A Message From Mike

March 9th, 2010

This past weekend, I visited four counties in East Tennessee – met with local elected officials, talked with voters, and got a feel for the challenges facing their area. This is my favorite part of campaigning. Since I announced my candidacy last summer, I have logged thousands of miles on the road and spent time in every part of the state. During my travels, I have heard and tried to answer the questions and concerns of worried Tennesseans.

During a recent visit to Gainesboro, a small, Middle Tennessee town in Jackson County with about 900 residents, I met a man who had been out of work for over two years. He told me he was worried about the future, not his own but that of his son, who was about to graduate from high school. The man was concerned that the lack of jobs would prevent his son from moving forward. As a father myself, I share his worry and concern.

The next Governor of Tennessee has to focus on jobs. We need someone who has the compassion it takes to serve others, and the first hand knowledge of what’s needed to create jobs. Tennessee needs a governor who will put Tennessee first, who will get our people back to work and build a strong economy.
And that is what I’m all about: Tennessee first. Tennessee jobs.In the past few months I’ve visited courthouses, eaten in countless cafes, braved snow and ice, and spoken with hundreds of Tennesseans. Thank you to all that have taken time to get out and talk with me.

I am humbled and encouraged by the continued outpouring of support that I am receiving as I travel the state. I am ready for the challenges ahead, but I need your support to be successful. Please join me in this campaign by taking a moment to add your name to my nominating petition.

Join with me in this campaign, and here’s the Governor I’ll be:

I’ll be for Tennessee jobs.

I’ll oppose a state income tax.

I’ll put Tennessee first.

I’ll give Tennessee businesses the help they need to put Tennessee workers back on the job.

And I’ll leave you with this — I learned an important lesson growing up watching my Dad: that the job of the Governor is to put the needs of Tennessee families first. That was a different time, but I believe his values are as true today as they were then.

Hope to see you on the road soon,




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Mike Campaigns In Onieda

March 8th, 2010

Mike was in Oneida on Friday and The Independent Herald has the story.

When addressing the issue of creating jobs, McWherter stressed infrastructure development—both roads and broadband Internet capabilities—on several occasions.

“Before we sell ourselves, we need to have the infrastructure in place,” he said. “After the infrastructure is in place, we can go out and sell, sell, sell.”

McWherter said that Gov. Bredesen has laid the foundation by successfully recruiting Volkswagon and Hemlock to Tennessee, and the focus should be on suppliers for those manufacturers.

“We need [the suppliers] in Tennessee,” he said. “They probably wouldn’t want to set up next to Volkswagon and compete for the labor force, but they would want to be close enough to deliver parts to Volkswagon in a timely manner.”

In response to a question from his audience, McWherter said he is opposed to a state income tax. A troubled economy has led to significant revenue shortfalls, but McWherter pointed out that just three years ago, there was so much revenue surplus at the state level that legislators were given grant funding to distribute in their districts.

Mike will be in Bledsoe and Sequatchie Counties today.

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Photos Of The Week

March 5th, 2010

Mike participates in Read Across America by reading: 'Nubs the Dog: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle'

Mike walks the school halls with the Krisle Elementary School principal.

Mike walks the school halls with the Krisle Elementary School principal.

Sharing a laugh in Morgan County

Sharing a laugh in Morgan County

Photos by Andrew Jones

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Mike’s In The Leaf Chronicle

March 3rd, 2010

From the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle:

“Our state needs a leader who understands first-hand what it takes to create jobs and plan wisely for growth – someone who accepts the realities of today but who also sees the potential in what the future holds. We have to address the needs of the people rather than cater to politicians’ agendas – by ensuring that our children become world-class competitors, protecting our pro-business climate, balancing the budget without an income tax, and learning how to do more with less,” McWherter said.

Read the whole story here.

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Mike On Jim Kyle’s Announcement

February 26th, 2010

“Jim is a dear friend in whom I have the utmost respect. Time and again he has proven his abilities as a formidable campaigner, as a strong legislative leader, as a compassionate public servant and as a devoted family man. There is no doubt that he will continue to be a powerful voice and a strong champion for working families across our state.

It’s been a personal honor to campaign along side him these past few months.  And if blessed with the opportunity to serve as Governor, I will consider it a great privilege to work with him in the fight to improve education, to get folks back to work, and to get our economy moving again.”

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Traveling With Mike All Over The State

February 26th, 2010

Mike was in Marshall County Wednesday afternoon and spoke to the Marshall County Tribune.

“Unemployment … is the No. 1 issue … across the state,” McWherter said in a telephone interview as he traveled to Franklin to attend an awards ceremony honoring his father, former Gov. Ned McWherter.

