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July 16, 2009

Elected State Officials, Grassroots Team Join Gibbons Campaign

Filed under: Press Release — admin @ 1:15 pm

MEMPHIS - A group of leading elected state officials and community leaders, including many of the top law enforcement officials in Tennessee, are taking major roles in Bill Gibbons for Governor.

The state elected officials will serve as an initial group of campaign vice chairmen and key advisors. The group consists of leading Republicans and some Democrats and independents who have declared their support for Republican Gibbons in next year’s election. The area coordinators will take the lead in the campaign’s grassroots efforts across the state.

“I am honored to have the support and trust of such an outstanding group of state public officials and grassroots community leaders. They are crucial to helping carry the message of good jobs, good schools, and safe communities across our state,” said Gibbons, district attorney for Shelby County.

“This is an impressive group of leaders who have earned the trust of folks in their own communities and are very accomplished campaigners themselves,” said Gibbons’ campaign chairman David Kustoff, a former Tennessee campaign chairman and manager for President George W. Bush and for U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander.

“Like the many people in west Tennessee who knew him before this race, these leaders believe Bill Gibbons is the best qualified candidate to be our next governor. These folks will energize a grassroots organization that was already growing very well, and they will make a big difference in a strategy we believe will win the nomination.”

Newly established Gibbons state vice chairmen include:

Rep. Ron Lollar, Bartlett

Rep. Steve McManus, Cordova

Rep. Curry Todd, Collierville

District Attorney Phil Bivens, Dyersburg

District Attorney Mike Bottoms, Lawrenceburg

District Attorney Garry Brown, Trenton

District Attorney Tony Clark, Jonesborough

District Attorney Mike Dunavant, Ripley

District Attorney James Dunn, Sevierville

District Attorney Kim Helper, Franklin

District Attorney Randy Nichols, Knoxville

District Attorney Bill Whitesell, Murfreesboro

East Tennessee Coordinators

Rob Ailey, Sevierville, former President Bush campaign chairman

Jerry & Robin Estes, Athens, former district attorney for the 10th judicial district and educator, respectively

Middle Tennessee Coordinators

Jim Looney, Lawrenceburg, former Lawrence County GOP chairman

Laura Roberts of Franklin, former staff aide to U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, and campaign aide to U.S. Congressman Ed Bryant and State Sen. Jim Bryson

Joel Wallace, Clarksville, City Councilman

West Tennessee Coordinators

Bill Cloar, Dyersburg, former Dyer County chairman for Ed Bryant

John Cloar, Dyersburg, former Dyer County GOP chairman

Ryan Ellegood, Union City, former Obion County GOP chairman

Jim Rout, Memphis, former Shelby County mayor

Nancy Strawn, Jackson, former campaign chairman for President Bush, and U.S. Senator Bob Corker

“Bill Gibbons is the best prepared, best qualified candidate to lead Tennessee. His plans for jobs growth, better schools and safer communities will address our state’s top priorities. I can assure you this group is committed and will work tirelessly in our respective communities to build a winning coalition to put Bill Gibbons in the state capitol,” said Jerry Estes, former district attorney for the 10th judicial district in southeast Tennessee.

“Bill has been one of the great leaders working to make our communities safe by pushing for sentencing reform. He is respected across the state by law enforcement officials, and it’s why he has my support,” said Kim Helper, district attorney for the 21st judicial district serving Lewis, Hickman, Perry and Williamson counties.

Gibbons is the Shelby County district attorney General, serving as the top law enforcement official in the state’s largest jurisdiction. He entered the governor’s race on Jan. 4, 2009.

July 13, 2009

GM Plant

Filed under: The Issues — admin @ 12:18 pm

This past Saturday morning, I spoke at the Wilson County Republican Party headquarters in Lebanon. We had a great conversation about crime, taxes, healthcare, and many other issues facing our state. One person inquired about what I would do to keep GM from shutting down the Spring Hill plant if I were governor. It is a great question, and one that I know many are concerned about. After all, not only are hundreds of jobs at stake, but the closing of such a plant would not fare well for the local economy.

My answer to this question is simple- As governor, I would do any reasonable thing in my power to keep those good paying jobs in Tennessee; however, I would not allow GM to put a gun to my head and say, “Give us $200 million or we’re gone.” I will not allow a company to simply raid our state treasury in order to be “bailed out.” I feel strongly that GM should remain in Spring Hill. After all, that plant is truly state-of-the-art, and capable of producing the cars of tomorrow.

As governor, I will work hard every day to bring new businesses to Tennessee and to retain businesses that are already here. I will not, however, allow such businesses to decide how we spend your tax dollars! You deserve more from your state government. I will be held accountable for the way your tax dollars are spent, and will not allow that accountability to be compromised.

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