Nominated Democratic candidate for Tennessee Governor Mike McWherter announced that Agricultural Commissioner Ken Givens would be joining his campaign as a Senior Advisor beginning Monday. The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon in the Old Supreme Court chambers at the State Capitol.

Commissioner Givens has served as head of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture since Governor Bredesen appointed him to the position in 2002. He is past-president of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture and currently serves as president of the Southern United States Trade Association, both organizations representing the agricultural interests of 15 southern states and two U.S. territories.

“I am thrilled Commissioner Givens has decided to join me in my quest to become Tennessee’s next governor,” said Mr. McWherter. “His wealth of knowledge, extensive experience, and business credentials make him an invaluable addition to our campaign.”

In 2006, Commissioner Givens was named by Governor Bredesen as co-chairman of the state’s Alternative Fuel Working Group, a six-agency task force charged with developing a comprehensive alternative fuels strategy for Tennessee. The working group has been successful in helping to increase the production, distribution and use of biofuels, particularly biodiesel and ethanol, in both the public and private sectors.

“As a state House member during the McWherter years, I worked with Governor Ned McWherter on very important legislative issues such as reforming and funding k-12 education thru the BEP, as well as funding much needed highway projects at both the local and state level,” said Commissioner Givens. “We also provided more school health services for students, and passed legislation to provide for land, soil and water conservation to name just a few of many important programs.”

Several months ago the Democratic nominee began a Mike Works! tour, which puts him to work alongside small business employees across the state in an effort to learn what needs to be done to get the economy moving again. The tour is part of Mr. McWherter’s plan to create jobs by providing targeted tax breaks to small business that hire new workers.

The addition of Commissioner Givens represents Mr. McWherter’s commitment to building up Tennessee’s economy and recruiting new businesses to the state.

“With the exception of Governor Bredesen, I can’t think of anyone that has done more for businesses in this state than Ken Givens,” said Mr. McWherter, Jackson businessman and Democratic nominee. “Just a glance at his extensive list of accomplishments would be enough to convince even the most skeptical observers that Commissioner Givens knows what it takes to put Tennesseans back to work.”

Mr. McWherter, the Democratic nominee for governor, officially kicked off his election campaign with a viewing party at LP Field on election night, and then a three-city tour of East Tennessee the very next day. From the day he first announced his candidacy, Mr. McWherter has focused on getting people back to work.

“I came to know Mike during the time I worked with his father and I am convinced he is the right person to build upon that legacy as well as the very significant accomplishments of the Bredesen years,” said Commissioner Givens. “I got into this campaign to help rural Tennessee, and getting Mike to the governor’s office is the quickest, surest way to improve the lives of both urban and rural Tennesseans."

Commissioner Givens is scheduled to step down from his post at the Department of Agriculture to work full-time on the McWherter Campaign on Monday.