Meet Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, Republican Candidate For Tennessee Governor

Add another name to the list of Tennessee Republicans running for Governor in 2010.

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam announced today, he will enter the race.  The former President of Pilot Corporation made a stop in Chattanooga this afternoon to talk with me, and others.

Haslam says he'll focus on economic development and K-12 education to improve Tennessee's bottom line.

He also says the next Governor needs experience deciding between competing, but valid needs. "Some people say we need to build more sidewalks so our kids can walk to school, we need to pave the roads more, work on the riverfront, work harder at recruiting jobs, pay our firefighters more, we need more policemen. You haven't heard a bad idea yet. Right? We'll how many people want to pay more taxes."

Haslam believes the quality of the institution is a reflection of the quality of the leader, and when it comes to schools, leaders need to learn how to better apply their resources.  "One of the things we're looking at in Knoxville is every teacher would have an education management information system on their desktop that would tell here's where we are. Here's where are test scores are, how many kids have absentism that's a concern."

To hear from Haslam in his own words, click on the video button below: