Some exciting news for Clinton…  Confluence Solar’s investment marks the third major solar energy business investment in a year for Tennessee.  With the state’s unemployment rate jumping to almost 11% in December, my goal as governor will be to create high quality jobs in every region of this great state.

In fact, a newly released study from the Business & Economic Research Center at MTSU demonstrates the potential of another region of the state.  After reading the report, here is what stood out to me:

• Nearly 33% of the labor force in a 7-county region in Southern Middle Tennessee are either unemployed or underemployed
• A number of workers who are actively looking for employment are highly skilled

This means we have an incredibly valuable asset in this region – a trained workforce looking for jobs.  As a part of my plan to make Tennessee the #1 state in the Southeast for high quality jobs, I will employ regional economic development strategies that leverage each region’s existing assets.  This region and its valuable workforce is a perfect example.

Bill

Click here to read the full study from the Business & Economic Research Center at MTSU

Mayor Bill Haslam called the national healthcare legislation moving through Congress an unacceptable, unfunded mandate on Tennessee, and called on President Obama and Congress to halt the current legislation.

“Scott Brown’s victory last night was the result of hard work and determination, but it was also a repudiation of the Washington, DC establishment that is completely out of touch with the American people,” Haslam said.

“The current healthcare legislation is a symptom of the larger problem,” Haslam continued. “Washington needs to listen to the people. We’re tired of the spending, and we’re tired of Washington sending us the bill for their bad ideas.”

“Families are hurting, struggling to make ends meet, and the government needs to remember that. We need to stop the spending and tighten the purse strings,” Haslam said. “We have to get the budget under control, not expand our country’s debt by trillions of dollars.”

“Tennesseans are tired of politicians’ ‘we know better than you’ mentality,” said Mark Cate, campaign manager. “That’s why Bill travelled more than 45,000 miles to all 95 counties last year. That’s why he and Crissy are going door to door in neighborhoods across the state, listening to what’s most important to Tennesseans.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” Today, as we celebrate a man who devoted his life’s work to causes that encouraged us to do what is right, I can’t think of a better time to honor his words.

As you know, a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, causing catastrophic damage inside and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The United Nations has estimated that three million people have been affected, and more than 300,000 left homeless. While relief efforts have begun, the call for help is still ringing.

For the next 48 hours, my campaign will not solicit any funds for the campaign. Instead we ask that any monetary contribution you or your loved ones were planning to donate, to please give in support of those who need our help in Haiti. It is a call to action, a call that resonates closely with the values and convictions we all share.

Our office has a listing of various organizations already mobilized on the ground, and if you have any questions as to how or where to make your donation to Haiti, my campaign office stands ready to help.

Thanks,
Bill

Education reform has been critical to Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam’s campaign since he began running, and Thursday night’s bipartisan forum put on by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) signified its importance to the future of Tennessee.

“Last night, Tennesseans won because the first gubernatorial forum focused on one of the most critical issues facing our great state,” said Haslam today. “Education reform is central to my plan to make Tennessee the Number One location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”

Before joining more than 200 supporters at a post-forum rally, the Knoxville Mayor highlighted his executive experience in the private and public sectors during the bipartisan forum at Belmont University Thursday night, hitting key points of his education priorities.

Haslam cited his time as Knoxville’s mayor, saying any education reform will take courage and experience. “Courage because any time change is involved there’s pushback, and there will be pushback on this,” Haslam said. “It will take executive experience.”

Haslam encouraged educators and administrators to use Tennessee’s extensive student data to improve the educational experience because every child deserves a great principal and a great teacher.

“We use that data to say – like a doctor would if a patient is sick – ‘Now that we know what the issue is, how do we intervene?” Haslam continued.

Haslam said teachers must be treated like professionals and given feedback on their performance. He said principals set the tone for the institution, and the state could leverage existing resources to set up principal leadership academies to help improve efficiency and effectiveness.

“The quality of the leader determines the quality of the institution,” Haslam said.

On Wednesday, we reached the one year mark since Crissy and I traveled the state to announce my plan to run for governor.  What a year it has been, and I want to personally thank you for all of your hard work in helping us get from the starting line to the great position we are in today.  To cap off the special day, Crissy and I stopped by the State Election Commission to pick up my petition to officially run for Governor of this great state, and Crissy was the first one to sign my petition.

We’ve really enjoyed our travels this past year, talking to Tennesseans on their front porches, in their offices and on town squares.  As we begin this new year, we are excited to meet more great people and are looking forward to having real discussions of the most pressing issues Tennesseans are facing – the need for good jobs, managing our state’s budget, and improving education.  I invite you to read our 2009 report card - our way of quantifying the work we’ve done over this past year.

This has truly been a team effort, and I sincerely appreciate all you’ve done and continue to do to support my bid for governor.  I look forward to seeing you on the trail in 2010.

Today, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam marked the one year anniversary of the start of his campaign for Tennessee Governor and released a campaign report card for 2009.

Haslam traveled more than 45,000 miles across Tennessee in 2009, made more than 600 county visits, and is the only candidate for Tennessee Governor to visit every county.

“Crissy and I have really enjoyed this past year, talking to Tennesseans on their front porches, in their offices and on town squares,” said Haslam.  “We’re excited about this new year, and look forward to a real discussion of the issues that Tennesseans care about most – good jobs, managing our state’s budget, and improving education.”

“The numbers speak for themselves,” said Mark Cate, Campaign Manager. “Bill Haslam has visited every county, he’s built the best grassroots network, he’s raised the most money, he’s knocked on the most doors.  Bill Haslam is the hardest working candidate in the race.”

“Crissy and I have met so many new friends on the campaign trail, and we’ve heard so many stories from Tennesseans who have lost their jobs, or who don’t have as good a job as they had two years ago,” continued Haslam.  “Those are people we won’t forget when I’m elected Governor.  We’ll work hard every day to bring good jobs to Tennessee, to keep the good jobs we have now, and to be a good steward of your tax dollars.”

“Bill and Crissy are doing this for the right reason – because they love Tennessee and want to make it an even better place to live and raise a family,” continued Cate.  “Tennesseans know this election is about our future, and Bill Haslam is the right leader with the right temperament, the best ideas, and the proven executive experience to lead our state through these very difficult times.”

Bill Haslam is the two term Mayor of Knoxville, re-elected in 2007 with 87% of the vote.  A hardworking public servant, he lead 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, 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 more than 14,000 employees.  His combination of executive and public service experience makes him uniquely qualified to be Tennessee’s next Governor.  Bill is the right person at the right time to lead Tennessee.

Click here to read 2009 Campaign Report Card

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.