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Wikipedia

Bill Haslam

William Edward Haslam[1] (/ˈhæzləm/; born August 23, 1958) is an American billionaire businessman and politician who served as the 49th governor of Tennessee from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Haslam previously served as the 67th mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Bill Haslam
Haslam in 2016
49th Governor of Tennessee
In office
January 15, 2011 – January 19, 2019
LieutenantRon Ramsey
Randy McNally
Preceded byPhil Bredesen
Succeeded byBill Lee
Chair of the Republican Governors Association
In office
November 16, 2017 – November 29, 2018
Preceded byScott Walker
Succeeded byPete Ricketts
67th Mayor of Knoxville
In office
December 20, 2003 – January 10, 2011
Preceded byVictor Ashe
Succeeded byMadeline Rogero
Personal details
Born
William Edward Haslam

(1958-08-23) August 23, 1958 (age 65)
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
(m. 1981)
Children3
EducationEmory University (BA)
Signature
WebsiteGovernment website

He was born in Knoxville and graduated from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He began his career in business, joining his father, Jim Haslam, who was the founder of Pilot Corporation. Haslam rose to president of Pilot Corp in the 1990s, after his brother Jimmy Haslam became the company's CEO. Haslam then left Pilot and from 1999 to 2001 was the CEO of the e-commerce and cataloging division at the department store chain Saks Fifth Avenue. He then became a consultant at Saks and later served on the board of directors at Harold's Stores, Inc. He is a co-owner of a minor league baseball team, the Tennessee Smokies, and is set to become majority owner of the National Hockey League's Nashville Predators by 2025.

He was elected Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee in the 2003 Knoxville mayoral election with 52% of the vote. He was reelected in the 2007 Knoxville mayoral election, winning 87% of the vote, and served until 2011. After incumbent Governor Phil Bredesen was term-limited, Haslam declared his candidacy for the office in January 2009. He defeated U.S. Representative Zach Wamp and Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey in the Republican primary with 47% of the vote and went on to defeat Democratic businessman Mike McWherter with 65% of the vote in the 2010 general election.

A 2015 Forbes article estimated Haslam's net worth at $2 billion, making him the nation's wealthiest elected official at that time.[2] He was the wealthiest state governor in America, until Democrat J. B. Pritzker of Illinois took office in January 2019.[3][4]

In the fall of 2019, Haslam became a visiting professor of political science at Vanderbilt University.[5]

Early life, education, and business career edit

Haslam was born in 1958 in Knoxville, Tennessee, the third child of Jim Haslam, the founder of Pilot Corporation, the parent company of the convenience store and travel center chain, Pilot Flying J, and his wife, Cynthia (Allen). Jim Haslam has been a Republican Party fundraiser and University of Tennessee donor and trustee for several decades.[6]

Haslam was educated at the Webb School of Knoxville, where he became active in the Christian group Young Life.[7] He later attended Emory University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in history in 1980.[8] He is a member of the Beta Chi chapter of the Sigma Chi International Fraternity.[9]

As a teenager, Haslam began working part-time in his father's corporation.[8] He had made plans to teach history and eventually become a minister.[9] Following his university graduation, he returned to Knoxville to work for Pilot in hopes of learning more about the business world before entering the seminary, and eventually decided to stay with the company.[9] He was elevated to president of the company (with his brother, Jimmy, as CEO, and father as chairman) in 1995.[9]

In 1999, Haslam joined Saks Fifth Avenue as the chief executive officer of the e-commerce and catalog division.[10] He left Saks in 2001, and joined the board of the Dallas-based clothing chain, Harold's Stores Inc., later that year.[9]

Haslam is one of the owners of the Tennessee Smokies, a minor league baseball team in East Tennessee.[10] His brother, current Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam, became majority owner of the Cleveland Browns in 2012.[11]

Mayor of Knoxville edit

In 2002, Haslam announced he was running for Mayor of Knoxville, inspired in part by a conversation he had had with then-Chattanooga mayor (and later United States Senator) Bob Corker. Knoxville's mayoral elections are nominally non-partisan,[12] but Haslam was known to be a member of the Republican Party when he ran for the office. His opponent in the race, Knox County commissioner Madeline Rogero, criticized Haslam as an oil company puppet, and blamed his father for the appointment of controversial University of Tennessee president John Shumaker, an attack Haslam dismissed as "petty, personal politics". On September 30, 2003, he defeated Rogero by a 52% to 46% margin.[13][14] He was sworn in in December 2003.[15]

In 2006, Haslam appointed Rogero director of community development, later stating he had read Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals, and was inspired by President Abraham Lincoln's decision to appoint former campaign rivals to his cabinet.[14] He was reelected in 2007, winning 87% of the vote against challengers Isa Infante and Mark Saroff.[16]

Haslam identifies several successful historic preservation initiatives among his accomplishments as mayor, including saving the historic S&W Cafeteria in downtown Knoxville, building a new cinema (the Regal Riviera) in the city's downtown, and revitalizing the historic Bijou Theatre. In 2008, he was appointed to a four-year term on the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation by U.S. President George W. Bush.[10]

Along with historical preservation efforts, Haslam helped spur residential and retail growth in the downtown area, mainly by offering developers tax subsidies. He helped implement a master plan for the development of the South Knoxville riverfront, which was given an Outstanding Planning Award by the Tennessee Chapter of the American Planning Association. The Haslam administration operated under a balanced budget policy, which helped to double the city's savings during his first term.[16]

Gubernatorial elections edit

Elections edit

2010 edit

 
Final results by county in 2010:
  Bill Haslam
  •   80–90%
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
  •   50–60%
  •   40–50%

On January 6, 2009, Haslam declared his intention to run for Tennessee governor in 2010.[17]

His campaign received contributions of $3.9 million between January and July 1 in 2009, substantially more than his Republican primary rivals. Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey received $1.3 million and U.S. Congressman Zach Wamp received $1.2 million, while Shelby County District Attorney General Bill Gibbons reported $416,000 at that time.[18] Among Democratic candidates, businessman Mike McWherter raised $650,000 at the mid-year, followed by former State House Majority Leader Kim McMillan's $180,000.[19]

 
Haslam addressing supporters before the Highlands Town Hall Debate during the 2010 campaign

Haslam received endorsements from former U.S. Senator Howard Baker and Congressman Jimmy Duncan.[20][21] The Tennessean wrote, "Haslam appears most likely to be able to ride Gov. Phil Bredesen's pro-business coattails, despite the different party affiliation."[21]

On the Republican side from July 1, 2009, until January 15, 2010, Haslam collected $1.8 million, Ramsey raised $1,412,593 including a $200,000 loan, Wamp raised $1,373,078 including a $61,000 loan, and Gibbons raised $225,218. Among Democrats during the six months, State Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle collected $741,485 including a $300,000 personal loan, McWherter raised $402,868, and McMillan raised $159,981.[22]

Haslam campaigned on his executive experience as both Knoxville's mayor and the president of a major company. His opponents attacked him as an oil executive, especially in the wake of price-gouging allegations levied against Pilot in the wake of the post-Hurricane Katrina fuel shortages, and criticized his refusal to release information related to his income while at Pilot.[14]

On August 5, 2010, Haslam won in the Republican primary for governor with almost 48% of the vote, compared to 29% for Wamp and 22% for Ramsey.[23] Mike McWherter, son of former Governor Ned McWherter, was nominated by the Democrats after several well-known elected officials declined the candidacy.

