Mike was in Greenville over the weekend and spoke to democratic leaders on his vision for Tennessee.

Source: The Greeneville Sun

BY DOUGLAS WATSON

MANAGING EDITOR

Leaders of the Northeast Democratic Association met here on Saturday to encourage each other in their effort to win legislative seats in this year’s elections.

A meeting of about 40 regional party leaders at the Comfort Inn heard Mike McWherter, the only Democrat running for governor of Tennessee, call for Democratic victories this year.

McWherter, a businessman who is the son of former Gov. Ned McWherter, said Democrats this year have “the strongest slate of legislative candidates I’ve seen in my lifetime.”

He declared the Democratic Party now has “a real opportunity this year take back the legislature,” which currently is controlled by narrow Republican majorities in both houses.

McWherter said that, if elected, “I’m going to be a Democrat from the very get-go …. I’m all about job creation. I’m not going to support any additional taxes.

“We’re going to work day and night” to encourage businesses to invest in Tennessee,” he pledged.

McWherter, a businessman who is making his first run for elective office, said, “I learned from my father that the most important thing about being governor is to put the interests of Tennessee’s working families first.”

When he concluded his brief talk, McWherter received standing applause from the party leaders, who were attending from the counties in this state’s 1st Congressional District.

“After spending millions blanketing Tennessee television sets its no surprise that Mayor Haslam has moved in the polls.  What is surprising, considering all the fluffy tv spots he’s run, is that voters still have doubts about him.  The sale isn’t  closed.  And when voters find out how he’s raised taxes, is pro gun control, and that he’s hiding the extent of Pilot Oil interests, we’ll see if his campaign will be bragging about polling numbers.”

Campaign Manager Kim Sasser Hayden

Mike’s father, Ned, got a warm welcome in Rutherford County this week stopping by City Cafe and looking at a vehicle trade. The focus was the former governor’s travels this past month in campaigning for his son.

Everywhere I go I campaign for him,” the former governor said while holding court at a large dining table with local Democrats. “I raised him right, and he ought to be able to do right, and he will do right.”

The former governor’s appearance surprised Rutherford County Democratic Party Chairman Jonathon Fagan. He sat with McWherter at a table that included state Rep. Kent Coleman of Murfreesboro, former state Reps. John Hood of Murfreesboro and Butch Lewis, who represented the Tullahoma area, Rutherford County Judge David Loughry, and former Rutherford County Schools Superintendent Jerry Gaither.

Gov. McWherter earlier this week campaigned in northeast Tennessee. He traveled through Rutherford County hoping to trade for a new van for the gubernatorial campaign.

Ashland City

Nashville, TN - Mike McWherter, Jackson businessman and democratic candidate for Governor, today officially launched his “Mike Works!” tour, a state-wide initiative to gain a better understanding of the challenges facing Tennessee’s working families and the tools small business owners need to grow new jobs. The “Mike Works!” tour will give McWherter the opportunity to discuss real solutions for growing Tennessee’s economy as he labors alongside small business owners and employees in various industries throughout the state.

In the coming months, Mike will dedicate a significant portion of his time working alongside fellow Tennesseans, learning about the work they do and the issues important to their families. By using input from small business owners and workers in various industries across the state, McWherter will work to create a balanced approach to economic development that supports small and large businesses alike.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy, employing the vast majority of Tennessee’s workforce.” said McWherter. “I am proud to be small business owner and understand what it means to make payroll every month. As governor, I will roll up my sleeves for small businesses and provide the resources needed to grow this important segment of our state’s economy.”

McWherter has stated that as governor his number one priority and main policy focus will be job creation. McWherter has proposed offering jobs tax credits to Tennessee small businesses that create good paying full time jobs for Tennessee workers. His proposal would build on governor Bredesen’s current successful approach in providing jobs tax credits to large industries as incentives for investing in Tennessee jobs.

In addition to a jobs tax break, McWherter has also proposed expanding existing public-private partnerships in all 95 counties to provide a wide range of assistance to small businesses – from micro loans, to public and private sector procurement opportunities, to technical and strategic support.

A website dedicated to the Mike Works! tour can be found online at http://www.mikemcwherter.com/Mike-Works. The comprehensive site documents photos, videos, and stories around each of Mike’s visits across the state.

About Mike McWherter

Mike McWherter, the only candidate in the race who is not a career politician, is a successful small business owner in West Tennessee. A native of Northwest Tennessee, he now lives in Jackson with his wife Mary Jane and their children Walker and Bess.
The McWherter for Governor campaign can be found online at  www.mikemcwherter.com.

Mike spoke to the Fraternal Order of Police conference this morning in Gatlinburg. He spoke about open communication, economy-driven crimes and bringing jobs to Tennessee

Here is what he discussed with law enforcement officials and officers from across the state:

I’m so honored to be here with you today.

Our state’s law enforcement professionals serve as the backbone of our state, and I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your service. I see many familiar faces here today, but for those of you who don’t know me. I’m Mike McWherter, and I’m the Democratic nominee for Governor, and with the voters’ approval I will be the next Governor of Tennessee.
I want to take just a minute to let you know why I am running for Governor. I don’t have to tell you that times are tough. As you look across the landscape of Tennessee, we’ve literally seen thousands of jobs disappear. Our unemployment rate last month was running right at 10.7 percent. That’s the highest it’s been in my working lifetime.
However powerful those statistics are, if you’ve traveled across Tennessee as I have over the last year, you’d see first hand the reality is even more telling: Storefronts closed. Factory parking lots empty. Too many going out of business sales.
During a recent visit to Gainesboro, 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. A dad here in Tennessee worried that his son will have to move away to find a job. This economy is literally tearing families apart.

