The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • 5

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 3, 2010 THE JACKSON SUN AS term in state wins second DISTRICT 79 Halford House its'- ir; House District 79 in Tennessee and Gibson County GIBSON v' BY STANLEY DUNLAP SDUNLAPJACKSONSUN.COM State Rep. Curtis Halford is heading to a second term in District 79 after holding off former Gibson County mayor Joe Shepafd in Tuesday's election. Halford easily wort, with 11,179 votes to votes for Shepard, according to urioffi- i cial results from Gibson and Carroll Halford was a Gibson County commissioner when he won his first run for state office in 2008. He continues the Republican hold of the seat after taking over for Chris Crider, who decided not to seek re-election to serve as mayor of Milan.

Shepard spent 20 years as sheriff of. Gibson County before spend- the Interstate 69 corridor, the port in Lake County and the Haywood County megasite are major tools to improve the job market in West Tennessee. "My job is to promote these things and see if we can't get something back," he said. need relief in Gibson and Car-roll (counties)" Halford is retired from overseeing production and administrative duties at Dyer Fiber glass. He spent six years on the Gibson County Commission and was in the middle of his-second term before entering office as a state representative.

He has said he feets more confident after learning the state House of Representatives operations during his two years. Halford said he would focus Key; Parts of Carroll County on eliminating regulations on small businesses, keeping inflation down and trying to help senior citizens deal with the rising cost of living expenses. Halford was endorsed by Tennessee Right To Life, the National Rifle Association and the National Federation of Independent Business. McWherter thanks supporters, wishes Haslam well HALFORD SHEPARD ing four years as mayor. "It just feels really great," tlalford said Tuesday night.

"I can't thank the people of Gibson and Carroll counties enough for what they've done for the confidence they've put in me to send me back to Nashville." Halford has said his focus will be on jobs fof the district, which covers Gibson County and a portion of Carroll County He's said infrastructure such as 1 7 Cv So3 1 i 'I I. CARROLL lie told, The Jackson Sun last month that his role is to create an atmosphere conducive to bringing in new jobs, including ensuring a trained work force and good schools, "They want to know if this is a good place for them to raise families," Halford said at that time. Stanley Dunlap, 425-9668 tion she would have been the one victorious tonight." Walker, the McWherters' son, is a freshman football and baseball player at Rhodes College. A graduate of University School of Jackson, he recently had knee surgery but expects to be ready for baseball season. He said his exposure to the campaign was invaluable.

"During the summer I spent most of my time in Jackson campaigning and going with my dad into West Tennessee," he said. "He worked so hard and taught me so much. He gave me the desire to work even harder for him. He's the biggest influence in my life, and I wanted to do him proud." "Even though the election didn't turn out the way we wanted it to, we're looking forward to the future," he said. Before conceding, Mike McWherter gave special thanks to his family and supporters and to campaign aide Andrew Jones, who drove McWherter across the state.

Since Jan. 1, they put 100,000 miles on McWherter's CMC Yukon, crossing the state in search of votes. Jones' driving allowed McWherter to stay on the cell phone, seeking support. "I can tell you exactly where all the dead zones are in Tennessee," McWherter said with a laugh Tuesday afternoon, referring to cellphone reception. Dan Morris, 425-9756 with requirements to obtain a state-issued permit to carry handguns in public.

Roy Cheaves, a retired welder who cast his ballot at the Haletown Volunteer Fire Department in rural Marion County, said he voted for Haslam despite once going fishing with McWherter's father. He said improving the state's education system was among his top priorities. "I think education is some-. thing that needs more accountability," said Cheaves, 84, "The kids are not learning. That's the-main thing.

Both candidates said they'd work to build on Bredesen's accomplishments. "It was really a tough choice for me," said Craig Cowles, 70, who works in real estate in Memphis and usually votes Republican. "I do think the current administration has done a really good job I just voted for Mr. Haslam, I guess partly because of all the ads and so many signs." 'v- 1 -i KENNETH CUMM1NGSTHE JACKSON SUN Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter laughs with supporters while he campaigns Tuesday outside Macedonia Baptist Church in Jackson. BY DAN MORRIS DM0RRISJACKS0NSUN.COM Mike and Mary Jane McWherter walked hand in hand from the DoubleTree Hotel elevator to a room filled with supporters and media Tuesday night.