On November 2, 2010, Haslam won the gubernatorial election over Democratic candidate Mike McWherter, taking 65% of the vote to McWherter's 35%. The Republicans also increased their majorities in both chambers of the state legislature, giving the GOP complete control of state government for the first time since 1869.[24]

2014 edit

 
Final results by county in 2014:
  Bill Haslam
  •   80–90%
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%

Haslam announced he would run for re-election in 2014.[25] He defeated three other candidates in the Republican primary with 88% of the vote.[26]

In the general election on November 4, 2014, Haslam defeated Democratic nominee Charles Brown with over 70% of the vote and won every county.[27]

Tenure as governor edit

 
Official portrait of Bill Haslam, hanging in the Tennessee State Capitol

2011 edit

Haslam stated that job creation and long-term economic growth were his top priority as governor, followed by education reform and workforce development.[28] On June 16, 2011, Haslam signed a $30.8 billion state budget, a 3.9% decrease from the previous year's budget.[29]

The budget included 1.6% pay raise for state employees (though it also called for over 1,300 positions to be cut), grants to facilitate construction of an Electrolux plant near Memphis and a Wacker Chemie plant near Cleveland, and $10 million for the Memphis Research Consortium.[30] The budget bill also contained an amendment cutting off all state funding to Planned Parenthood, but the measure was negated by an amendment inserted into the same bill by an unknown legislator, something Haslam vowed to correct in 2012.[31]

On May 23, 2011, Haslam signed a bill overturning a Nashville ordinance that barred discrimination against the hiring of homosexuals for any companies awarded city contracts.[32] On June 1, Haslam signed a bill requiring voters to present photo identification at polling places, a measure supporters argue prevents voter fraud, but detractors have derided as an attempt to disenfranchise traditionally-Democratic voting blocs.[33] On June 2, Haslam signed a bill replacing public school teachers' collective bargaining rights with a process called "collaborative conferencing", effectively bypassing the teachers' union, the Tennessee Education Association.[34]

Other legislation signed by Haslam included a tort reform measure that limits non-economic damages in civil suits,[35] a bill that lifted the cap on the number charter schools in the state and opened enrollment in charter schools to more students,[36] and a bill that allows college students to use Hope Scholarship funds during summer semesters.[37]

In October 2011, Haslam approved an order to implement a curfew on Legislative Plaza in downtown Nashville, where several hundred protesters with the Occupy Nashville movement (part of the greater Occupy Wall Street movement) were camping out. In the early morning hours of October 28, 29 protesters were arrested when they refused to comply with the order,[38] and on the following day, 26 were arrested.[39] In both cases, the arrests were thrown out by General Sessions Night Court Commissioner Tom Nelson, who ruled that the state had no authority to set a curfew for Legislative Plaza.[40] Haslam stated the curfew was necessary due to deteriorating sanitary conditions and safety issues on the Plaza,[39][41] though critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed a lawsuit in federal court on October 31 to halt the arrests, have stated that the curfew is a violation of the protesters' civil rights.[42]

2012 edit

The $31 billion budget bill signed by Haslam for 2012 included $50 million in tax cuts, $560 million for construction projects, a 2.5% pay raise for state employees, and additional funding to offset anticipated tuition hikes at state colleges. In June, Haslam signed bills that eliminated the state's gift tax and reduced the state's inheritance tax and the sales tax on groceries.[43] He also signed the "Fast Track" bill, which provided cash grants to companies seeking to expand or relocate to Tennessee.[44]

Tennessee was granted a waiver requested by Haslam from certain portions of the federal government's No Child Left Behind standards. Haslam argued that the law's Adequate Yearly Progress model labelled some state schools as failures in spite of these schools having made substantial improvement.[45] In May, he signed a bill providing $37 million in grants for state schools. In July, Haslam called for an overhaul of the state's higher education system, with the intention of generating a higher number of college graduates in high-paying fields.[46]

In March 2012, the legislature passed a bill protecting teachers who challenged scientific theories such as the theory of evolution and global warming in the classroom. Critics assailed the measure as a "monkey bill" that was little more than an attempt to allow creationism to be taught in science classes.[47] While Haslam refused to sign the bill, he also refused to veto it, effectively allowing it to become law. He criticized the bill for creating confusion rather than clarity, but pointed out the legislature had passed it by a large margin, and argued the bill would have no effect on the state's science curriculum.[48]

On March 8, 2012, Haslam instructed his Health and Wellness Task Force to focus on the state's growing obesity problem, noting that nearly one-third of Tennesseans are obese.[49] In early April, he initiated the "Meth Stops Now" campaign, aimed at informing the public of the consequences of methamphetamine manufacture.[50] In May, he signed legislation aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse.[51]

On April 24, 2012, Haslam signed into law the Tennessee Excellence, Accountability and Management ("TEAM") Act, which established a new hiring system for state agencies and overhauled the evaluation standards for state employees by placing a greater focus on job performance rather than seniority.[52] The bill also makes it easier for executive branch employees to be hired and fired, establishes merit raises for high performing workers, and gives preference to veterans in job openings where applicants have equal qualifications.[53]

In May 2012, Haslam signed a bill barring sex education instructors from encouraging "gateway sexual activity." Proponents of the bill argued it was necessary to clarify the meaning of abstinence, while opponents argued the bill's wording was overly vague, and could be construed to include behavior such as kissing and holding hands.[54] Other bills signed by Haslam in May included a measure requiring drug testing for welfare recipients, a measure providing grants to companies to pay for training expenses for recently laid-off workers,[55] and a bill requiring Amazon.com to start collecting sales taxes on online purchases by 2014.[56]

After the General Assembly permanently adjourned in May, Haslam issued the first veto of his governorship. He vetoed a controversial bill that sought to end Vanderbilt University's "All Comers" policy, which required religious groups at the school to allow any student to join even if the student didn't share the group's religious beliefs. The legislature could not override the veto because it was no longer in session.[57] Haslam stated he disagreed with the policy, but didn't think it appropriate for the government to interfere with the policies of a private institution.[58]

In December 2012, Haslam announced the state would not implement a provision of the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") that allows for a state-run health care exchange. Haslam had considered a state-run exchange for several weeks, but argued the federal government had not provided enough information regarding costs of the program, and what had been provided consisted of draft proposals subject to change. "More and more I'm convinced they are making this up as they go," he said.[59]

2014 edit

In April 2014, Haslam signed into law a measure allowing prosecution of a new mother with criminal assault if she had used narcotics during pregnancy. The law has been criticised as discriminatory against women from poor rural areas with limited access to healthcare and addiction treatment facilities.[60] In July 2014, the first woman prosecuted under this law was arrested in Madisonville, Monroe County.[61]

2016 edit

In April 2016, Haslam vetoed a bill to make the Bible the official book of Tennessee. The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, passed in both the State House and the Senate. If signed by Haslam, it would have made Tennessee the first state to make the Bible its state book. Haslam vetoed the bill on April 14, 2016. An attempt to override the veto failed in the State House, garnering 43 votes, short of the threshold of 50 needed to override.[62][63]

Haslam took part in the 16-member search committee to select a new chancellor for the Tennessee Board of Regents. He continued to take part in restructuring the Board, which included the implementation of the FOCUS Act.[64]

2017 edit

In April 2017, Haslam signed the IMPROVE Act into law. The bill, which stands for "Improving Manufacturing, Public Roads, and Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy," cut the state sales tax on food from five to four percent, increased the gasoline and diesel fuel taxes by six and ten cents, respectively, raised the tax on natural gas by eight cents, increased vehicle registration fees, and instituted a new $100 annual fee for electric vehicles. Its primary purpose was for TDOT to fund a $10 billion backlog of 962 needed highway projects.[65] A similar plan called the Better Roads Program was initiated by then-governor Lamar Alexander in 1986.

