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TENNESSEE |
Nov. 2, 2010 Governor |
Door Hanger, 3 1/2" x 8 1/2". |
Our state is facing critical issues and I have some innovative ideas about how we can get our economy growing, improve our schools and streamline state government. Working with you, I know we can ensure that our state has a bright future as we deal with the challenging years ahead.
For the last six years, I've been the Mayor of Knoxville, and we've had real successes. Before that, I had a 23 year career in business, creating good jobs and managing lean budgets. I'd like to put those experiences to work, serving Tennesseans as the next Governor.
I hope we'll have a chance to talk, please feel free to email me with your suggestions at Bill@BillHaslam.com or call our campaign headquarters at 615.254.4799.
I've put some information on the back about my family and me.
See you soon!
Bill Haslam
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Authorized and paid for by Bill Haslam for Governor.
The Hon. Howard H. Baker, Jr. Honorary Chairman.
Herbert Slatery, Treasurer www.BillHaslam.com
Bill Haslam. Who is he? |
ELECTION
DAY - NOVEMBER 2 EARLY VOTING BEGINS OCTOBER 13 |
Great dad. Great husband. Great person.
Bill and Crissy Haslam have been married for 29 years. They have two daughters, Annie and Leigh, a son Will, and his wife Hannah.
Successful, popular Mayor. Now in his seventh year as the successful Mayor of Knoxville, he has changed the spirit of the city. The city is in strong financial condition and has consistently been named one of the top cities for job growth and ecomomic opportunity.
The leader Tennessee needs for the challenging times ahead. Tough times call for a good man making good decisions for the right reasons; a trusted conservative who can make hard choices between what we want to have and what we really need to have; a leader who can balance the state's budget, get education on the right track and recruit good jobs to Tennessee. Tennessee needs a man who can do this with dignity, a smile on his face and grace in his heart.
A man named Bill Haslam.
The Haslam familyBILLHASLAM.COM
daughters Leah and Annie, Bill, Chrissy, son Will and his wife Hannah
Booklet, 8 7/16"x 11", 16 pages.
JOBS4TN.com
JOBS. THE RIGHT PLAN FOR TENNESSEE.
BILL HASLAM'S PLAN TO MAKE TENNESSEE THE NO. 1 STATE IN THE SOUTHEAST FOR HIGH QUALITY JOBS
BILL HASLAM
THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE
LETTER FROM BILL HASLAM
Dear FellowTennesseans,
Like you, I'm concerned about the future of our great state. A national recession has affected families all across Tennessee, and many folks are struggling to find jobs that will pay enough to keep food on the table and a shelter over their heads. I'm also concerned about our schools and the future for Tennessee students, who rank 41st out of 50 states on national achievement tests. In 2008 alone, nearly 28,000 students dropped out ofTennessee high schools, and just over a fifth of adult Tennesseans have a bachelor's degree.
We're facing these challenges at a time when our state budget presents a bleak picture. Earlier this year, Governor Bredesen described his final budget as the most difficult he's ever prepared. However, because of the state's current reliance on one-time money from the Rainy Day Fund and federal stimulus package as well as ongoing low revenue projections, next year's budget will be even more challenging. Making matters worse is an Administration in Washington determined to force its agenda on Americans who don't want it and can't afford it.
In spite of the challenges we face, I'm optimistic because Tennessee is a resilient state with many unique advantages. We have many key assets – like no income tax – that we can leverage for job creation, and some recent reforms and investments in education have provided a unique opportunity to transform our schools. I'm also confident that the right governor can take our budget challenges and turn them into an opportunity to restructure state government and make it leaner and more efficient for the future.
From the very beginning, my campaign has been focused on listening, learning, and proposing real solutions to bring jobs to Tennessee. Earlier this year, my wife Crissy and I spent three weeks on a statewide Jobs Tour, meeting with small business owners and economic development professionals all across the state.
