A group of business and government leaders have formed the Southeast Tennessee Political Action Committee (SETPAC). The organization’s primary mission is to play a leadership role in supporting qualified local and statewide candidates for public office, officials said.

SETPAC will endorse candidates it believes will most effectively tackle challenging issues including education, economic development, healthcare, and others that will improve the quality of life for citizens across the state of Tennessee, spokesman Albert Waterhouse said.

In addition to financially supporting targeted candidates, SETPAC will take a leadership role by stating positions on statewide and national issues, moderating candidate forums and debates, creating a speaker’s bureau for its leaders, and polling and researching the local market. The primary objective of the group is to be a strong independent voice to keep ethics in state politics in check and make sure elected officials are effectively meeting the needs of their respective constituents throughout the county and state, he said.

“We are a very diverse group that represents views on both sides of the aisle,” said Mr. Waterhouse. “In the short time we have been organized, we have raised several thousand dollars and interviewed many of the candidates running in the upcoming elections. We are dedicated to making an impact on this year’s elections and in helping to shape the political landscape of Hamilton County in years to come.”

SETPAC’s first order of business is to identify and endorse candidates running in the May 2 and August 3 primaries, and Nov. 7 general election, he said.

A SETPAC subcommittee has established strict criteria and guidelines to evaluate each candidate on the grounds of ethics, honesty, ability to grasp issues, make tough decisions and responsibly perform the duties of public office, it was stated.

Members will vote in secret on whether to endorse candidates and on distribution of funds and, upon awarding the financial support, SETPAC will formally endorse those chosen.

Another goal of SETPAC is "to implement a strategy to help repair the reputation and image of Hamilton County and the state, which has been damaged by the Tennessee Waltz investigation and other ethical improprieties," he said.

“SETPAC is focused on the integrity of elected officials and in projecting an image of honest governance to interested observers. Over time and through the hard work of our elected officials, Hamilton County will once again enjoy the stellar reputation it deserves,” Mr. Waterhouse said.

SETPAC, a state-registered political action committee, currently has 22 members and plans to limit its membership base to 25.

Members include Chairman Wilburn L. (Bubba) Ricketts, Vice-Chairman Charles C. Hunt, Secretary/Treasurer Liz Norris, Jimmy Anderson, Bill Bennett, J.B. Bennett, Becky Browder, Fran Dzik, Hayes Ledford, Mitch McClure, Gerald McCormick, Sonny Moore, Charlie Peavyhouse, John Sertel, Wayne Shearer, Will Smith, Gary W. Starnes, Lila Statom, Roger Tuder, Albert M. Waterhouse and Howard Cotter (non-attending and voting member).

For more information, contact Amy Busher at (423) 643-4977.