3-12-02, Voice in the Crowd
Tennessee Politics
Needs a Scorecard
By Pete Chaney
IPS Features
Politics is always interesting. Sometimes, fascinating. The Tennessee slate of candidates just became as exciting for a political watcher as the afternoon soap opera is for a soap fan. What started off as a boring political season for the Volunteer state is changing so fast you need a scorecard to keep up.
There was little doubt that Phil Bredesen would seek the
Democratic nomination for governor. Republican
incumbent Governor Don Sundquist had served two terms and couldn’t rerun.
Rep. Van Hilleary had been courting the nomination for a couple of years. Sen. Fred Thompson, the star of the GOP in Tennessee and much
of the country, was a favored candidate for governor but he let it be known
early he wasn’t interested. Indications
were he would seek reelection to the Senate and opposition would be unlikely.
Rep. Zach Wamp has made no secret he wants to go to the
Senate when Sen. Bill Frist presumably steps down.
With his Washington contacts and PAC friends, Van was
able to earn a substantial war chest. At
the same time he was amassing a heavy payroll with his staff.
And he began locking himself into an ultra right position on the budget
and other issues. He did have
support of his congressional colleagues. But
the rank and file Republicans around the state wished he had stayed in congress.
They sought someone more mature, some they considered
electable. Jim Henry was the name
that began to be circulated. A
former mayor of Kingston, veteran of the state legislature and minority leader,
he was known by officials in city, county and state government. They had worked with him and knew his ability.
But his name was unknown to the public.
It was almost like the fellow from Georgia people when people asked,
“Jimmy who?” People began to
sign onto his campaign based on the word of others.
Committees were set up to elect him before many had every met him.
They were relying on the opinion of officials and experienced political
enthusiasts they knew.
Locally, he was favored by such respected Republicans
and current or former officials as County Executive Claude Ramsey, Tax Assessor
Bill Bennett and former Mayor and realtor Gene Roberts.
Van’s flow of campaign donations slowed and many contributions were
turned toward Jim Henry. When people met him, they were glad they had joined his
campaign. A calm, modest man, he
inspires confidence. People believe
what he says and his sincerity that he wants people a part of the government.
When he criticizes others for not facing the problems, people believe he
will do something.
He looked like a relatively calm race with Jim and Van
squaring off for the Republican nomination.
Jim is a Vietnam War veteran and Van served in Desert Storm.
It began to look like a contest between a younger man with Washington
experience and a more mature candidate with a background of state politics.
Supposedly, Phil considered Van an easy candidate and preferred to face
him, not Jim.
One Hamilton County party official commented, “Van’s
a nice enough guy in congress with everybody else. If he should be the Republican candidate, Phil will eat his
lunch.”
Then came the minor earthquake in political alignments.
Fred Thompson announced he would not seek reelection.
Democrats began to throw their names around.
Van’s supporter Rep. Ed Bryant announced. Former Governor Lamar Alexander said he would run.
And Friends of Zach Wamp indicated Zach would change his timetable to
join the race.
An unbeatable candidate in his district and popular in
East Tennessee, Zach is weak in the western part of the state.
He decided to stick with his time table and wait for Bill Frist to step
down in 2006.
Money becomes more precious now.
Ed and Van have some of the same friendly contributors.
Lamar has his own sources for raising funds and Jim has acquired
considerable financial support from Republicans and many moderates who
appreciate his business experience and approach.
His work with handicapped children has earned him respect with
communities everywhere.
All this without even considering local races
everywhere—from sheriff to county commissioners.
However it turns out, this election year in Tennessee
certainly won’t be boring.
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