The concerns heard most often on the Tour and throughout the campaign involve the short supply of properly trained and educated workers in Tennessee. In April, I crisscrossed our state again, this time visiting community colleges, technology centers, and four-year institutions to learn more about what our state should be doing to prepare workers for a 21st century economy. We then launched a concentrated focus on improving K-12 education in order to make sure we're graduating more students who are prepared for college or a good career.
I've spent 20 years in business and another 6 ½ as Mayor of Knoxville. I've led in good times, and I've led in tough times. I know what it takes to run a successful organization. AS GOVERNOR, MY TOP PRIORITY WILL BE MAKING TENNESSEE THE NO. 1 STATE IN THE SOUTHEAST FOR HIGH QUALITY JOBS. The following plan contains a blueprint for how to get us there while standing up for our Tenth Amendment right to govern our state according to our own priorities and fighting to protect the values we all hold dear. We must never forget Scripture's admonition against gaining the whole world and losing our soul.
I hope you'll read my plan and continue to follow our campaign as we travel all across the state discussing my ideas for growing jobs and making sure Tennessee continues to be one of the best places in the country to raise a family. With your help, we'll set Tennessee on the right path for a successful future.
Bill Haslam
Bill Haslam
CONSERVATIVE FISCAL LEADERSHIP
- First ask the question, SHOULD STATE GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY BE DOING THIS?
- Always ask the question, is this the MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WAY to do it?
- MANAGE CONSERVATIVELY and SPEND LESS than you take in.
- HOLD THE REINS when times are good.
- PRIORITIZE when times are bad.
- AVOID DEBT.
- KEEP TAXES LOW.
- Ensure Tennessee REMAINS A STATE WITHOUT AN INCOME TAX.
- Ensure every initiative of state government is producing a MEASURABLE, POSITIVE OUTCOME.
- Be a FAITHFUL STEWARD of taxpayer dollars.
Between a sluggish economy and state revenue shortfalls, rapidly depleting federal stimulus money and a reliance on one-time money from the state's Rainy Day Fund, Tennessee is facing a budget crisis unlike any in modern memory. And Washington is making it worse. Tennessee needs a governor who has managed difficult budgets before and who can guide us through this crisis.
I am the only candidate for governor who has prepared, proposed, passed and implemented a budget – the same way a governor does.
I spent years watching every penny and making tough calls while operating a successful Tennessee-based, national company. As Mayor, I've tripled Knoxville's Rainy Day Fund, lowered the debt by 25 percent, submitted seven balanced budgets, reduced the number of city employees, and brought Knoxville's property tax rate to the lowest level in more than 50 years.
I know it's not going to be easy when the next governor takes office, but taxes are job killers. The last thing we should do is raise taxes on a population that is already struggling and a small business community that has been forced to cut back. I am 100 percent opposed to a state income tax, and as governor I will veto any attempt to enact one.
Tennessee already has the highest combined state and average local sales tax rate in the nation and I will not allow it to get any higher. As governor, I will make sure the state lives within its means. As the only candidate with executive experience in business and government, I'm best prepared to force the state to prioritize, make difficult cuts when we have to, and manage our state budget conservatively without more taxes.
In order to govern successfully within the budget constraints we face, I will:
• IMMEDIATELY LAUNCH A TOP-TO-BOTTOM REVIEW OF STATE GOVERNMENT in order to identify and eliminate waste, set priorities and establish measurable goals for those priorities and ensure all aspects of state government are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible.
• MANAGE STATE GOVERNMENT ACCORDING TO MY TEN PRINCIPLES FOR CONSERVATIVE FISCAL LEADERSHIP.
JOBS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
My top priority as governor will be making TENNESSEE THE NO. 1 STATE IN THE SOUTHEAST FOR HIGH QUALITY JOBS. At a time when our state is facing a double-digit unemployment rate and many more are underemployed, Tennessee needs a governor who understands how to create jobs. My jobs strategy includes both short-term and long-term efforts to attract high quality jobs to Tennessee and to prepare Tennesseans to fill those jobs.