The polls in West Tennessee had been closed less than an hour, but Democrat Mike McWherter of Jackson knew his campaign for governor was lost About two hours later, Republican candidate Bill Haslam was leading statewide with 67 percent of the vote, compared to McWherter's 31 percent, with 85 percent of the state's precincts reporting around 10 p.m. Haslam carried Madison County with about 56 percent of the vote, compared to McWherter's 43 percent. Haslam, the mayor of Knoxville, also won by about 500 votes in Weakley County, home of McWherter's father, former Tennessee Gov. Ned Ray McWherter. Supporters at the Double-Tree chanted, "We like Mike.

We like Mike," and he acknowledged with a grin and wave. With his wife and two children beside him and his father sitting nearby, McWherter thanked his supporters and wished Haslam the best. "I'd like to offer tonight my sincere congratulations to Bill economically." With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Haslam had 1 million votes, or' 65 percent, to McWherter's 517,817, or 33 percent McWherter in his concession speech in Jackson wished Haslam success as governor, "because if he does well, the state will progress." Democratic incumbent Gov. Phil Bredesen, who couldn't run again because of term limits, congratulated Haslam on his victory. "Haslam will bring a reasoned, commonsense approach to governing our state, and I jtnow he will continue to build ipn the progress we've made in Jpcent years," Bredesen said in a statement.

McWherter, the son of former Gov. Ned McWherter making his first run for political office, failed to capitalize on his fa- Haslam for a very rmrd-fought campaign," McWherter said. "I offer him my sincerest best wishes that he have a good administration for Tennessee. If he does well, the state will progress hope they are able to do a very good job for Tennessee, move if forward and put people back to work." "I think we've made a difference in the future of Tenness Governor race results ee," he said. "I know we have." McWherter, who was seeking his first public office, was then quickly escorted down the hall to the elevator.

He went to his room and did not return. Mary Jane and son Walker lingered briefly and thanked supporters with hugs and handshakes. "We've had such a great ex perience," Mary Jane said. "We've met wonderful people throughout Tennessee." Asked if her husband would try another run for governor in future years, she smiled and said, "I learned a long time ago to never say never." Earlier, Mike McWherter told the crowd that if he could have gotten Mary Jane to run for governor, "There's no ques vs. i 1 McWherter's charges that Haslam was a "billionaire oil man" failed to stick, as did a late spurt of television ads depicting Haslam as reckless on gun laws because he said he would sign potential legislation to do away TO HASLAM MCWHERTER Benton 2,588 2,382 Carroll 4,614 3,401 Chester 2,759 1,145 Crockett 2,817 1,504 Decatur 1,820 1,351 Gibson 8,658 6,145 Hardeman 3,250 3,044 Hardin 4,315 1,810 Haywood 2,462 2,853 Henderson 4,328 1,791 Madison 15,762 12,212 McNairy 4,357 2,343 Weakley 4,891 4,393 'Ik KENNETH CUMMINGSTHE JACKSON SUN Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter thanks his supporters during his concession speech on Tuesday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Jackson.

Republican Bill Haslam won the race. The Jackson Sun mous last name. He lost all but a handful of the state's 95 counties and was outspent by a 5-to-l margin by Haslam over the course of the campaign, according to the most recent campaign finance reports. Haslam was president of the family-owned Pilot chain of truck stops, one of the country's largest privately owned compa- Errol nies, until he was elected mayor ofKnoxvillein2003. Clarksville hotel worker Charlsie Lankford, 45, said she voted for Haslam "mainly because he knows how to run a business." Caramel Sweet Potato with Maple Bacon Pineapple Upside down Cake Chocolate Cranberry and don't forget the At the Fair Flavor for the is adding to our dessert line: Gourmet Cupcakes in 15 Flavors! (filling frosting) Small in size, Big in taste! Call today fof information 731-427-6468 or 731-444-0951 507 N.

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