Guber forum: Harwell and Boyd clash on ECD grants; Fitzhugh criticizes Dean
In a gubernatorial candidate forum Tuesday, House Speaker Beth Harwell promised, if elected, to reject any state-funded financial incentives for businesses moving into Middle Tennessee, reports The Tennessean. Fellow Republican candidate Randy Boyd, a former ECD commissioner, rejected the idea.
On the Democratic side, House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh criticized his primary opponent, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, on his handling of federal relief funding after a 2010 flood hit the city.
AG declines to opine on Harwell campaign finances
Attorney General Herbert Slatery has declined to answer questions submitted to his office by the executive director of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance on the campaign finance, Drew Rawlins, about House Speaker Beth Harwell’s campaign finance tactics, reports The Tennessean.
GOP gubernatorial candidates fret about trade war, but declare trust in Trump
President Donald Trump’s plan to raise tariffs on foreign aluminum and steel drew concerns from most Republican candidates for governor at a forum on Thursday at Martin, according to the Associated Press. They generally indicated worry about a trade war could harming Tennessee’s farm exports, particularly soybeans.
House’s $250K Memphis money cut becomes GOP debate topic, inspires fundraising drive
In a debate Wednesday, three Republican candidates for governor said they disagreed with a House vote to cut $250,000 in funding for Memphis because of the city’s removal of Confederate monuments from former city parks. But Diane Black, Randy Boyd and Bill Lee also said they opposed the city’s action, reports the Memphis Daily News. House Speaker Beth Harwell, who missed the debate while presiding over the House in Nashville, voted for the Memphis funding cut.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been started on Facebook to raise funds to make up the money lost through the House vote, according to a separate News report. As of Thursday morning, $44,765 had been raised toward the $250,000 goal.
Guber campaign money: Boyd sets new record for self-financing (Lee and Black close behind)
Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd has set a new record for self-financing in a Tennessee political campaign, a review of financial disclosures filed this week shows. Williamson County businessman Bill Lee has also clearly passed U.S. Sen. Bob Corker’s old record and Diane Black has roughly matched it.
PAC airs second radio ad attacking ‘dishonest Diane Black’
A political action committee funded by millionaire businessman Joe Hollingsworth of Clinton is airing a second radio commercial attacking “dishonest Diane Black” as a gubernatorial candidate, reports Tennessee Star.
The latest 60 second radio ad from a group called Tennessee Jobs Now PAC (TnJobsNow.com) is airing on several stations across the state and follows up on an ad campaign in January that featured a man and woman talking about “Dishonest Diane” directing state contracts to her husband’s company while flushing money down the toilet — to keep Diane Black from getting her hands on it.
Democratic leader: Harwell’s TennCare work bill is a ‘political stunt’ using financial gimmicks
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Stewart says House Speaker Beth Harwell’s bill to impose work requirements on some people enrolled in the state’s TennCare program is “a political stunt to get votes in the governor’s race” and relies on “fairy tale” financial gimmicks to cover projected costs, reports the Times Free Press.
Registry dismisses campaign finance complaints against Black, delays decision on Harwell
A Tennessee panel has dismissed two campaign finance complaints against Republican U.S. Rep. Diane Black in her gubernatorial bid.
The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance dismissed complaints Wednesday that claim Black exceeded campaign contribution limits through donations from people and entities related to Tennessee trucking company Fitzgerald Glider Kits.
Linda Knight, a Black campaign attorney, called the allegations frivolous and baseless.
The registry delayed three complaints against Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell in her rival gubernatorial campaign until May. They claim Harwell’s political committee helped her campaign beyond legal limits and that she doesn’t have the money to support a $3.1 million campaign self-loan.
Harwell’s PAC puts up second ad promoting House speaker
Just days after her campaign was hit with an ethics complaint alleging House Speaker Beth Harwell’s gubernatorial campaign has illegally coordinated with her political action committee in running one TV ad, the PAC has begun airing a second commercial promoting Harwell, reports the Nashville Post.
GOP gubernatorial candidates differ — or dodge — on Trump’s gun law proposals
Excerpt from a story by the AP’s Jonathan Mattise:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In gun-friendly Tennessee, President Donald Trump’s ideas to ban bump stocks and bar people under 21 from buying semi-automatic guns have put the leading GOP candidates for governor in a tough spot. In response, they have mostly avoided taking firm stances.
