Zach Wamp, Republican candidate for governor, today announced his statewide finance committee.
Rep. Wamp also named Mandy Runnels, former finance director for the Tennessee Republican Party, former assistant director of strategic giving at the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action, and an associate of the RJD Group in Nashville, as his campaign finance director.
“I am honored and grateful that so many strong leaders of our great state are willing to lend their time and their talents to help us raise the funds it is going to take to carry my campaign for governor to the people of Tennessee,” Rep. Wamp said.
“These folks are top-notch business, civic and political leaders, and they will be key players in helping us multiply the deep financial support we have already enjoyed to date.”
Joining Bill Baxter, a leading Knoxville business executive, former TVA board chairman and former Tennessee Economic & Community Development Commissioner, who Rep. Wamp had previously announced as his Statewide Finance Chairman, as the latest members of the Zach Wamp for Governor state finance team are:
Darrell Akins Oak Ridge Chairman/Partner, AkinsCrisp Public Strategies
James Amos, Jr. Nashville CEO, Tasti D-Lite
Debbie Ballard Brentwood Partner, Ballard Brooks Events
Mike Ballard Brentwood President and CEO, National Seating & Mobility
Bill Baxter Knoxville Chairman, Holston Gases, Inc.
Will Bunch Maynardville Pharmacist, Okies Pharmacy, Inc.
Tim Burchfield Johnson City Owner, Chick-fil-A of Johnson City
Lewie Card Hixson Vice Chairman/Secretary, Card-Monroe Corp.
Rick Chinn Oak Ridge Partner, R&R Properties
Corky Coker Chattanooga President, Coker Tire Company
C.W. (Pete) Craven Oak Ridge Executive Director of Board, AllMeds, Inc.
Brian DeBusk Knoxville Vice Chairman, DeRoyal
Tom Decosimo Chattanooga CEO, Decosimo Corporate Finance, LLC
Gary Gaar Eads North Delta Sales Manager, Bayer CropScience LP
Diane George Collierville Broker, Home Realty Company
Mark Graham Franklin Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Wheelhouse, LLC
Zan Guerry Chattanooga Chairman of the Board/CEO, Chattem, Inc.
John Howell Nashville Sr. Loan Officer, Home Savings of America
Bob Jackson Nashville Master Franchisee, Cartridge World
Brenda Lawson Cleveland President/CEO, Brenda Lawson & Associates
Stephen Lynn Nashville CEO, Back Yard Burgers
Marshal Mize Signal MountainPresident, Marshal Mize Ford
David Ogle Sevierville Founder/President, Five Oaks Development Group
J. Wayne Roquemore Knoxville President, Lawler-Wood
Farrar R. Schaeffer Memphis President, Bluff City Jaguar Land Rover
Stephanie Scioscia Nashville Manager and Co-Owner, Iron Horse Farm
Stephen Scioscia Nashville Vice President Corporate Development, Quorum Health Resources
Laura Sholes Jonesborough Registered Nurse
Steve Simpson Franklin Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Wheelhouse LLC
Mark Smith Norris President, Mark’s Pharmacy/”Weight To Go” Weightloss
Pete Tashie Memphis President, Tashie and Associates
John “Thunder” Thornton Chattanooga CEO, Thunder Enterprises
Michael Turley Memphis Principal, Bryan-Turley Properties
John Wade Nashville Former TN Commissioner of Tourism
"We have worked hard to earn the support of these influential leaders over the first six months of this long campaign,” Rep. Wamp said. “This is a clear indication that top-notch business leaders all across the state not only believe I am the best candidate, but that with the proper resources, we will win this campaign."
Rep. Wamp said his state finance committee will continue to expand as more and more leaders sign on board.
He said, according to recent fundraising disclosures, he raised more in campaign funds during the first six months of 2009 than all but one other of the nine major Republican and Democrat candidates in the race for governor.