Dean Focused On Education, Jobs

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Karl Dean wants to focus the governor’s campaign on education and job creation within Tennessee.

Dean stopped in Monterey Tuesday morning. He said getting more resources for education would be one of his top priorities. Among his concentrations, Dean said raising teacher wages, expanding after school programs and funding Pre-K.

“Well I think obviously everything you do has budgetary ramifications, but one of the things I did learn as mayor is that you have to have clear priorities,” Dean said. “I believe education should be our top priority. My budget will reflect my priorities.”

Dean oversaw a boom time in Nashville’s economy, including a 36 percent increase in sales tax revenue. He said the next governor needs to focus on the entire’s state’s growth, especially in job creation.

“We need to concentrate on bringing jobs and opportunities to those areas of the state that have not done as well and that would be my focus,” Dean said.

Dean said tourism, vocational training, and infrastructure will lead to business recruitment throughout the state.

“The main impetus behind my campaign is that I think the state wants a pragmatic, common-sense, moderate, get-it-done kind of governor that isn’t hung up on ideology or party labels,” Dean said. “Somebody that is going to try to move the state forward and address the need of the state.”

Dean faces House Representative Craig Fitzhugh in the May primary.