As a voter, I am not moved at all by elitist or liberal tagging games, political party affiliation, and commissioned polls. Really, a Washington insider calling someone elitist. Is this the silly season or what - all this name calling?

I prefer to look at the candidates' resume, credentials and past performance. In all categories, Mayor Haslam clearly has the best credentials and municipal experience to lead the state of Tennessee as governor.

This is not to imply that the other candidates are inferior, liberal, elitists, or other silly tags. It is just obvious that Mayor Haslam’s resume and credentials rise to the level of best candidate for the position. The challenges facing the state of Tennessee exist a municipal level, and direct executive leadership and fiscal responsibility, and a proven track record operating city or county government is an essential job function of governor.

The candidate whose resume has direct municipal budget development, and rubber-meets-the-road fiscal responsibility is the best candidate to be the executive leader or governor of the state of Tennessee. Mayor Haslam is simply the most qualified candidate.

April Eidson

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Congressman Zach Wamp "serves on the Liberty Caucus (sometimes called the Liberty Committee), a group of liberty-minded congressional representatives from both sides of the aisle. Congressman Ron Paul hosts a luncheon for the Liberty Caucus every Thursday. Other members include Jimmy Duncan of Tennessee, Virgil Goode of Virginia, Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland, Scott Garrett of New Jersey, Walter B. Jones of North Carolina and Jeff Flake of Arizona.

"Wamp is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, a post he has used to champion what he called his highest legislative priority - funding for his district's decaying lock at the Chickamauga Dam. In 2006, the eight-year, $349 million project was approved, but Wamp has had to continually work to protect the project from budget cuts and shortfalls.

"He also secured in the 2006 budget a $4 million appropriation for a methamphetamine task force, which was started in 1999 and has since expanded to all regions of Tennessee.

"Wamp has vigorously supported the Tennessee Valley Authority, one of the largest government-owned firms in the United States.

"Wamp has proposed legislation to allow the posting of the Ten Commandments in public buildings. He also voted for the bill of Wall Street bailout, but later has said he regrets that vote.

"When he was elected to the House in 1994, Wamp pledged to serve just twelve years (six terms) in the House, meaning that he would leave the House in 2007. However, shortly after winning re-election to a sixth term in 2004, Wamp announced he would run again in 2006 after all, citing his status as Tennessee's only member of the powerful Appropriations Committee. The pledge was "a mistake," he told the Associated Press in 2004.

"Wamp faced Brent Benedict, a computer programmer and consultant. During the campaign, Benedict made an issue of Wamp's breaking his term limit pledge saying that he would hold himself to six terms if elected. Despite this, Wamp was easily re-elected." - Wikipedia

I met Congressman Wamp more than 15 years ago and got to know him when I was the church news editor at the Chattanooga Free Press and the lead reporter at the Herald News in Dayton. Also, for years I sat behind him on Sunday mornings when I was a member of Red Bank Baptist Church and got to know him even better. I can tell you this: He and his family are faithful - to God and our country. And he admits his mistakes, even though keeping his pledge to serve just six years would have been, I believe, a bigger mistake.

I will not only vote for Zach Wamp for governor of Tennessee, but I will vote to put him in the White House some day if that door should open.

Jim Ashley
jashley41@comcast.net

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I know Zach Wamp, and I know of Bill Haslam. I am very aware of their attributes, accomplishments and what they can provide for our state of Tennessee. Zach is by far the best choice.

Six terms in Congress means Zach brings to the table a knowledge and relationships he has earned through his hard work and dedication. He has won the respect of many of his fellow Congressmen and Washington decision makers which will be a tremendous asset to Tennessee in stopping those millions of dollars in unfunded mandates that the Obama administration is unloading on Tennessee and other states (especially heavy Republican (Red) states.

Our state has survived this long without a state income tax somehow, but time has come take serious look at getting our fair share of our tax dollars from Washington for these entitlement programs, grants, and public projects, etc.

Zach has the experience to solve our budget problems, and he isn't bought and paid for by big business. His record proves he listens to the people of Tennessee. And yes, he changed his mind and ran for another term, but it was his supporters like me and thousands of others who asked him to run again.

Hamilton County has a lot to gain with Zach as Governor.

Bill Watkins