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.
