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Veterans for Good Government
picks Haslam over Wamp
A non profit organization
created in 1992 to support candidates and
legislation aware of the needs of veterans and
the military, Veterans for Good Government has
stepped into issues and campaigns considered
urgent for involvement by the group.
First
candidate supported was Gene Roberts in his
campaign for reelection as Mayor of Chattanooga.
Others supported over the years have been Fred
Thompson, Bill Frist, Don Sundquist, Jim Henry,
Claude Ramsey and Zach Wamp--who benefitted from
several barbecues and receptions in his struggle
for the House of Representatives in 1994.
This year, after 16 years in congress, Wamp is
leaving Washington to run for governor of
Tennessee.
VGG has chosen to support
Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam as the more
qualified candidate over Wamp.
"We considered
their qualifications and, with reluctance, will
not support Zach for governor," commented Pete
Chaney, executive director for the organization.
"Zach is an intelligent and capable man, a
tireless campaigner. But he lacks the
business experience to manage an entity as large
as the State of Tennessee.
"Much of his local
support comes from loyalty e has built up and
being the hometown boy. That's not enough.
Personal feelings must be put aside for the good
of the state's future.
"He has never run any
business, let alone one this critical in
troubled economic times. He should have
stayed in congress."
The endorsement of the
VGG for Haslam follows:
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VGG's endorsement of Bill Haslam
Zach Wamp had a tough fight in 1994
against Randy Button for the House of Representatives,
but won a ticket to Washington.
He went in on the Contract with America promise.
It’s been a breeze since then and he served his
district well, especially Oak Ridge.
Voters forgave him when he broke his pledge to
quit after four terms.
They would have kept him in Washington as long as
he wanted.
But he wants to be Tennessee
governor.
He was one voice over 500 in the
houses of congress, with that little influence and
weight to his decisions.
Zach has sold real estate but never run
a business.
Congress can spend money freely and
raise taxes or borrow whatever they want.
The governor of Tennessee is one voice
of decision.
He makes decisions affecting millions of
people and billions of dollars.
He can’t spend money he can’t see.
Zach has never had to make a
payroll or budget the accounts.
Congress is no training ground for
running a business, certainly no background for fiscal
responsibility.
Our organization was strong
behind him in 1994 and would continue to support him for
congress.
He should have stayed there.
We cannot support him for governor.
Bill Haslam has the experience
and ability.
He knows how to run a business and has
managed a city.
He will make a better governor.
Pete Chaney
Veterans for Good Government
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