Tag Archives: Zach Wamp

Planes, buses, and SUVs

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The three leading Republican candidates for Tennessee governor today are making a number of campaign stops in the final push to reach voters before Thursday’s primary election.

But the mode of transportation chosen by each will determine just how much of the state can be covered. Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam’s itinerary suggests that air travel will be necessary. U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp tweeted his disapproval of his rival’s flight plan, and said that he will stay in his “used RV.” Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey’s schedule includes cities and towns exclusively in East Tennessee, the home of his state Senate district.

No information has been received regarding Basil Marceaux’s travel plans or choice of transportation.

Write-in vote: Should public university employees make political endorsements?

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Bruce Pearl, head basketball coach at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, has endorsed Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam for governor, and is currently on a statewide tour where the two are appearing jointly in get-out-the-vote rallies. (For any local readers interested, the pair will be in Chattanooga Tuesday afternoon, August 3rd, at the Doubletree Hotel downtown, at 5:00 p.m.)

U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, who represents Tennessee’s Third Congressional District and is also seeking the gubernatorial post, says that Pearl should not be appearing on the campaign trail with Haslam, nor making endorsements in the race, in part because his salary is paid by all taxpayers, and because UTK is the flagship state university campus for all Tennesseans.

I’d like to hear your thoughts. Here are some questions to get things rolling. If Pearl had instead picked Wamp, would the latter have rejected the endorsement? For that matter, would Haslam be similarly calling foul?

How much is this related to the relative amount of “clout” that this particular university employee brings as a nationally recognized athletic leader, versus a member of the administration, faculty, or staff whom people would be, well, less interested in seeing?

A factor that is more specific to this situation is the Haslam family’s significant financial support of the university. Does that add complications?

You are invited to share your thoughts in the Comments.

Debate broadcast tonight on state’s NBC affiliates

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Four of the candidates running to be Tennessee’s next governor will participate in a town hall-style debate Monday night in Belmont University’s Curb Center. Nashville television station WSMV will broadcast the event, and other NBC affiliates around the state are expected to carry the signal.

The only Democrat in the race, Mike McWherter, will appear with three of the Republicans seeking to gain their party’s nomination: Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp.

(I personally hope it’s being streamed on the Web as well, since the time — 8:00 Eastern, 7:00 Central — conflicts with “Adventure Time” on Cartoon Network, and I’m outnumbered in any contest that might ensue over the viewing choice. There’s always the US-101 radio simulcast, too.)

You’re invited to follow @TnTicket on Twitter for live commentary during the event, although if doing so will distract you from getting information you need, then I’ll understand.