 Bryson announces candidacy for governor
By CAROLE ROBINSON
crobinson@williamsonherald.com
“Hi. I’m state Sen. Jim Bryson and I’m running for governor of the great state of Tennessee.”
With those words, Bryson, 44, became the first Williamson Countian in more than 100 years to make a serious bid for the state’s highest elected office.
Bryson, surrounded by his wife Carol and their four children, made his official announcement in the Veranda Room of the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville. Standing by were Republican Party leaders, including former Gov. Winfield Dunn, Bob Davis, chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, and several lawmakers.
Bryson set out his agenda.
“I will be a governor who is ready to fight for Tennessee values,” he said. Education, ethics and state spending are also a part of his agenda, and “there won’t be a state income tax during my administration,” he said.
With that speech, which lasted less than five minutes, Bryson set his agenda and started another race — the race to the nearest election commission.
With his petition for office in hand, Bryson headed from the Hermitage to the Williamson County Republican headquarters on East Main Street, where hundreds of supporters lined up to put their names on his qualifying papers and perhaps be part of history.
Bryson’s announcement came just days before the filing deadline for state and national offices and caused a flurry of activity as residents of the 23rd Senatorial District raced to the Davidson and Williamson County Election Commissions to pick up petitions for the seat Bryson will be vacating once the legislative session has adjourned in May.
The 23rd District covers all of Williamson County and a small portion of southern Davidson County.
So far, seven Williamson County Republicans and two Davidson County Republicans have picked up petitions. Officials said no Democratic candidates had yet picked up petitions.
As of press time, only three have filed. The deadline for filing in both counties is noon today, April 6. Filing by press time were 10th District Williamson County Commissioner Bob Barnwell, 6th District Williamson County Commissioner Jeff Ford and Steve Cates of Brentwood, a local developer.
Bryson, considered an underdog in the upcoming race against Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen, has generated a lot of excitement among local Republicans but faces an uphill battle to raise both money and name-recognition around the rest of the state.
Since Bryson is a sitting legislator, he is prevented from legally fundraising until May 15. He faces Bredesen’s war chest of more than $4 million, but he is not deterred.
“My family will tell you I’m not the kind of guy who likes being told I can’t,” he said to supporters at the Hermitage Hotel.
That was demonstrated when, at the age of 25 and against all advice, he founded 20/20 Research Company. In 2002 Bryson proved that being a political underdog is merely another challenge when he faced former state legislator and sitting county executive, Clint Callicott in the Republican primary for the senate seat he now holds. It is that can-do confidence that keeps him optimistic about the gubernatorial race.
Posted on: 4/5/2006
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