The first thing we must do is help people get back to work as soon as possible. Immediately upon taking office, I will:
- LEAD THE CREATION OF AN ONLINE "JOBS CLEARINGHOUSE" for Tennessee that will pull together existing market data in a user-friendly way so that every jobseeker, employer, community official, higher education institution and economic development organization has access to timely and accurate information on the current and future economic landscape of Tennessee.
- ENSURE THIS REAL-TIME, MULTI-SOURCED
SYSTEM ALLOWS USERS TO EASILY ACCESS TAILORED
INFORMATION on each community and region's industry
strengths and educational attainment levels,
projected workforce needs, and the training and
education required for high
demand career fields as well as information on how
it can quickly be obtained.
- PERFORM REGIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENTS so that we can quickly begin to help employers, postsecondary institutions and local officials develop strategies for helping businesses grow and local workers receive the training necessary to fill new jobs.
REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
From FedEx, the medical device industry and the TVA Megasite in West Tennessee, to the healthcare and entertainment industries in Middle Tennessee, to Volkswagen, UT, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Eastman Chemical in East Tennessee, there are unique opportunities in every region of the state to recruit to our strengths and create high quality jobs. As governor, I will leverage each region's existing assets in order to grow jobs in every county of the state. My plan is to:
- RESTRUCTURE THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BY DECENTRALIZING THE "HOME OFFICE" AND PUSHING LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT TO THE REGIONAL LEVEL.
- CREATE REGIONAL "JOBS BASE CAMPS" with the responsibility of aligning and coordinating regional resources, staff, education, labor and economic development strategies into a powerful, unified plan for each region.
- USE REGIONAL STRATEGIES TO BUILD ON EXISTING STRENGTHS and find innovative solutions to each region's unique challenges.
- HELP EACH REGION IMPROVE COORDINATION BETWEEN EMPLOYERS, POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS as part of an effort to enhance workforce development so that local businesses can grow, every region can attract the jobs of the future and local workers will have access to the training and education necessary to perform current and future jobs.
- MAKE SURE EVERY COMMUNITY IS HEARD BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE and that the state capitol does not become insular.
CONCENTRATED FOCUS ON SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH
Two-thirds of the new jobs in this country are created by small businesses. The current administration in Tennessee has done a good job hitting home runs by bringing in large investments like Hemlock, Volkswagen and Wacker. But if we truly want to be a leader in job creation, we've got to focus on the singles, doubles and triples that homegrown small businesses create for us as well. To support small businesses, I will:
- LAUNCH "SMALL BUSINESS WORKS," A CAMPAIGN DEVOTED TO PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND JOB GROWTH by working with small business owners to create the best possible environment for starting or growing a business while enhancing the state's efforts to provide useful, timely information and guidance to anyone seeking to start a business here. The goal will be to make sure there is no better place in the country to start or grow a business than Tennessee.
- INITIATE "TENNESSEE FIRST" – a component of "SMALL BUSINESS WORKS" and a concentrated effort to identify the 100 fastest growing businesses in Tennessee and connect them to relevant small businesses for matchmaking opportunities. "Tennessee First" will make technical assistance available to relevant small businesses, and it will also utilize our regional jobs base camps by working to identify areas for businesses to expand or "outsource" operations within the state.
FOSTERING A BUSINESS-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT
In order to attract and retain high quality jobs, Tennessee must maintain an environment friendly to business. Taxes are job killers, and state government should be a resource, not a hindrance to job growth. As governor, I will:
- KEEP TAXES LOW.
- ENSURE TENNESSEE REMAINS A STATE WITHOUT AN INCOME TAX.
- CONSTANTLY LISTEN TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS to make sure state government is doing everything it can to create the best possible environment for job growth.
