Henry decides not to run for governor

Chattanooga Times Free Press
November 2, 2005

By Michael Davis Staff Writer

Former state Rep. Jim Henry said Tuesday he has decided not to run for governor next year, narrowing the field of potential Republican challengers to Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen.

Mr. Henry, a former state Republican Party chairman and candidate for the 2002 GOP gubernatorial nomination, said he moved up his announcement in fairness to other Republicans who may consider running.

"It’s been a tough decision, and I really wasn’t planning on doing it until January," said Mr. Henry, of Kingston, Tenn. "I’ve wanted to be governor for quite a while, but this just isn’t the time for me."

Meanwhile, state Rep. Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, said she probably will not decide whether to run for governor until after the Christmas holidays.

"I’m still working on my time frame," she said.

Rep. Harwell earlier explored entering the 2006 Republican primary for the seat of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, RTenn. She announced earlier this year she would instead consider running for governor.

Tennessee’s primary elections will be held Aug. 3, 2006, and the general election is set for Nov. 7, 2 006. Others who have expressed interest in the governor’s race include state Senate Majority Leader Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, and state Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville.

Mr. Henry said Sen. Jim Bryson, R-Franklin, also has been mentioned as a potential gubernatorial candidate.

Efforts to reach Sens. Ramsey, Norris and Bryson were unsuccessful Tuesday.

Mr. Henry, who lost to former U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary, RTenn., in the 2002 GOP gubernatorial primary, said he had a number of supporters urging his entry into the race. He said business and family matters prompted him to decide not to run for governor in 2006, but he may consider running in 2010. Bruce Oppenheimer, a Vanderbilt University political science professor, said a contested Republican primary is unlikely in 2006. And he said Rep. Harwell would have the highest name recognition of any of the likely GOP candidates to challenge Gov. Bredesen next year.

"It may be that Harwell gets into the race, and she would be somebody who would be a visible candidate," he said. "If she doesn’t, there really isn’t anybody out there."