Franklin Mayor Ken Moore is considering running for the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-7) to run for Senate.
Moore said Wednesday it is a difficult decision because he loves his job as mayor, Franklin Home Page reports. He said he would continue to serve as mayor while campaigning.
Moore said he was encouraged by someone, whose name he did not reveal, to seriously consider campaigning for the seat.
State Sen. Mark Green (R-Clarksville) has already declared his intention to run, and Williamson County conservative Christian activist Laurie Cardoza Moore has said she’s considering joining the race.
The mayor, who describes himself as a moderate Republican, would be an establishment choice against Green and Cardoza Moore, who both have support among grassroots conservatives. Mayor Moore, meanwhile, has already drawn support from one prominent Tennessee Democrat.
Charles Robert Bone, a well-connected Nashville attorney, businessman and Democratic Party fundraiser, praised Moore on Twitter, saying, “Partisan politics aside, [Moore] would be a fine congressman and great for Middle TN.”
Moore was elected as a Franklin alderman in 2007 and served as vice mayor before becoming mayor in 2011.
He worked as an orthopedic surgeon for more than 28 years. In 2005, he spent time teaching orthopedic physician assistants in Bhutan and the following year spent a month in Ethiopia teaching orthopedic residents. He has remained involved on a state and national level as an advocate for physicians.
Moore said he has interacted with the Washington, D.C., political world first as a physician and now as a mayor.
“I think I bring something to the table that Washington needs right now, and that’s people that can get together and try to solve problems,” he said. “I think the general perception is that they can’t get anything done. I think they are getting things done, but those big issue items, they’re struggling with.”
Moore said “it’s encouraging that you have bipartisan efforts there to do some things about the Affordable Care Act. That’s a start.”
Blackburn announced her campaign for Senate earlier this month after Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) said he would not seek re-election.
Agenda 21 candidate?
Another race where we have the prospect of a “conservative/conservative/middle-of-the-road” race and what should be a conservative slam-dunk becoming a question mark. As conservatives we can’t seem to get run-offs in this state, but we sure can come up with spoiler candidates who provide us with establishment victories. Surely Laurie Cardoza Moore can find something better to do.