Campaign Manager. “They want a leader who has the proven experience, knowledge, and temperament that is needed to be Governor—and we invite all Tennesseans to be a part of our campaign.”

“In many counties, the passion for Bill’s candidacy is so great and the number of people calling us wanting to help is so large, we are going to be able to create teams within the county team that can focus on specific campaign related tasks,” Cate continued. “It’s been an unbelievable response.”

Click here to read Haslam’s First Round Grassroots List