In May 2017, Haslam signed HB 1111/SB 1085 into law.[66][67] The bill was seen by the Human Rights Campaign as an attempt to challenge Obergefell v. Hodges and undermine same-sex marriage in Tennessee,[68] and Haslam was criticized by the Tennessee Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) for signing it into law.[66]

Political positions edit

Taxes and budget edit

Haslam favors a conservative state budget that keeps taxes low in order to create and maintain a business-friendly environment.[28] While he largely supports budget cuts, Haslam has suggested that the Republican Party is too often focused on scaling back government rather than making it work. "At the end of the day," he said, "I think the most conservative principle there is, is giving people a dollar worth of value for a dollar worth of tax paid."[69]

Gun laws edit

Haslam was formerly a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, but he resigned early in 2009 and became a member of the National Rifle Association.[70] When a candidate for governor, Haslam said he would sign a constitutional carry bill,[71] but as governor, he opposed constitutional carry.[72]

Abortion edit

Haslam is against abortion.[73]

Education edit

As Governor, Haslam implemented education reform programs that offered tuition-free access to higher education.[74][75] The Tennessee Promise program, launched in 2014, provides two years of tuition-free access for high school graduates to attend community or technical college.[74][76] The Tennessee Reconnect program provides tuition-free access for most of the state's adults to earn an associate degree or technical certificate.[76][74] Haslam framed the education reforms as part of economic development, as the state sought to provide its workforce with more skills and thus attract businesses to the state.[75]

LGBT issues edit

Haslam opposes same-sex marriage, though he has stated that he wouldn't discriminate against gay employees.[citation needed] In May 2017, he signed a bill requiring the so-called "natural and ordinary meaning" of words in state law and government forms be used unless those words are specifically defined. This law will make it more difficult for same-sex couples to adopt children, pleasing socially conservative groups like the Family Action Council of Tennessee. The latter lobbied heavily for this bill to be passed, in order to ensure Tennessee courts only accept a 'traditional' definition of family. LGBT organization GLAAD issued a statement that Governor Haslam "has now placed the future of the state’s economy and the well-being of the LGBTQ community in jeopardy.”[73][77]

Immigration laws edit

Haslam has said he favors cracking down on businesses that employ illegal immigrants, and suggested he would sign a law requiring law enforcement officers to check the citizenship status of arrested individuals they suspect might be in the country illegally, if passed by the state legislature.[73]

Other edit

On January 11, 2012, Bill Haslam endorsed Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination in the 2012 United States presidential election. This announcement came on the heels of Romney's victory in the New Hampshire primary on January 10.[78] Haslam's father was the Tennessee state co-chairman for the Romney campaign.

In a 2013 interview with Politico, Haslam stated that many of the more controversial measures passed by the state legislature, such as the 2012 law protecting teachers who dispute evolution in class, were "frustrating and a distraction."[69] He noted that in his travels across the state, "those aren't the issues I hear people bringing up."[69]

Post-governorship edit

After US Senator Lamar Alexander announced that he would not seek re-election in 2020, speculation began to arise that Haslam would run for the seat. Haslam announced in July 2019 that he would not do so.[79]

In June 2022, Bill Haslam agreed to become the new owner of the NHL's Nashville Predators "through a multi-phased acquisition transaction".[80] Haslam, whose brother, Jimmy, co-owns the NFL's Cleveland Browns with his wife, Dee, reached an agreement with the franchise's present ownership group, which is chaired by Herbert Fritch and includes at least 17 others.[81] He is set to become the majority owner of the Predators by July 1, 2025.[82]

In May 2023, U.S. Senator and 2024 presidential candidate Tim Scott appointed Haslam as national co-chair of his 2024 campaign.[83]

Personal life edit

Haslam met his wife, Crissy Garrett, at Emory University and they have been married since 1981; with one son and two daughters and eight grandchildren.[10][84] Haslam is a Presbyterian, and is a longtime member of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, an Evangelical Presbyterian Church congregation in Knoxville.[8] He attends Christ Presbyterian Church when in Nashville.[85] Haslam has been a member of the Young Life Board of Trustees since 2011.[86]

Electoral history edit

Knoxville mayoral election, 2003[87]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Bill Haslam 15,730 52.64
Nonpartisan Madeline Rogero 13,864 46.39
Nonpartisan George Alexander Hamilton Sr. 166 0.56
Nonpartisan Boyce McCall 123 .41
Knoxville mayoral election, 2007[88]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Bill Haslam (incumbent) 5,728 87.32
Nonpartisan Isa Infante 667 10.17
Nonpartisan Mark Saroff 165 2.52
Tennessee Governor Republican Primary Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Haslam 343,817 47.40
Republican Zach Wamp 211,735 29.19
Republican Ron Ramsey 159,555 22.00
Republican Joe Kirkpatrick 6,787 0.94
Republican Basil Marceaux Sr. 3,514 0.48
Tennessee Governor Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Haslam 1,041,545 65.03
Democratic Mike McWherter 529,851 33.08
Independent Carl Twofeathers Whitaker 6,536 0.41
Independent Brandon Dodds 4,728 0.30
Independent Bayron Binkley 4,663 0.29
Independent June Griffin 2,587 0.16
Independent Linda Kay Perry 2,057 0.13
Independent Howard Switzer 1,887 0.12
Independent Samuel David Duck 1,755 0.11
Independent Thomas Smith, II 1,207 0.08
Independent Toni Hall 993 0.06
Independent David Gatchell 859 0.05
Independent Boyce McCall 828 0.05
Independent James Reesor 809 0.05
Independent Mike Knois 600 0.04
Independent Donald Ray McFolin 583 0.04
Write-in Basil Marceaux 58 0.00
Write-in James Lee 3 0.00
Tennessee Governor Republican Primary Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Haslam 570,997 87.68
Republican Mark Coonrippy Brown 44,165 6.78
Republican Donald Ray McFolin 22,968 3.53
Republican Basil Marceaux Sr. 13,117 2.01
Tennessee Governor Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Haslam 951,796 70.31
Democratic Charles "Charlie" Brown 309,237 22.84
Independent John Jay Hooker 30,579 2.26
Constitution Shaun Crowell 26,580 1.96
Green Isa Infante 18,570 1.37
Independent Steve Damon Coburn 8,612 0.64
Independent Daniel Lewis 8,321 0.61
Write-in Mark Pearson 15 0.00
Write-in BeLinda Jo Ivins 14 0.00
Write-in Darryl Haas 4 0.00