THE JOBS TOUR
- Three straight weeks on the campaign trail entirely devoted to jobs
- Covered all three Grand Divisions of the state -one per week
- Conducted 15 small business roundtables with more than 220 small business owners
- Toured 58 factories, businesses,job sites and facilities
- Held seven meetings with 94 local economic development professionals
- Received more than 168 questions, comments and idea submissions in addition to more than 3,000 Jobs Tour video views at www.Jobs4TN.com
EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Education is our best long-term economic development strategy. I've created thousands of jobs as a business leader, and I've recruited thousands more jobs to Knoxville as Mayor. I understand what it takes to grow jobs in this state, and the single greatest hindrance to recruiting the jobs of the future to Tennessee is the quality of our education system. As governor, I will focus on improving education and. workforce development so that everyTennessean will have the opportunity to obtain a high quality job.
As governor, my strategy for improving education will focus on three key areas: the state's s public K-12 education system, school choice and parental involvement, and workforce development.
K-12 EDUCATION REFORM
Tennessee's K-12 education system is at a crossroads. Today, Tennessee students rank 41st on national tests, behind students from the vast majority of our neighboring states. In 2008, nearly 28,000 students dropped out of high school in Tennessee. However, recent reforms and investments in Tennessee's education system have created a unique opportunity to turn our schools around and implement meaningful education reform that will benefit generations
to come. In order to take advantage of this opportunity, Tennessee needs a governor with executive experience and the courage to stand up for real reform. As governor, I will:
- DEVELOP GREAT PRINCIPALS by creating a statewide leadership academy network that will serve to coordinate the efforts of existing principal preparation programs. The goal of this network will be to produce well-trained and highly effective school leaders for every region, school district and school across the state. As a businessman, I understand the importance of having a highly effective leader onsite with the right autonomy and accountability, and I'll make sure every Tennessee school has great leadership.
- RECRUIT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST INTO TEACHING by promoting innovative programs that provide alternative paths into the profession. I will expand the teacher pipeline in order to account for the coming shortage and make sure our students receive the best possible instruction.
- SUPPORT THE STATE'S NEWLY IMPLEMENTED STANDARDS that raise expectations for our students and resist any pushback that comes with a more realistic assessment of how our students and our schools are faring.
- FULLY UTILIZE OUR STATE'S RICH DATA SYSTEM in order to intervene when students arefalling behind and help teachers hone their practice.
- WORK TO INCREASE THE PREVALENCE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IN TENNESSEE by supporting the removal of restrictions such as the cap on the number of charter schools allowed to operate in the state as well as restrictions on who can enroll in charter schools.
- SUPPORT PARENTS WHO CHOOSE HOME EDUCATION and make sure the state isn't burdening them.
- MAKE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT A MAJOR COMPONENT OF EACH REGION'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY and use each on-the-ground regional jobs base camp director I appoint to connect employers and postsecondary institutions to form public-private partnerships for workforce development.
- INCREASE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND TRAINING by working with institutions to adapt to the needs of the local workforce, including developing Mobile Training Units at appropriate community colleges and technology centers that can go on-site to deliver the advanced training employers are requiring of their workers. I'll also increase online course offerings, look for inexpensive ways to hold classes off-campus by taking advantage of other public buildings and offer classes at times that meet the needs of local workers and residents.
HEALTH CARE
As Mayor of Knoxville, I introduced measures into the city's health plan that incentivized personal responsibility and emphasized preventive care in order to improve health and lower the city's healthcare costs. This is the same approach I will take to health care as governor.
Unfortunately, Tennessee ranks near the bottom in a number of important health categories, including obesity rates for children and adults, smoking rates, adult diabetes and childhood immunizations. We're also battling increasing costs from unfunded federal mandates, fraud and abuse in our TennCare system, and frivolous lawsuits that drive up costs and force doctors to practice defensive medicine.
As governor, I will:
- FIGHT UNFUNDED MANDATES and pursue every available option in order to prevent the damaging impact of federal healthcare legislation on our state.
- INTRODUCE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY INTO OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND EMPHASIZE PREVENTIVE MEDICINE in order to improve health outcomes in a cost effective manner.
- ENSURE TENNCARE NEVER AGAIN THREATENS TO BANKRUPT OUR STATE.
