Harwell sets priorities in governor bid

“I’m willing to listen to all sides . ... I hope I’ve earned the reputation as speaker of at least being fair.” –BETH HARWELL, GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE AND HOUSE SPEAKER

NASHVILLE — Gubernatorial candidate and House Speaker Beth Harwell doesn’t want your vote just because she’s a woman, though she is certainly aware of the historical significance of being Tennessee’s first female governor.

“In the year 2020, we will be celebrating the 100th year anniversary of the state of Tennessee being the deciding factor for giving women the right to vote,” Harwell said. “I think that would be nice to have a woman in office at that point.”

In discussing her plans if elected governor, she said keeping the state’s financial house in order and improving education are two of her main goals.

“I’m willing to listen to all sides,” she said. “I hope I’ve earned the reputation as speaker of at least being fair. I hope my members think, ‘She’s accessible and fair; even if I disagree with her or she disagrees with me, she’ll hear me out.’”

Harwell has been a member of the house since 1989, and in 2011 became the first female House speaker in Tennessee history.

“I’ve been a part of not just state government, but a lot of the significant reforms that have happened in state government,” Harwell said. “When I first entered, we weren’t in the top half of states in improving (education) and weren’t one of the lowest (ranked states) in debt.”

On education, Harwell cited the progress the state’s made, but said efforts cannot “relax” as students are now competing on a global scale.

“Teachers know they are responsible (but) that not every child is going to be able to be on the same level by the end of third grade,” she said. “But we should be able to take a test at the beginning of third grade and at the end, and be able to see progress.”

Harwell is the fourth Republican candidate in the governor’s race, joining former Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd, Williamson County businessman Bill Lee and state Sen. Mae Beavers.