References edit

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External links edit

  • Governor Bill Haslam official Tennessee government website
  • Bill Haslam at Curlie
  • Appearances on C-SPAN
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Knoxville
2003–2011
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Tennessee
2011–2019
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Tennessee
2010, 2014
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Republican Governors Association
2014–2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Republican Governors Association
2017–2018
Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former Governor Order of precedence of the United States
Within Tennessee
Succeeded byas Former Governor
Order of precedence of the United States
Outside Tennessee
Succeeded byas Former Governor

bill, haslam, william, edward, haslam, born, august, 1958, american, billionaire, businessman, politician, served, 49th, governor, tennessee, from, 2011, 2019, member, republican, party, haslam, previously, served, 67th, mayor, knoxville, tennessee, haslam, 20. William Edward Haslam 1 ˈ h ae z l e m born August 23 1958 is an American billionaire businessman and politician who served as the 49th governor of Tennessee from 2011 to 2019 A member of the Republican Party Haslam previously served as the 67th mayor of Knoxville Tennessee Bill HaslamHaslam in 201649th Governor of TennesseeIn office January 15 2011 January 19 2019LieutenantRon RamseyRandy McNallyPreceded byPhil BredesenSucceeded byBill LeeChair of the Republican Governors AssociationIn office November 16 2017 November 29 2018Preceded byScott WalkerSucceeded byPete Ricketts67th Mayor of KnoxvilleIn office December 20 2003 January 10 2011Preceded byVictor AsheSucceeded byMadeline RogeroPersonal detailsBornWilliam Edward Haslam 1958 08 23 August 23 1958 age 65 Knoxville Tennessee U S Political partyRepublicanSpouseCrissy Garrett m 1981 wbr Children3EducationEmory University BA SignatureWebsiteGovernment websiteHe was born in Knoxville and graduated from Emory University in Atlanta Georgia He began his career in business joining his father Jim Haslam who was the founder of Pilot Corporation Haslam rose to president of Pilot Corp in the 1990s after his brother Jimmy Haslam became the company s CEO Haslam then left Pilot and from 1999 to 2001 was the CEO of the e commerce and cataloging division at the department store chain Saks Fifth Avenue He then became a consultant at Saks and later served on the board of directors at Harold s Stores Inc He is a co owner of a minor league baseball team the Tennessee Smokies and is set to become majority owner of the National Hockey League s Nashville Predators by 2025 He was elected Mayor of Knoxville Tennessee in the 2003 Knoxville mayoral election with 52 of the vote He was reelected in the 2007 Knoxville mayoral election winning 87 of the vote and served until 2011 After incumbent Governor Phil Bredesen was term limited Haslam declared his candidacy for the office in January 2009 He defeated U S Representative Zach Wamp and Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey in the Republican primary with 47 of the vote and went on to defeat Democratic businessman Mike McWherter with 65 of the vote in the 2010 general election A 2015 Forbes article estimated Haslam s net worth at 2 billion making him the nation s wealthiest elected official at that time 2 He was the wealthiest state governor in America until Democrat J B Pritzker of Illinois took office in January 2019 3 4 In the fall of 2019 Haslam became a visiting professor of political science at Vanderbilt University 5 Contents 1 Early life education and business career 2 Mayor of Knoxville 3 Gubernatorial elections 3 1 Elections 3 1 1 2010 3 1 2 2014 4 Tenure as governor 4 1 2011 4 2 2012 4 3 2014 4 4 2016 4 5 2017 5 Political positions 5 1 Taxes and budget 5 2 Gun laws 5 3 Abortion 5 4 Education 5 5 LGBT issues 5 6 Immigration laws 5 7 Other 6 Post governorship 7 Personal life 8 Electoral history 9 References 10 External linksEarly life education and business career editHaslam was born in 1958 in Knoxville Tennessee the third child of Jim Haslam the founder of Pilot Corporation the parent company of the convenience store and travel center chain Pilot Flying J and his wife Cynthia Allen Jim Haslam has been a Republican Party fundraiser and University of Tennessee donor and trustee for several decades 6 Haslam was educated at the Webb School of Knoxville where he became active in the Christian group Young Life 7 He later attended Emory University graduating with a bachelor s degree in history in 1980 8 He is a member of the Beta Chi chapter of the Sigma Chi International Fraternity 9 As a teenager Haslam began working part time in his father s corporation 8 He had made plans to teach history and eventually become a minister 9 Following his university graduation he returned to Knoxville to work for Pilot in hopes of learning more about the business world before entering the seminary and eventually decided to stay with the company 9 He was elevated to president of the company with his brother Jimmy as CEO and father as chairman in 1995 9 In 1999 Haslam joined Saks Fifth Avenue as the chief executive officer of the e commerce and catalog division 10 He left Saks in 2001 and joined the board of the Dallas based clothing chain Harold s Stores Inc later that year 9 Haslam is one of the owners of the Tennessee Smokies a minor league baseball team in East Tennessee 10 His brother current Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam became majority owner of the Cleveland Browns in 2012 11 Mayor of Knoxville editIn 2002 Haslam announced he was running for Mayor of Knoxville inspired in part by a conversation he had had with then Chattanooga mayor and later United States Senator Bob Corker Knoxville s mayoral elections are nominally non partisan 12 but Haslam was known to be a member of the Republican Party when he ran for the office His opponent in the race Knox County commissioner Madeline Rogero criticized Haslam as an oil company puppet and blamed his father for the appointment of controversial University of Tennessee president John Shumaker an attack Haslam dismissed as petty personal politics On September 30 2003 he defeated Rogero by a 52 to 46 margin 13 14 He was sworn in in December 2003 15 In 2006 Haslam appointed Rogero director of community development later stating he had read Doris Kearns Goodwin s Team of Rivals and was inspired by President Abraham Lincoln s decision to appoint former campaign rivals to his cabinet 14 He was reelected in 2007 winning 87 of the vote against challengers Isa Infante and Mark Saroff 16 Haslam identifies several successful historic preservation initiatives among his accomplishments as mayor including saving the historic S amp W Cafeteria in downtown Knoxville building a new cinema the Regal Riviera in the city s downtown and revitalizing the historic Bijou Theatre In 2008 he was appointed to a four year term on the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation by U S President George W Bush 10 Along with historical preservation efforts Haslam helped spur residential and retail growth in the downtown area mainly by offering developers tax subsidies He helped implement a master plan for the development of the South Knoxville riverfront which was given an Outstanding Planning Award by the Tennessee Chapter of the American Planning Association The Haslam administration operated under a balanced budget policy which helped to double the city s savings during his first term 16 Gubernatorial elections editElections edit 2010 edit Main article 2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election nbsp Final results by county in 2010 Bill Haslam 80 90 70 80 60 70 50 60 Mike McWherter 50 60 40 50 On January 6 2009 Haslam declared his intention to run for Tennessee governor in 2010 17 His campaign received contributions of 3 9 