Meet The Gubernatorial Candidates: Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN)

Elizabethton, Tenn. -- U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp (R-3rd) stopped at Dino's Restaurant on Saturday, to express his support for Tennessee House Speaker Kent Williams. He ate lunch and met with several supporters.

Wamp shares the Republican primary ballot with Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey (Blountville), Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, and Memphis District Attorney Bill Gibbons.

These are excerpts from Wamp's interview with 11 Connects Digital Journalist George Jackson:

GJ: "What separates you from your Republican counterparts in the primary?"

ZW: "Well, I tell everybody, if this campaign comes down to a vision for the future of our state, dynamic leadership, and proven results I'm going to win. I'm all over the place. I'm kind of the grassroots guy connecting with people, working really hard. I've got a 15-year record of 100-percent {support for} the conservative social issues that our party really cares about.

"But the main thing is about the future of our state. We need an economic development agenda like Lamar Alexander had years ago -- really growing the manufacturing base. I've done that in East Tennessee by establishing the technology corridor, targeting transportation and energy. We landed Volkswagon and Wacker {Chemie AG} down in Cleveland, both in my district, really working on an economic development plan.

"So, I'm offering a vision for a strong economy ten years from now. I call it a "2020 Vision."

GJ: "Speaking of that vision, do you think Tennessee has been going in the wrong direction?"

ZW: "Well, Republicans are going to have a chance to actually set the agenda when we elect a Republican governor. With Speaker {Kent} Williams and Lt. Gov. {Ron} Ramsey {sic} we have a majority -- albeit small in the State House and the State Senate. So, if we get a chief executive, a governor, from our same party we can set the agenda. Now, with that opportunity comes the burden of governing and being successful.

"I would argue we don't need someone from the legislature to become governor. We need somebody from the outside that's a strong leader with a proven record to become governor {and} to set the agenda, and then bring the legislature along on that agenda.

"I think Lt. Gov. Ramsey should continue to be the lieutenant governor. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure he stays lieutenant governor."

GJ: "Why step away from a pretty safe Congressional seat?

ZW: "Well, George Korda editorialized in {the Knoxville News Sentinel} last week, that is a big factor in why I should be elected -- because I'm willing to step away from a real influential position (a ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee).

"There comes a time when you put your resources and energy into helping the whole state, not just my district.

"Plus, our state needs to hold the federal government back -- set our own agenda. It's called a state sovereignty movement. I'm very much for it. We need sovereignty in our state. We need leadership that says 'Listen, Tennesseans want to collect our own taxes, chart our own future. We want as little interference from the federal government as we can possibly get, frankly.' If we can keep the revenue here, we can chart our own course. There's a trend in this county of too much federal government and we need to push them back. I don't want to be treated like New Jersey of California. They have their own rules. Let us have our own rules. Let us chart our own course.

"So, we need leadership in Tennessee right now more than we need one more vote in Washington."

GJ: "But, why step away from that safe seat?"

ZW: "Well, my kids and I -- they're grown now -- and my wife, been married 24 years, we had a conversation about not staying too long in Washington. Some people in Washington stay too long, they might not even know it. I've been there for 15 years. I don't want to stay forever. I don't want to be a career politician, but I want to help my state."

GJ: "Is {Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill} Haslam's money intimidating?"

ZW: Mayor Halsam's money should not be the factor as to who our party nominates or who we elect as governor. There are frankly too many big money people that try to buy positions of power in our country. And our party had better move away from that Wall Street, big-oil mentality and back to the small businessman/entrepreneur/taxpayer.

"I represent those people. That's who I am, that's what my family has been going back generations. I was a commercial real-estate broker -- closed 75 transactions. I know what it's like to make your own money and pay your own taxes. I know how precious it is and why we should not raise taxes.

"So, the big money is a liability in a way. It may help you run TV spots, but it disconnects you from people because they're tired of it."

Click the play icon above to view a video version of this interview.