WASHINGTON — Tom Ingram, the chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander listed as one of Washington, D.C.’s “Fabulous 50 Movers and Shakers,” is entering a governor’s race.
At least by proxy.
Mr. Ingram, who has served as Sen. Alexander’s chief of staff since 2002, announced Monday that he is leaving that position to become a consultant to Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam’s 2010 gubernatorial bid and pursue other private interests.
“I love the Senate and the people who form its community, but it’s time for me to graduate from this great institution and return to the private sector,” Mr. Ingram said.
Mr. Ingram said that in addition to consulting for Mr. Haslam’s gubernatorial bid, his future endeavors include “representation of several corporate clients to provide strategic consulting, not lobbying.”
For the last three years, Mr. Ingram has been listed as one of the Capitol’s “Fabulous 50 Movers and Shakers” by Roll Call, the Web site that covers Capitol Hill.
Mr. Ingram has worked with Sen. Alexander in state and national politics since 1974, when he was press secretary in the senator’s first bid for governor of Tennessee. Mr. Ingram then managed Sen. Alexander’s successful 1978 and 1982 gubernatorial runs.
“I’ve done some of my best work with Tom Ingram by my side,” Sen. Alexander said.
Mr. Ingram also helped engineer the victories of Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., in 2006 and former Sen. Fred Thompson, also R-Tenn., in 1994.
Sen. Alexander said Mr. Ingram would be replaced as chief of staff by David Morgenstern, now the senator’s legislative director.
Mr. Ingram, who also served as staff director of the Senate Republican Conference, will be replaced in that role by Ryan Loskarn, now the senator’s and the conference’s communications director.
Sen. Alexander is chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the party’s No. 3 leadership post in the Senate.