million between January and July 1 in 2009 substantially more than his Republican primary rivals Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey received 1 3 million and U S Congressman Zach Wamp received 1 2 million while Shelby County District Attorney General Bill Gibbons reported 416 000 at that time 18 Among Democratic candidates businessman Mike McWherter raised 650 000 at the mid year followed by former State House Majority Leader Kim McMillan s 180 000 19 nbsp Haslam addressing supporters before the Highlands Town Hall Debate during the 2010 campaignHaslam received endorsements from former U S Senator Howard Baker and Congressman Jimmy Duncan 20 21 The Tennessean wrote Haslam appears most likely to be able to ride Gov Phil Bredesen s pro business coattails despite the different party affiliation 21 On the Republican side from July 1 2009 until January 15 2010 Haslam collected 1 8 million Ramsey raised 1 412 593 including a 200 000 loan Wamp raised 1 373 078 including a 61 000 loan and Gibbons raised 225 218 Among Democrats during the six months State Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle collected 741 485 including a 300 000 personal loan McWherter raised 402 868 and McMillan raised 159 981 22 Haslam campaigned on his executive experience as both Knoxville s mayor and the president of a major company His opponents attacked him as an oil executive especially in the wake of price gouging allegations levied against Pilot in the wake of the post Hurricane Katrina fuel shortages and criticized his refusal to release information related to his income while at Pilot 14 On August 5 2010 Haslam won in the Republican primary for governor with almost 48 of the vote compared to 29 for Wamp and 22 for Ramsey 23 Mike McWherter son of former Governor Ned McWherter was nominated by the Democrats after several well known elected officials declined the candidacy On November 2 2010 Haslam won the gubernatorial election over Democratic candidate Mike McWherter taking 65 of the vote to McWherter s 35 The Republicans also increased their majorities in both chambers of the state legislature giving the GOP complete control of state government for the first time since 1869 24 2014 edit Main article 2014 Tennessee gubernatorial election nbsp Final results by county in 2014 Bill Haslam 80 90 70 80 60 70 50 60 Haslam announced he would run for re election in 2014 25 He defeated three other candidates in the Republican primary with 88 of the vote 26 In the general election on November 4 2014 Haslam defeated Democratic nominee Charles Brown with over 70 of the vote and won every county 27 Tenure as governor edit nbsp Official portrait of Bill Haslam hanging in the Tennessee State Capitol2011 edit Haslam stated that job creation and long term economic growth were his top priority as governor followed by education reform and workforce development 28 On June 16 2011 Haslam signed a 30 8 billion state budget a 3 9 decrease from the previous year s budget 29 The budget included 1 6 pay raise for state employees though it also called for over 1 300 positions to be cut grants to facilitate construction of an Electrolux plant near Memphis and a Wacker Chemie plant near Cleveland and 10 million for the Memphis Research Consortium 30 The budget bill also contained an amendment cutting off all state funding to Planned Parenthood but the measure was negated by an amendment inserted into the same bill by an unknown legislator something Haslam vowed to correct in 2012 31 On May 23 2011 Haslam signed a bill overturning a Nashville ordinance that barred discrimination against the hiring of homosexuals for any companies awarded city contracts 32 On June 1 Haslam signed a bill requiring voters to present photo identification at polling places a measure supporters argue prevents voter fraud but detractors have derided as an attempt to disenfranchise traditionally Democratic voting blocs 33 On June 2 Haslam signed a bill replacing public school teachers collective bargaining rights with a process called collaborative conferencing effectively bypassing the teachers union the Tennessee Education Association 34 Other legislation signed by Haslam included a tort reform measure that limits non economic damages in civil suits 35 a bill that lifted the cap on the number charter schools in the state and opened enrollment in charter schools to more students 36 and a bill that allows college students to use Hope Scholarship funds during summer semesters 37 In October 2011 Haslam approved an order to implement a curfew on Legislative Plaza in downtown Nashville where several hundred protesters with the Occupy Nashville movement part of the greater Occupy Wall Street movement were camping out In the early morning hours of October 28 29 protesters were arrested when they refused to comply with the order 38 and on the following day 26 were arrested 39 In both cases the arrests were thrown out by General Sessions Night Court Commissioner Tom Nelson who ruled that the state had no authority to set a curfew for Legislative Plaza 40 Haslam stated the curfew was necessary due to deteriorating sanitary conditions and safety issues on the Plaza 39 41 though critics including the American Civil Liberties Union which filed a lawsuit in federal court on October 31 to halt the arrests have stated that the curfew is a violation of the protesters civil rights 42 2012 edit The 31 billion budget bill signed by Haslam for 2012 included 50 million in tax cuts 560 million for construction projects a 2 5 pay raise for state employees and additional funding to offset anticipated tuition hikes at state colleges In June Haslam signed bills that eliminated the state s gift tax and reduced the state s inheritance tax and the sales tax on groceries 43 He also signed the Fast Track bill which provided cash grants to companies seeking to expand or relocate to Tennessee 44 Tennessee was granted a waiver requested by Haslam from certain portions of the federal government s No Child Left Behind standards Haslam argued that the law s Adequate Yearly Progress model labelled some state schools as failures in spite of these schools having made substantial improvement 45 In May he signed a bill providing 37 million in grants for state schools In July Haslam called for an overhaul of the state s higher education system with the intention of generating a higher number of college graduates in high paying fields 46 In March 2012 the legislature passed a bill protecting teachers who challenged scientific theories such as the theory of evolution and global warming in the classroom Critics assailed the measure as a monkey bill that was little more than an attempt to allow creationism to be taught in science classes 47 While Haslam refused to sign the bill he also refused to veto it effectively allowing it to become law He criticized the bill for creating confusion rather than clarity but pointed out the legislature had passed it by a large margin and argued the bill would have no effect on the state s science curriculum 48 On March 8 2012 Haslam instructed his Health and Wellness Task Force to focus on the state s growing obesity problem noting that nearly one third of Tennesseans are obese 49 In early April he initiated the Meth Stops Now campaign aimed at informing the public of the consequences of methamphetamine manufacture 50 In May he signed legislation aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse 51 On April 24 2012 Haslam signed into law the Tennessee Excellence Accountability and Management TEAM Act which established a new hiring system for state agencies and overhauled the evaluation standards for state employees by placing a greater focus on job performance rather than seniority 52 The bill also makes it easier for executive branch employees to be hired and fired establishes merit raises for high performing workers and gives preference to veterans in job openings where applicants have equal qualifications 53 In May 2012 Haslam signed