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U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis
U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., said Friday that people wonder if he has other ambitions — specifically a run for governor in 2010.
“A lot of folks assume there’s something else,” he told the Southeast Tennessee Political Action Committee at the Mountain City Club. “There may be, but it will be another year or so before you know about that.”
The 4th District congressman told the Times Free Press in October that he will run to succeed two-term Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen.
He said then that he plans to seek a fourth term in the House this fall. He said it again Friday as he told the audience how he spends weekends driving across his expansive, rural district talking to voters. The 4th District spans the state south to north and includes all or part of 24 counties, including Bledsoe, Grundy, Marion and Sequatchie in Southeast Tennessee.
“I love the job that I’m doing, I love the people that I serve and my pickup truck verifies that,” Rep. Davis said.
He went on to tick off what he called four key qualities of a strong governor: managerial ability, surrounding oneself with good people, pushing for “equal education” across the state and being an ambassador.
Robin Smith, a Hixson resident who is chairwoman the Tennessee Republican Party, said the country has experienced economic woes such as exorbitant gasoline prices and a mortgage mess while the Democratic majority that includes Rep. Davis controlled the House.
She said he lacks the “big business” sensibility of some of the state’s previous chief executives.
“We need someone that’s going to be all about big business, and he’s actually from a very rural part of the state,” she said. “When you get to Nashville, there’s a different thing.”
Another name that has been mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for governor is former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., who lost the 2006 U.S. Senate contest to Republican Bob Corker.
Potential Republican candidates include former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn.
