Blaming slim attendance on the Tennessee men’s basketball game happening at the same time, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Gibbons stopped by Panera Bread in East Brainerd on Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Gibbons gathered with five supporters in one of the restaurant’s corners, taking questions and offering a general outline of his platform. He said he wants to create jobs, improve schools and decrease the state’s violent crime.
Mr. Gibbons made no secret that he’s last among the four GOP candidates in fundraising, but he stayed optimistic and took a shot at the overall money leader, Pilot Oil executive and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam.
“What I hope is that message will trump money,” said Mr. Gibbons, who serves as Shelby County’s district attorney. “Obviously we’re not going to compete with the Haslams on money because they can spend an unlimited amount. They’re going to write themselves a check for their campaign for however amount of money they want to write it for.”
ELECTION DATES* April 5: Last day to register to vote in county primary* April 14-29: Early voting in county primary* May 4: County primary* July 6: Last day to register to vote in county general election* July 16-31: Early voting in county general election* Aug. 5: County general election
When asked how his experience of prosecuting criminals would lend itself to solving complicated economic issues, Mr. Gibbons said all three of his goals are related.
“If you make progress on one, you make progress on the other two,” he said. “The fact that we are third in the nation in our violent crime rate is not good in terms of selling Tennessee as a place for new businesses to locate.”
Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said he thinks the career prosecutor “lacks the competence” needed to steer the state toward economic prosperity.
“I don’t see any of the four Republicans offering serious solutions for our state about job creation,” he said. “Governor (Phil) Bredesen has created a template for us that I think voters will support when our Democratic nominee follows in those footsteps.”