a bill barring sex education instructors from encouraging gateway sexual activity Proponents of the bill argued it was necessary to clarify the meaning of abstinence while opponents argued the bill s wording was overly vague and could be construed to include behavior such as kissing and holding hands 54 Other bills signed by Haslam in May included a measure requiring drug testing for welfare recipients a measure providing grants to companies to pay for training expenses for recently laid off workers 55 and a bill requiring Amazon com to start collecting sales taxes on online purchases by 2014 56 After the General Assembly permanently adjourned in May Haslam issued the first veto of his governorship He vetoed a controversial bill that sought to end Vanderbilt University s All Comers policy which required religious groups at the school to allow any student to join even if the student didn t share the group s religious beliefs The legislature could not override the veto because it was no longer in session 57 Haslam stated he disagreed with the policy but didn t think it appropriate for the government to interfere with the policies of a private institution 58 In December 2012 Haslam announced the state would not implement a provision of the Affordable Care Act Obamacare that allows for a state run health care exchange Haslam had considered a state run exchange for several weeks but argued the federal government had not provided enough information regarding costs of the program and what had been provided consisted of draft proposals subject to change More and more I m convinced they are making this up as they go he said 59 2014 edit In April 2014 Haslam signed into law a measure allowing prosecution of a new mother with criminal assault if she had used narcotics during pregnancy The law has been criticised as discriminatory against women from poor rural areas with limited access to healthcare and addiction treatment facilities 60 In July 2014 the first woman prosecuted under this law was arrested in Madisonville Monroe County 61 2016 edit In April 2016 Haslam vetoed a bill to make the Bible the official book of Tennessee The bill sponsored by State Sen Steve Southerland R Morristown passed in both the State House and the Senate If signed by Haslam it would have made Tennessee the first state to make the Bible its state book Haslam vetoed the bill on April 14 2016 An attempt to override the veto failed in the State House garnering 43 votes short of the threshold of 50 needed to override 62 63 Haslam took part in the 16 member search committee to select a new chancellor for the Tennessee Board of Regents He continued to take part in restructuring the Board which included the implementation of the FOCUS Act 64 2017 edit In April 2017 Haslam signed the IMPROVE Act into law The bill which stands for Improving Manufacturing Public Roads and Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy cut the state sales tax on food from five to four percent increased the gasoline and diesel fuel taxes by six and ten cents respectively raised the tax on natural gas by eight cents increased vehicle registration fees and instituted a new 100 annual fee for electric vehicles Its primary purpose was for TDOT to fund a 10 billion backlog of 962 needed highway projects 65 A similar plan called the Better Roads Program was initiated by then governor Lamar Alexander in 1986 In May 2017 Haslam signed HB 1111 SB 1085 into law 66 67 The bill was seen by the Human Rights Campaign as an attempt to challenge Obergefell v Hodges and undermine same sex marriage in Tennessee 68 and Haslam was criticized by the Tennessee Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union ACLU and the Tennessee Equality Project TEP for signing it into law 66 Political positions editTaxes and budget edit Haslam favors a conservative state budget that keeps taxes low in order to create and maintain a business friendly environment 28 While he largely supports budget cuts Haslam has suggested that the Republican Party is too often focused on scaling back government rather than making it work At the end of the day he said I think the most conservative principle there is is giving people a dollar worth of value for a dollar worth of tax paid 69 Gun laws edit Haslam was formerly a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition but he resigned early in 2009 and became a member of the National Rifle Association 70 When a candidate for governor Haslam said he would sign a constitutional carry bill 71 but as governor he opposed constitutional carry 72 Abortion edit Haslam is against abortion 73 Education edit As Governor Haslam implemented education reform programs that offered tuition free access to higher education 74 75 The Tennessee Promise program launched in 2014 provides two years of tuition free access for high school graduates to attend community or technical college 74 76 The Tennessee Reconnect program provides tuition free access for most of the state s adults to earn an associate degree or technical certificate 76 74 Haslam framed the education reforms as part of economic development as the state sought to provide its workforce with more skills and thus attract businesses to the state 75 LGBT issues edit Haslam opposes same sex marriage though he has stated that he wouldn t discriminate against gay employees citation needed In May 2017 he signed a bill requiring the so called natural and ordinary meaning of words in state law and government forms be used unless those words are specifically defined This law will make it more difficult for same sex couples to adopt children pleasing socially conservative groups like the Family Action Council of Tennessee The latter lobbied heavily for this bill to be passed in order to ensure Tennessee courts only accept a traditional definition of family LGBT organization GLAAD issued a statement that Governor Haslam has now placed the future of the state s economy and the well being of the LGBTQ community in jeopardy 73 77 Immigration laws edit Haslam has said he favors cracking down on businesses that employ illegal immigrants and suggested he would sign a law requiring law enforcement officers to check the citizenship status of arrested individuals they suspect might be in the country illegally if passed by the state legislature 73 Other edit On January 11 2012 Bill Haslam endorsed Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination in the 2012 United States presidential election This announcement came on the heels of Romney s victory in the New Hampshire primary on January 10 78 Haslam s father was the Tennessee state co chairman for the Romney campaign In a 2013 interview with Politico Haslam stated that many of the more controversial measures passed by the state legislature such as the 2012 law protecting teachers who dispute evolution in class were frustrating and a distraction 69 He noted that in his travels across the state those aren t the issues I hear people bringing up 69 Post governorship editAfter US Senator Lamar Alexander announced that he would not seek re election in 2020 speculation began to arise that Haslam would run for the seat Haslam announced in July 2019 that he would not do so 79 In June 2022 Bill Haslam agreed to become the new owner of the NHL s Nashville Predators through a multi phased acquisition transaction 80 Haslam whose brother Jimmy co owns the NFL s Cleveland Browns with his wife Dee reached an agreement with the franchise s present ownership group which is chaired by Herbert Fritch and includes at least 17 others 81 He is set to become the majority owner of the Predators by July 1 2025 82 In May 2023 U S Senator and 2024 presidential candidate Tim Scott appointed Haslam as national co chair of his 2024 campaign 83 Personal life editHaslam met his wife Crissy Garrett at Emory University and they have been married since 1981 with one son and two daughters and eight grandchildren 10 84 Haslam is a Presbyterian and is a longtime member