By Andy Sher
Nashville Bureau
Gov. Phil Bredesen told Chattanooga supporters this morning he believes the county is on the verge of major economic growth.
“I actually think that Chattanooga and Hamilton County are poised for explosive growth,” the governor said as he began the second day of his cross-state reelection tour.
He said local government and business officials are “doing all the right things to attract new jobs.”
Gov. Bredesen alluded at an “active” economic opportunity that local and state officials are now pursuing.
He has spent Tuesday night in Chattanooga, and he greeted supporters at Miller Plaza this morning.
Hamilton County Democratic party Chairman Stuart James estimated there were some 300 people on hand for the morning event.
Former Chattanooga Mayor Jon Kinsey called Gov. Bredesen “the greatest governor in Tennessee history.”
The governor spoke about the need to improve education in the state and noted that in his first term, he raised teacher salaries above the Southeastern average. He also touted his prekindergarten initiative.
Gov. Bredesen also told reporters that he intends to work to change the Basic Education Program funding formula, which state officials use to allocated money to school districts across the state.
“The BEP is very much on the radar,” he said. “It is a little long in the tooth right now. There are a number of counties that I think are not getting a fair shake and Hamilton County is one,” he said.
“I am committed that we care going to open that and take a look at it,” the governor said.
After the Chattanooga rally, Gov. Bredesen began traveling to Kingston with stops scheduled later in the day in Cookeville and McMinnville.
Tennessee’s Republican political establishment is rallying behind state Sen. Jim Bryson, R-Franklin, a late entry into the GOP primary.
Bredesen campaign officials said they were pleased with crowd turnouts Tuesday in other parts of Tennessee, including Athens where some 350 to 400 people showed up a barbecue dinner and rally at Athens Regional Park.
Bredesen campaign officials said they hope the governor can draw support from East Tennessee Republicans as he did in his 2002 campaign against Republican Van Hilleary. Among those attending a Knoxville rally Tuesday were Senate Speaker Pro Tem Mike Williams, R-Maynardville.
Sen. Williams, who has sided with Senate Democrats on a number of important issues, said he might vote for Gov. Bredesen.
“I like what he’s saying this far,” Sen. Williams said of Gov. Bredesen, although he noted that he is not discounting voting for Sen. Bryson.
Several others have filed to run in the GOP gubernatorial primary, including Mark Albertini of Chattanooga. Democrats filing include Tim Sevier of Hixson.
E-mail Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com
See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.
Nashville Bureau
Gov. Phil Bredesen told Chattanooga supporters this morning he believes the county is on the verge of major economic growth.
“I actually think that Chattanooga and Hamilton County are poised for explosive growth,” the governor said as he began the second day of his cross-state reelection tour.
He said local government and business officials are “doing all the right things to attract new jobs.”
Gov. Bredesen alluded at an “active” economic opportunity that local and state officials are now pursuing.
He has spent Tuesday night in Chattanooga, and he greeted supporters at Miller Plaza this morning.
Hamilton County Democratic party Chairman Stuart James estimated there were some 300 people on hand for the morning event.
Former Chattanooga Mayor Jon Kinsey called Gov. Bredesen “the greatest governor in Tennessee history.”
The governor spoke about the need to improve education in the state and noted that in his first term, he raised teacher salaries above the Southeastern average. He also touted his prekindergarten initiative.
Gov. Bredesen also told reporters that he intends to work to change the Basic Education Program funding formula, which state officials use to allocated money to school districts across the state.
“The BEP is very much on the radar,” he said. “It is a little long in the tooth right now. There are a number of counties that I think are not getting a fair shake and Hamilton County is one,” he said.
“I am committed that we care going to open that and take a look at it,” the governor said.
After the Chattanooga rally, Gov. Bredesen began traveling to Kingston with stops scheduled later in the day in Cookeville and McMinnville.
Tennessee’s Republican political establishment is rallying behind state Sen. Jim Bryson, R-Franklin, a late entry into the GOP primary.
Bredesen campaign officials said they were pleased with crowd turnouts Tuesday in other parts of Tennessee, including Athens where some 350 to 400 people showed up a barbecue dinner and rally at Athens Regional Park.
Bredesen campaign officials said they hope the governor can draw support from East Tennessee Republicans as he did in his 2002 campaign against Republican Van Hilleary. Among those attending a Knoxville rally Tuesday were Senate Speaker Pro Tem Mike Williams, R-Maynardville.
Sen. Williams, who has sided with Senate Democrats on a number of important issues, said he might vote for Gov. Bredesen.
“I like what he’s saying this far,” Sen. Williams said of Gov. Bredesen, although he noted that he is not discounting voting for Sen. Bryson.
Several others have filed to run in the GOP gubernatorial primary, including Mark Albertini of Chattanooga. Democrats filing include Tim Sevier of Hixson.
E-mail Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com
See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.