- STAMP OUT TENNCARE FRAUD AND ABUSE and save taxpayers money by expanding the work of the Office of Inspector General.
- PASS MEANINGFUL TORT REFORM to lower healthcare costs and allow doctors to stop practicing defensive medicine.
As governor, I will:
- LEVERAGE THESE INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT by building on regional healthcare strengths.
- CONNECT RESEARCH AND INDUSTRY LEADERS TO PROVIDERS to increase cooperation and create a healthier Tennessee.
CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Safe neighborhoods and communities are the key
to a healthy, vibrant society. As Mayor, I work with
local law enforcement officials to keep the streets of
Knoxville safe, and through this experience I
understand the need for unique local solutions. As
governor, I will work with sheriffs and other local
law enforcement officials to combat crime and improve
public safety.
If we want to reduce crime in
Tennessee, we have to make it a priority. As governor,
I will focus on both short-term and long-term
solutions for crime prevention and reduction.
Specifically, I will:
- STRENGTHEN STATE SENTENCING LAWS in order to keep violent and repeat offenders locked up.
- MAKE OUR CORRECTIONS SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENT in order to keepTennesseans safe while minimizing the costs to taxpayers.
- IMPROVE EDUCATION TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TENNESSEE STUDENTS and keep them from turning to a life of crime. By improving our schools and attracting more and better jobs to Tennessee, we'll provide greater opportunities and reduce the number of people entering the criminal pipeline.
- ENSURE PROFESSIONALISM IN THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL and regain public confidence in this important agency.
- IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES and make sure
taxpayers are treated like valuable customers, the
way we do in business.
AGRICULTURE AND CONSERVATION
Agriculture accounts for nearly 11
percent of the state's economy and generates more than
$51 billion in economic activity.As governor, MY TOP
PRIORITY WILL BE MAKING TENNESSEE THE NO. I STATE IN
THE SOUTHEAST FOR HIGH QUALITY JOBS, and an important
part of that effort will be supporting existing
industries and helping them to retain and grow jobs.
Approximately 347,000 Tennesseans work in agriculture,
with more than 127,000 employed in agriculture
production.
I have a great appreciation for
Tennessee's agricultural industry and its importance
to our state's economy, culture and tradition. I've
met with farmers and agribusiness leaders all across
the state, and as governor I will make sure their
concerns are heard and addressed.
I also respect the individual concerns
and values of each community and will support the
efforts of local officials and community leaders to
create an economic development strategy for each
region based on each region's particular strengths,
needs and values.
In order to support Tennessee's farmers
and the cities and towns that are dependent upon
agriculture as well as the conservation efforts of
communities across the state, I will:
- CREATE THE FIRST-EVER DIRECTOR OF SMALL TOWNS & RURAL DEVELOPMENT within the state Department of Economic and Community Development, a leadership position focused solely on small towns, agriculture and rural development issues that will provide farmers and rural small business owners with a direct line to the governor's office and the commissioner of Economic and Community Development.
- WORK TO PROTECT THE HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR STATE, which is a major asset when recruiting companies to Tennessee. Establishing a Director of Small Towns & Rural Development will help rural communities create their own unique strategies for economic development, which in some areas will include conservation efforts to support the local tourism industry, protect certain areas for hunting and fishing and maintain an overall high quality of life.
- WORK WITH FARMERS, LOCAL OFFICIALS
AND INDUSTRY LEADERS to address agricultural issues,
including making sure the specific items included or
not included under the state sales tax exemption for
farm-related items represent a consistent and good
common sense policy, every region of the state has a
long-term strategy for accessing clean water, and
supporting a Tennessee agriculture policy that is in
the best interest of the farmers in our state and
uninfluenced by national interest groups.
As governor, I will work with my
Director of Small Towns & Rural Development to
make sure state agencies are being helpful and not a
hindrance to agriculture and rural economic
development and that every small town has a resource
at the state level to aid in developing individualized
strategies for economic growth.
