Frist out of governor's race

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons will make 2010 race for governor

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

Bill Frist

Former U.S Senator Bill Frist announced late Sunday evening that he will not be a candidate for governor of Tennessee in 2010. Frist issued a statement to the Associated Press stating that "After significant reflection and conversations with loved ones, I have decided to remain a private citizen for the foreseeable future."

The move by Frist dramatically opens up the Republican field, as a number of GOP gubernatorial aspirants had said that they would not make the race had Frist run.

Among those who have said that they would run with Frist out is Congressman Zach Wamp of Chattanooga, District Attorney Bill Gibbons of Memphis and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam.

Several sources have confirmed to NashvillePost.com that Haslam is in the race and will be traveling the state this week to line up support from key Republicans. According to those same sources, Haslam has already hired former U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander's campaign coordinator Jeremy Harrell. Harrell oversaw the day-to-day functions of Alexander's campaign and put together the grassroots operation that saw Alexander win 94 of 95 counties this past November.

Gibbons sent out a press release Sunday evening confirming his candidacy, which stated in part. "I am a candidate for governor and will seek the Republican nomination in the August 2010 primary. As governor, I will place priority on two issues - crime and schools - that pose big challenges to our state and that we must address if we are to achieve a better future for Tennessee.  Through safer communities and better schools, Tennessee will be positioned as a state where people want to live, raise their families, work and retire. And we will be a state where existing businesses want to remain and expand and new businesses want to locate."