Sen. Lamar Alexander speaks to reporters and editors Friday at the Chattanooga Times Free Press.Alexander brags on state’s college opportunity
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander said last week Tennessee high school students have “the best opportunity in history” to earn a college degree.
The Senate Education Committee chairman spoke at an event with Gov. Bill Haslam where UBS announced a $2 million project called The TalentED Project, which will connect college admissions with high school guidance counselors to help them match talented students to colleges that are a good fit for them.
Alexander called a college degree “the best investment they’ll ever make.”
“Community college is free in Tennessee, and if they choose to go to a four-year college, they’ll earn on average an additional $1 million over their lifetimes,” he said.
Alexander has introduced a bipartisan proposal, called the FAST Act, to reduce the FAFSA the Free Application for Federal Student Aid from 108 questions to two.
“We know that college degrees are becoming more and more important – so it’s well-timed that they are more accessible than ever to Tennesseans, regardless of their income.”
Starrett names campaign leadership team
Grant Starrett, who is seeking to unseat 4th Congressional District Rep. Scott DesJarlais in the 2016 Republican primary, has announced his campaign leadership team.
“I am fully confident that we have assembled the top talent to bring our consistent conservative message to voters across the district and eventually into the halls of Congress,” Starrett said in a news release.
The team includes consultant Mark Braden, a former campaign manager for Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and former aide to U.S. Rep. John Duncan Jr.; campaign manager Tommy Schultz, former communications director for the Tennessee Federation for Children and New Hampshire communications director for the Romney campaign; finance consultant Taylor Ferrell, also a former Alexander aide and a UTC graduate; and finance chairman Lee Beaman, chairman and CEO of Beaman Automotive Group in Nashville.
Smith to address Pachyderms
Hamilton County Public Defender Steve Smith will be the guest speaker at Monday’s Pachyderm Club luncheon.
The meeting starts at noon at the Century Club Banquet Hall, 3221 Harrison Pike.
Upcoming speakers include Dalton State economics professor Robert Culp on Sept. 28 and Hamilton County Register of Deeds Pam Hurst on Oct. 5.
For more information, visit hcgop.com/pachyderm/ pachyderm-club-of-hamilton-county-77.
County finance panel to meet
The Finance and Insurance Committee of the Hamilton County Commission will hold a special called meeting at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, before the commission’s regular 9:30 a.m. business meeting.
The meeting will be held in the County Commission office, Conference Room 401, in the county courthouse at 625 Georgia Ave.
Democrats set anniversary gala
The Greater Chattanooga Democratic Women’s Club will hold its 40th anniversary celebration luncheon Oct. 10 in the Chattanooga Choo Choo’s Roosevelt Room, 1400 Market St.
Jenny Carter, president of the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women’s Clubs, will be the featured speaker. Cost of the luncheon is $35 per person, while reserved section tables for eight are $300.
Reservations are required and payment must be made to the GCDWC by Oct. 5. Please specify if you are requesting the vegetarian meal option.
Send checks to Paulina Wampler, 1808 Hidden Harbor Drive, Hixson, TN 37343. For more information or reservations, please contact Rita Fehring at ritazilla@gmail.com.