MURFREESBORO, Tennessee — Four announced and expected Republican candidates for Tennessee governor spoke at Thursday evening’s Reagan Day Dinner sponsored by the Rutherford County GOP.
Participants included businessmen Randy Boyd and Bill Lee, Congresswoman Diane Black and State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville).
State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) said Wednesday she had to back out because of a scheduling conflict. At Thursday’s event, it was announced that State Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville) and House Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) were also unable to attend as planned. Norris, like Beavers, cited a scheduling conflict and Harwell had to go to Colorado to be with her sister, who broke her back.
Boyd and Lee are the only two who have officially launched campaigns for the 2018 race.
The four candidates who spoke Thursday at the Stones River Country Club in Murfreesboro answered questions about federal encroachment on states’ rights, school vouchers, sanctuary cities and Medicaid. All four gave responses that reflected few substantial differences.
There were no questions about Gov. Bill Haslam’s IMPROVE Act, which he recently signed into law after it passed in the state legislature, but not without fierce debate. The legislation raises the gas tax and allows municipalities to hold referendums on raising local taxes for transit.
Donna Barrett, chair of the Rutherford County GOP, asked the questions of the candidates. She told The Tennessee Star that a small committee came up with the questions and wanted to keep the focus on current and future issues rather than past legislation.
The event was billed as a chance for local Republicans to become better acquainted with confirmed candidates and those seriously thinking about running.
[…] in a letter to the Rutherford County Republican Party explaining why she was unable to attend the Reagan Day dinner in […]
[…] in a letter to the Rutherford County Republican Party explaining why she was unable to attend the Reagan Day dinner in […]
Bill Lee is a man of incredible character & integrity, a strong social & fiscal conservative but as a long time acquaintance, I highly doubt his resolve to govern as a conservative on key issues facing the state! And, as a result, I won’t vote for him. Mark Green has a proven conservative record in the legislature & I believe, unlike Bill Lee, he will thwart big government, liberal policies that politicians like Haslam & Boyd have embraced.
Mark stood on his beliefs but it was made clear to him that McCain was never even going to give him a chance to be confirmed! Senators have that power! As for Bill Lee didn’t he already say that although he is a social conservative he wouldn’t be focusing on those issues? Sounds to me like Bill Lee surrendered in advance!
Bill Lee will be the next Governor and will be the best we have ever had.
Mark Green can’t stand up for his own beliefs, how is he going to stand up for yours?