Lee squashes Capitol Hill rumors by confirming he will run for second term
Gov. Bill Lee has brought an end to persistent statehouse humors that might not seek second term in 2022.
“I love this job,” Lee said when asked about his plans during a press conference late last week. “It’s been a big challenge, but I love serving Tennesseans and I intend to do that as long they’ll let me.”
Pressed whether that meant he would run again, Lee responded: “Yes.”
The question was the last one posed of the governor by The Tennessean’s Joel Ebert before leaving for a new job in his native Chicago.
Ebert reports potential candidate to succeed Lee include House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. Others might include U.S. Rep. Mark Green, former Finance Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, Republican U.S. Senate nominee Bill Hagerty. The paper also includes U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn on the list of possible candidates.
The only eligible sitting governor not to seek re-election to second term was scandal-plagued Ray Blanton in 1978.
According to Ebert:
The pep Lee exuded during his early days in office has dissipated some as he’s faced months of difficult decisions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the March tornadoes and occasional bouts with state lawmakers.
Lee noted Thursday was the six-month anniversary since the deadly tornadoes touched down in Middle Tennessee, which was quickly followed by the state’s first case of COVID-19.
“Uncertain times, though, bring out the very best of people and we have certainly seen that in our state,” he said.
A deep dive into the Rocky Top corruption scandal
The Rocky Top investigation of the 1980s revealed bingo parlor operators had taken over state charters of legitimate Tennessee charities to run illegal gambling operations. Several state officials were indicted in the probe and two committed suicide. Randy McNally, then a backbencher in the state Senate, played a key role in the investigation by wearing a wire for FBI. Today, he’s the speaker of the Senate.
The Tennessean’s Joel Ebert has taken a deep dive into the scandal — and its lessons for the current political climate — for the paper’s its Grand Divisions podcast and in a print story with lots of great archival images.
It’s a great read (or listen) for a rainy fall day in Tennessee. Check it out here.