“If it’ not bringing In jobs, it’s keeping the jobs we have,” the candidate said.

Government can help business create jobs, he said: “Make sure government has a business friendly environment.” The state should “work with businesses to get answers so they can act quickly,” he said.

snip

“I believe we hit the bottom in the fourth quarter of 2009,” he said. “It may be painfully slow, but I believe it’s turning.

That’s not a comfort to those with out a job,” he said. “But as the auto industry comes back anybody with any sense would want to be close. VW will have a whole list of suppliers coming to this state … if we go out and recruit them.

While VW is in Chattanooga, it’s close enough to Marshall County to have an effect here, he said. It’s the same for the solar energy business at Clarksville.

“I’m a businessman and I well understand there’s a human resource component in industry,” McWherter said.

Read the whole article at the Marshall County Tribune.

In related news, Mike has been traveling all over the state this month. This week alone he has traveled from Memphis, where he met with the Boys and Girls Club to Nashville, back to Marshall and Lincoln counties. Today he is scheduled to be in Fentress, Scott and Morgan counties.

Here is a photo from last week’s visit to Stewart County.

Mike In Stewart County

Mike In Stewart County

Mike is definitely Traveling Tennessee.

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Mike Interviewed On WATE 6 With Gene Patterson

February 15th, 2010

Mike sat down with Gene Patterson in Knoxville on Friday for an interview at Tennessee This Week. Mike addresses the Inskip Elementary School shooting last week with Patterson as well as his seeking the governor’s seat for the state of Tennessee.

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A Message From Mike

February 12th, 2010

Kyles Ford Country Store in Hancock County

Kyle's Ford Country Store in Hancock County

This week, I participated in two more gubernatorial forums – one before business leaders and the other before newspaper publishers from across the state.  While candidates from the other party were attacking one another, I stayed focused on what I believe matters more to Tennessee’s working families – creating jobs and putting people back to work.
Time and again I drove home the point that our state’s working families are struggling to put food on their tables. I shared stories of places I’ve been and people I’ve met in the more than 70 counties I’ve now visited – stories that invoke a common theme of frustration and despair. I stressed that the key to turning our economy around is to put people back to work.
I made the distinction that I’m the only candidate who’s not a career politician, and I talked about the importance of putting Tennessee businesses and Tennessee jobs first.  I applauded Governor Bredesen’s successes in recruiting new industries to our state, while stressing that our next Governor must follow through to recruit suppliers of these industries. I further challenged our four-year higher education institutions and community colleges to offer curriculum and resources that meet the skills demands of the workforce needed to sustain these industries. And I called on government to continue to cut red tape for small businesses and invest in what they need to get goods to market.
In other campaign news, I’ve continued my trek across the state, spending quality time with local Democratic friends and leaders in all four corners of our state.  We’ve also added a feature on our web site that allows folks to add their name to our nominating petition.
I’m feeling confident about our message and encouraged by the continued outpouring of support and goodwill I am receiving as I travel the state.
Talk to you soon,

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Mike In Erwin

February 10th, 2010

You can see the slideshow of his visit here. And for other photos chronicling Mike’s travels around the state, be sure to join our Flickr page.

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In The News

January 28th, 2010
Randy Barrett and Mike McWherter

Randy Barrett and Mike McWherter

On Tuesday, Mike had a full day in Trousdale and Cannon Counties and visited Joe’s Diner in Woodbury.

Mike hasn’t broken out the box of Nilla’s yet, but he’s all about it when he’s talking about what he’s going to do.

Personable, with a smile, he’s ready to talk, to get his message across.

He states he’s a businessman, knowing how to balance a budget and run an efficient organization and he’s interested in state government living within its means.

He also talks about fiscal transparency, to maintain the public’s confidence.

He opposes the income tax and wants to preserve the state’s low-tax climate.

He wants to create new jobs, and is the owner of a Tennessee company that works Tennesseans. He’s interested in the education system, knowing that a first class education is the key to Tennessee’s future.

Mike also spoke  in Jackson last night.  Stanley Dunlap from the Jackson Sun reports:

McWherter spoke Wednesday at the Pythian Building in downtown Jackson at a forum hosted by the Lambuth University College Democrats.

McWherter said his experience as a businessman has prepared him to handle the tough economic challenges the state faces. Among those include balancing a budget without a state income tax while maintaining enough revenue to grow infrastructure, he said.

“As you look across the landscape of Tennessee, we’re all seeing literally thousands of jobs disappear,” he said about the current 10.9 percent unemployment rate.

“The next governor has got to be an individual who has the skills and background on how to build the economy, how to create jobs and I think most importantly maintain jobs in Tennessee,” McWherter said.

Photo Image courtesy of the Cannon Wire

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