So I’m in this race for that father and his son, and the millions of other Tennesseans who want to get this economy moving.
So in short, here is what I’m all about: Tennessee First. Tennessee Jobs.
Because Tennessee needs a Governor who actually knows what you’re going through. We need a governor who has met a payroll, who knows what it’s like to provide healthcare benefits for the people you work with, and who knows what’s like to build a budget from scratch and live within it. A Governor who has created jobs. A Governor from day one who knows what it takes to create MORE jobs.

I will be that governor.

Times are tight, but the safety of our citizens and of those who protect us is paramount, and that’s why I want a direct, open line of communication between the Governor’s office and our law enforcement professionals.
I don’t have to tell you that when people are out of work, crime increases. In hard times, we see an upswing in thefts, robberies, and drug and alcohol offensives. People, who have never been involved in criminal activity before, are now finding themselves in trouble with the law. Our communities are suffering from these “economy” driven crimes.
This is not an issue the law enforcement community can solve on it’s own. We need to come together as a state – through public / private partnerships – to find ways to help Tennesseans hardest hit by the economy get back on track.
As a businessman, I know how important it is for those on the front lines to be given the tools they need to be successful. I also understand that as resources become scarce, we have to adapt to changes and find ways to become more efficient and effective.
Its important that we give law enforcement the resources needed to keep pace with the rapid developments in crime scene forensics and intelligence gathering.
We know for a fact that the faster law enforcement officials can gather and process information the better the chances are of catching and putting away criminals.
Take DNA testing for example … its not enough to pass a law as we did a few years back in Tennessee requiring DNA testing of all criminals, we need to ensure every year that there is adequate funding for that program, and that we have timely turn around of that testing.
Tennessee law enforcement officials at all levels need access to state of the art intelligence hardware and software resources that can expedite the sharing of information on crimes and criminals.
For example, these types of smart technologies recently led to a conviction in the Bruce Mendenhall trial in Nashville, known in the media as the “Interstate Killer” case.
Last April, the FBI developed a data base, known as the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program. The ViCAP software compiles crime information and other data which helps to narrow down their scope on a suspect and potentially link suspects to other crimes.
When two bodies were found at separate truck stops in middle Tennessee and Mendenhall was apprehended, law enforcement officers were able to use this new database to link the accused, through DNA evidence, to murders in several different states.
Because of these smart technologies, open-lines of communication between enforcement agencies and outstanding police work, Mendenhall was apprehended and recently convicted and sentenced to life in prison. By utilizing available resources and collaborating with other agencies, a serial killer was removed from our streets.
I would like to commend the Metro Nashville Police department and all agencies involved for bringing this criminal to justice. This is an example of how we can effectively address crime related issues all across this state, by sharing best practices and creating better channels for the flow of information.
I will work with our local law enforcements agencies to enhance that cooperation. We have to work together to solve these issues – from the Governor’s office to our local police precincts.
So here’s the Governor I’ll be:
I’ll be for Tennessee jobs because people who are working are much less likely to commit crimes.
And, I’ll support our law enforcement professionals.
The combination of these two elements are key to combating crime in our state.

Thank you.

Your email:

 

Mike spoke to the Tennessee Bar Association this morning. He didn’t mince words when he spoke about John Wilder and the budget being deliberated in the final moments of session.

Mike McWherter stole the headlines from today’s gubernatorial candidate forum by criticizing Ron Ramsey and the legislature’s Republicans as a gang of inept buffoons. According to McWherter, John Wilder displayed stronger leadership than Ramsey.

snip

McWherter said of Wilder that “on his worst day, he ran the Legislature better than this Republican leadership.”

Read the whole story at Pith in the Wind in a post written by Jeff Woods.

Mike canceled events in Memphis today. Yes, there was a schedule of events planned but then something happened.

His children, both Bess and Walker, competed with their teams and made it to the TSSAA Spring Fling event in Murfreesboro. These are moments in their lives that only happen sporadically. When your kids do well, you want to be there for your children. So Mike will join other parents today in cheering them on and will be in Memphis later on.

Family is important to Mike. On the campaign trail, he talk about his father proudly and he loves to tell the stories of his former Gov. Ned McWherter’s role in his campaign. Mike has said that he’s the luckiest candidate as he has best political adviser in the state.

Which leads us to the story of the convertible.

From the Metro Pulse:

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter told a local group last week his dad is gearing up to help with his campaign and spending some money to ensure he’s comfortable doing it.

Mike McWherter told a group at the Young Professional Democrats of East Tennessee event at Oodles Uncorked that he asked his dad what he wanted for his 79th birthday, but former Gov. Ned McWherter said don’t worry about it. His gift to himself was a Chrysler Sebring convertible, telling his son he would have to fill in for him at parade events and that the small convertibles usually provided are a problem for the somewhat bulky McWherter. So he bought an American-made large convertible so “they didn’t have to use a crane to get me in and out of it.”

Read the rest at the Metro Pulse.