By Andy Sher
Staff Writer
NASHVILLE - Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam came back swinging on Saturday in a news release in which he charged an ad by U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp was "grossly distorted and misleading."
"The congressman knows better," Mr. Haslam said. "He knows I am a staunch supporter of our Second Amendment rights. He knows Knoxville has the lowest property tax rates in 50 years, and he knows and is on record praising my family's business for its role in this state as a good corporate and community citizen."
He said "everything" the congressman did on Friday ... smacked of a desperate, failing campaign throwing Hail Marys - resorting to personal attacks and pleading for more free media time, sure signs of a campaign in trouble."
The gas-gouging charge stems from April 2009 when the Haslam family's Pilot Corp. and Pilot Travel Centers chain of truck stops were among 16 companies or individuals that settled with Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper over gas-price gouging allegations during Hurricane Ike in 2008.
Prices hit as much as $4.99 at four Knoxville-area Pilot stations. The company was fined by Georgia and Kentucky officials as well.
Mr. Haslam, a former Pilot president, was not in charge of Pilot at the time. But he has an ownership stake in Pilot and steadfastly refuses to specify that is. He also has declined to say how much money he makes from Pilot. While he is described in the Wamp ad as a "billionaire," the mayor has steadfastly refused to state what his net worth is.
For complete coverage see tomorrow's Times Free Press.