of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church an Evangelical Presbyterian Church congregation in Knoxville 8 He attends Christ Presbyterian Church when in Nashville 85 Haslam has been a member of the Young Life Board of Trustees since 2011 86 Electoral history editKnoxville mayoral election 2003 87 Party Candidate Votes Nonpartisan Bill Haslam 15 730 52 64Nonpartisan Madeline Rogero 13 864 46 39Nonpartisan George Alexander Hamilton Sr 166 0 56Nonpartisan Boyce McCall 123 41Knoxville mayoral election 2007 88 Party Candidate Votes Nonpartisan Bill Haslam incumbent 5 728 87 32Nonpartisan Isa Infante 667 10 17Nonpartisan Mark Saroff 165 2 52Tennessee Governor Republican Primary Election 2010Party Candidate Votes Republican Bill Haslam 343 817 47 40Republican Zach Wamp 211 735 29 19Republican Ron Ramsey 159 555 22 00Republican Joe Kirkpatrick 6 787 0 94Republican Basil Marceaux Sr 3 514 0 48Tennessee Governor Election 2010Party Candidate Votes Republican Bill Haslam 1 041 545 65 03Democratic Mike McWherter 529 851 33 08Independent Carl Twofeathers Whitaker 6 536 0 41Independent Brandon Dodds 4 728 0 30Independent Bayron Binkley 4 663 0 29Independent June Griffin 2 587 0 16Independent Linda Kay Perry 2 057 0 13Independent Howard Switzer 1 887 0 12Independent Samuel David Duck 1 755 0 11Independent Thomas Smith II 1 207 0 08Independent Toni Hall 993 0 06Independent David Gatchell 859 0 05Independent Boyce McCall 828 0 05Independent James Reesor 809 0 05Independent Mike Knois 600 0 04Independent Donald Ray McFolin 583 0 04Write in Basil Marceaux 58 0 00Write in James Lee 3 0 00Tennessee Governor Republican Primary Election 2014Party Candidate Votes Republican Bill Haslam 570 997 87 68Republican Mark Coonrippy Brown 44 165 6 78Republican Donald Ray McFolin 22 968 3 53Republican Basil Marceaux Sr 13 117 2 01Tennessee Governor Election 2014Party Candidate Votes Republican Bill Haslam 951 796 70 31Democratic Charles Charlie Brown 309 237 22 84Independent John Jay Hooker 30 579 2 26Constitution Shaun Crowell 26 580 1 96Green Isa Infante 18 570 1 37Independent Steve Damon Coburn 8 612 0 64Independent Daniel Lewis 8 321 0 61Write in Mark Pearson 15 0 00Write in BeLinda Jo Ivins 14 0 00Write in Darryl Haas 4 0 00References edit Knoxville News Sentinel profile on Haslam Knoxnews com Retrieved 2013 07 19 Alexander Dan 21 January 2015 Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam Is New Billionaire Richest Politician In America Forbes Retrieved 4 March 2015 Governors races have become contests between bajillionaires The Economist 19 October 2017 Pritzker takes over as Illinois governor WIFR January 14 2019 Retrieved January 14 2019 Ebert Joel Former Gov Bill Haslam historian Jon Meacham to teach Vanderbilt University course on leadership The Tennessean Flory Josh January 16 2011 Haslam Patriarch Started Making Mark on Knoxville as UT Student Knoxville News Sentinel Archived from the original on 2011 01 17 Retrieved September 22 2011 Flory Josh January 17 2011 Work loss and new joy Death drew Haslams closer Knoxville News Sentinel Archived from the original on 2011 01 18 a b c Bill Haslam biography Archived from the original on 2010 07 17 Retrieved 2010 06 09 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link a b c d e Flory Josh January 18 2011 Growth and Change As Business Evolves Haslam Siblings Find Their Roles Within and Without It Knoxville News Sentinel Archived from the original on October 15 2012 Retrieved September 22 2011 a b c d Mayor s biography Archived December 7 2004 at the Wayback Machine City of Knoxville website accessed May 9 2010 NFL approves Rooney s ownership plan Sports espn go com 2008 12 18 Retrieved 2013 07 19 Howard H Baker Jr Center for Public Policy 2007 05 13 Knox County One Question PDF Knoxville News Sentinel Archived from the original PDF on 2009 01 24 Retrieved 2009 06 15 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a author has generic name help Election Roundup U S Conference of Mayors November 17 2003 Archived from the original on December 11 2003 Retrieved 2008 05 18 a b c Flory Josh January 19 2011 Building on Experience as Knoxville s Mayor Optimistic and Enthusiastic Haslam Begins Leading State Knoxville News Sentinel Archived from the original on 2011 01 23 Retrieved September 22 2011 Mayor Bill Haslam Dec 2003 Jan 2011 knoxvilletn gov City of Knoxville Tennessee Retrieved 31 May 2021 a b Hickman Hayes September 26 2007 Haslam sails to second term Knoxville News Sentinel Archived from the original on 2007 10 13 Retrieved 2008 05 18 Hickman Hayes January 6 2009 Haslam cites executive experience in launching campaign for governor Knoxville News Sentinel Archived from the original on 2009 01 08 Vines Georgiana December 5 2009 Haslam fundraiser boosts total Knoxville News Sentinel Archived from the original on 2009 12 11 Sisk Chas December 14 2009 Famous name gives McWherter edge in governor s race for now The Tennessean dead link Haslam Endorsed By U S Rep John J Duncan The Chattanoogan May 8 2010 Archived from the original on May 11 2010 Retrieved May 11 2010 a b Underwood Ryan Michael Cass Chas Sisk Clay Carey December 28 2009 Tennessee political movers The Tennessean p 2 dead link Humphrey Tom February 3 2010 Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam gathers 5 8 million so far for governor s race Knoxville News Sentinel Archived from the original on 2010 02 05 Feldmann Linda August 6 2010 Tennessee GOP primary Bill Haslam s win fits Election 2010 trends The Christian Science Monitor Tennessee Election Results 2010 The New York Times Retrieved 2020 07 31 Gov Bill Haslam announces re election campaign wbir com December 17 2012 Archived from the original on June 18 2013 Retrieved December 29 2014 August 7 2014 Official Election Results Tennessee Secretary of State Archived from the original on September 14 2014 Retrieved December 29 2014 State of Tennessee November 4 2014 State General PDF sos tn gov Tennessee Secretary of State December 3 2014 Retrieved 2019 08 29 a b Bill s Priorities Office of the Governor of Tennessee 2011 Archived from the original on 2011 08 09 Retrieved 2011 09 23 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Retrieved 19 July 2013 Sher Andy June 16 2011 Tennessee Gov Signs Budget Chattanooga Times Free Press Retrieved September 22 2011 Locker Richard March 14 2011 Gov Haslam Unveils Tennessee Budget Will Expedite 97 Million for Electrolux The Commercial Appeal Archived from the original on 2012 10 18 Retrieved September 23 2011 Humphrey Tom June 12 2011 With Planned Parenthood Defunded except may in Memphis Lawmakers Ready to Ignore Mystery Amendment Knoxville News Sentinel Archived from the original on August 25 2011 Retrieved November 3 2011 Schelzig Erik May 25 2011 Haslam Leave Discrimination Policies to Companies Bloomberg Businessweek Archived from the original on September 3 2011 Retrieved November 3 2011 Sher Andy October 31 2011 State Democrats Announce Efforts to Educate Voters on New Photo ID Requirements Chattanooga Times Free Press Retrieved November 3 2011 Sher Andy June 2 2011 Collective Bargaining Political Contribution Measures Become Law Chattanooga Times Free Press White Joe June 16 2011 Haslam Signs Tort Reform Measure Into Law Nashville Public Radio Archived from the original on July 9 2014 Retrieved November 3 2011 Haslam Signs Charter Schools Bill into Law in Memphis Memphis Business Journal June 15 2011 Retrieved November 3 2011 Davis Doug June 8 2011 Gov Bill Haslam Signs Bill to Allow Summer Use of Lottery Scholarships Knoxville News Sentinel The Daily News Journal Archived from the original on 2011 06 16 Retrieved November 3 2011 Occupy Nashville Prostestors Arrested and Released WTVF TV October 29 2011 Archived from the original on 2011 10 31 a b Johnson II Lucas November 1 2011 Tenn Gov Occupy Arrests Necessary for Safety ABC News The Tennessean dead link Ridley Jim October 29 2011 Night Court Magistrate Throws the Book at Haslam Troopers Over