ABOUT BILL
In these challenging economic times,
Bill Haslam stands out as a leader whose experience as
a businessman and Mayor of Knoxville uniquely
qualifies him to serve as the next governor of
Tennessee. As a lifelong Republican, Mayor Haslam
understands the need for conservative leadership
during these difficult times for our state.
Born and raised in Knoxville,
Tennessee, Bill was blessed with parents who instilled
their strong faith and work ethic in their children.
As a young man, Bill excelled in academics and sports
and was a leader in student government. At the age of
13, Bill got a job pumping gas at a family-owned
service station, and quickly learned that running a
small business took diligent hard work. When Bill was
16 years old, tragedy struck his family. The sudden,
unexpected death of his mother marked a turning point
in his young life. Bill's dad pulled the family
together and they leaned on each other and on their
faith to get through the tough days.
Bill entered Emory University in 1976,
and on the first day of class, met Crissy, a young
woman from Memphis who would later become his wife.
While attending college in Atlanta, Bill was a
volunteer leader for Young Life, a Christian ministry
that reaches out to adolescents. During the summers,
Bill volunteered for the grassroots political
campaigns of Howard Baker and Lamar Alexander and
gained a deep understanding of the type of principled
leadership needed to govern.
After Bill graduated with a degree in
History, Bill and Crissy married and moved to
Knoxville, where Bill had agreed, at his father's
urging, to work "for a couple of years" managing his
family's small chain of gas stations. In the early
years, Bill spent long days driving all over the
country identifying, negotiating and purchasing good
locations for new truck stops. While lots of
politicians talk about creating jobs—Bill Haslam has
actually done it. When he first went to work for the
company, Pilot Corporation had 800 employees; today
the company has approximately 14,000 employees in 39
states. Throughout his time at Pilot, Bill sustained
the company's growth by allocating resources wisely,
managing the business conservatively, working hard to
increase sales and satisfy customers. It was here that
Bill gained the essential hands-on knowledge that
makes the chief executive officer of a complicated
enterprise successful.
In 2003, at the urging of many friends,
he ran successfully for Mayor of Knoxville. The skills
he honed in the private sector have helped make him an
extremely effective Mayor. Bill has balanced seven
consecutive city budgets and has insisted that city
government focus on providing key services in an
efficient manner. Through his conservative fiscal
management, Knoxville has its lowest property tax
rates in 50 years. Because Bill strongly believes that
public officials must be accountable for their
decisions, he makes a point to regularly visit
neighborhoods on foot with a clipboard handy to take
notes of citizens' concerns. Two of Bill's priorities
as Mayor of Knoxville that he will continue to focus
on as governor are economic development and education
reform. Having personally grown private businesses, he
is uniquely qualified to recognize and promote
government policies that encourage business growth and
attract businesses to Tennessee. Bill also understands
that providing parents and teachers with the resources
they need to improve education will increase high
school and college graduation rates, which will
provide Tennessee with the type of educated workforce
needed to attract new businesses to our state.
All this, along with his traditional
values and commitment to preserving our Second
Amendment rights, traditional marriage, and the
protection of the unborn, uniquely qualifies Bill
Haslam to serve as governor of Tennessee.
Bill and his wife Crissy have been
blessed with three children: Annie, Leigh and Will.
Annie recently graduated from college and is working
in Knoxville, Leigh is still in school, and their
oldest child Will and his wife Hannah live and work in
Knoxville. For 27 years, Bill and Crissy have been
members of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church (EPC),
and for 21 of those years Bill has served as an Elder.
1701 WEST END AVENUE, SUITE 300
NASHVILLE, TN 37203
615-254-4799
615-254-5824 FAX
WWW.JOBS4TN.COM
Authorized and paid for by Bill Haslam for Governor.
The Hon. Howard H. Baker, Jr. Honorary Chairman.
Herbert Slatery, Treasurer www.BillHaslam.com
© 2010, Bill Haslam for Governor