Occupy Nashville Arrests Nashville Scene Archived from the original on January 25 2012 TN Governor Bill Haslam Defends Actions Occupy Nashville Situation had Deteriorated WBIR TV Knoxville Tennessee October 29 2011 Archived from the original on 2013 01 05 Gee Brandon October 31 2011 Lawsuit Seeks Halt to Occupy Nashville Arrests The Tennessean dead link Sher Andy May 1 2012 31 Billion Tennessee Budget Heads to Gov Bill Haslam Chattanooga Times Free Press Retrieved March 4 2013 Haslam Signs Cash Grants Plan tnreport com TNReport May 18 2012 Archived from the original on April 11 2013 Retrieved March 4 2013 Haslam Lauds No Child Left Behind Waiver Press release Nashville Office of the Governor of Tennessee February 9 2012 Archived from the original on January 29 2013 Retrieved March 4 2013 Sher Andy July 11 2012 Gov Bill Haslam Tackles Higher Education Costs Chattanooga Times Free Press Retrieved March 4 2013 Continued opposition to Tennessee s monkey bill National Center for Science Education March 30 2012 Retrieved March 4 2013 Wing Nick April 10 2012 Tennessee Evolution Bill Becomes Law After Governor Bill Haslam Declines to Act Huffington Post Retrieved March 4 2013 Tennessee Governor Puts Obesity Problem in Spotlight The Commercial Appeal March 8 2012 Archived from the original on April 10 2013 Retrieved March 5 2013 Haslam Announces Statewide Anti Meth Campaign Press release Nashville Office of the Governor of Tennessee April 4 2012 Archived from the original on February 24 2013 Retrieved March 5 2013 Zotos Alexis May 11 2012 Haslam Signs Tennessee Prescription Safety Act WATE TV Knoxville Tennessee Archived from the original on October 15 2012 Retrieved March 4 2013 Haslam Signs TEAM Act Into Law Press release Nashville Office of the Governor of Tennessee April 24 2012 Archived from the original on April 12 2013 Retrieved March 4 2013 Governor Haslam Signs Civil Service Overhaul Bill WTVF TV Associated Press April 24 2012 Archived from the original on May 7 2012 Retrieved March 5 2013 Sisk Chas May 11 2012 Haslam Signs Gateway Sexual Activity Bill WBIR TV The Tennessean Archived from the original on 2013 04 12 Retrieved March 4 2013 Governor Haslam Signs Several Bills Into Law WTVF TV Associated Press May 24 2012 Archived from the original on May 25 2012 Retrieved March 4 2013 Morrison Chloe March 26 2012 Gov Bill Haslam Signs Bill That Requires Amazon to Charge Sales Tax by 2014 Nooga Today Archived from the original on April 17 2012 Retrieved March 5 2013 Humphrey Tom May 6 2012 Gov Bill Haslam s first veto deftly dodges override possibility Knoxville News Sentinel Archived from the original on 2012 07 15 Humphrey Tom May 11 2012 Haslam All Comers Policy Wrong But Veto Plan Still Stands Knoxville News Sentinel Archived from the original on 2013 04 11 Retrieved March 4 2013 Humphrey Tom December 10 2012 Gov Bill Haslam Rejects State Run Health Care Exchange Knoxville News Sentinel Archived from the original on 2012 12 12 Retrieved March 5 2013 McDonough Katie July 13 2014 First woman arrested under Tennessee law that criminalizes pregnancy outcomes Salon Johnson Evan July 10 2014 2 000 bond set for East Tenn mom charged under new law WBIR TV Archived from the original on 2014 07 11 Ebert Joel April 5 2016 Bill to make Bible Tennessee s official book heads to governor The Tennessean Bid to override Haslam veto of Bible as Tennessee book fails Fox News Associated Press April 20 2016 Tamburin Adam August 22 2016 Gov Bill Haslam takes lead in new college head search The Tennessean Retrieved 21 September 2016 Ebert Joel April 24 2017 Tennessee gas tax increase What it means for you The Tennessean Nashville Retrieved 2018 01 27 a b Brant Joseph May 5 2017 Haslam signs LGBT Erasure bill into law Out amp About Nashville Archived from the original on October 4 2017 Retrieved May 6 2017 Whetstone Tyler May 5 2017 Gov Bill Haslam signs natural meaning bill into law Knoxville News Sentinel Retrieved May 6 2017 Anti LGBTQ Bills in Tennessee Attempt to Undermine Supreme Court s Marriage Equality Ruling Human Rights Campaign April 26 2017 Retrieved May 6 2017 a b c Alexander Burns Bill Haslam The GOP Star You ve Never Heard Of Politico 20 February 2013 Retrieved 9 March 2013 Bill Haslam Joined The NRA In Late February Or Early March Archived July 15 2010 at the Wayback Machine Nashville Post Blogjam April 9 2009 Article includes a link to a Copy of Haslam s letter of resignation from MAIG dead link Governor made Constitutional Carry promise for firearm carrying WGNSradio December 9 2014 Archived from the original on 2015 02 22 Retrieved 2017 03 30 Constitutional carry efforts die in Tennessee Legislature The Tennessean August 8 2016 Retrieved 2017 03 30 a b c Stephen George Is Bill Haslam Your Next Governor Archived 2011 08 31 at the Wayback Machine The Nashville City Paper July 18 2010 retrieved November 3 2011 a b c Next up for college programs in Tennessee as Gov Bill Haslam leaves office Think smaller The Tennessean Retrieved 2019 01 16 a b Wermund Benjamin 16 January 2019 The red state that loves free college The Agenda Retrieved 2019 01 16 a b Tuition free community college program for adult kicks off first enrollment period opens The Tennessean Retrieved 2019 01 16 Jeff Woods Bill Haslam Gay Rights Is a Broad Topic Archived 2011 09 14 at the Wayback Machine The Nashville City Paper July 10 2011 retrieved November 3 2011 Endorsement of Mitt Romney Archived from the original on 2012 01 16 Retrieved 2012 01 11 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link The Republic January 11 2012 retrieved 19 July 2013 Lee Murry July 12 2019 Bill Haslam announces he will not be running for Senate in 2020 WJHL Retrieved 2019 07 13 Ex Tennessee Gov Haslam agrees to buy Preds ESPN com 2022 06 17 Retrieved 2022 12 19 Skrbina Paul June 17 2022 Nashville Predators establish rough timeline for Bill Haslam s majority ownership The Tennessean Retrieved December 10 2022 Thomas Chris February 27 2023 Timeline unchanged for Bill Haslam to take over as Nashville Predators majority owner The Tennessean Retrieved September 4 2023 Tim Scott builds out 2024 team taps Bill Haslam as national co chair Politico 15 May 2023 Crissy Haslam profile Archived from the original on 2011 10 01 Retrieved 2010 12 21 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Retrieved 19 July 2013 Meyer Holly 7 August 2018 From denominations to pews why the death penalty divides many Christians The Tennessean Retrieved 2 April 2019 Board of Trustees 2012 2013 Archived September 5 2013 at the Wayback Machine Young Life website Retrieved 20 August 2013 Unofficial Tally Results By Election Knox County Retrieved 25 October 2019 Cumulative Report Unofficial Knox County Tennessee CITY OF KNOXVILLE PRIMARY ELECTION September 25 2007 PDF Knox County 25 September 2007 Retrieved 25 October 2019 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bill Haslam Governor Bill Haslam official Tennessee government website Bill Haslam for Governor Bill Haslam at Curlie Appearances on C SPANPolitical officesPreceded byVictor Ashe Mayor of Knoxville2003 2011 Succeeded byDaniel BrownActingPreceded byPhil Bredesen Governor of Tennessee2011 2019 Succeeded byBill LeeParty political officesPreceded byJim Bryson Republican nominee for Governor of Tennessee2010 2014 Succeeded byBill LeePreceded byChris Christie Chair of the Republican Governors Association2014 2015 Succeeded bySusana MartinezPreceded byScott Walker Chair of the Republican Governors Association2017 2018 Succeeded byPete RickettsU S order of precedence ceremonial Preceded byPhil Bredesenas Former Governor Order of precedence of the United StatesWithin Tennessee Succeeded byMike Castleas Former GovernorOrder of precedence of the United StatesOutside Tennessee Succeeded byDick Celesteas Former Governor Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Haslam amp oldid 1207806993, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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