Bill Lee and Karl Dean will face off in the gubernatorial election tomorrow to succeed Tennessee governor Bill Haslam.
Throughout the election, education has been at the forefront of debates and discussions.
Over the past 16 years, governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam have worked hard to improve higher education policy, implementing rograms like Tennessee Promise, which provides tuition-free community college for qualified applicants
Due to the Tennessee Promise program and other initiatives, the state in 2017 had the highest rate of applicants for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in the nation.
Tennessee’s next governor will he expected to build on this progress.
Dean and Lee have both promised to prioritize Tennessee’s education system if they are elected to office.
Dean, who served as Nashville’s mayor from 2007 to 2015, is the Democratic nominee. He publicly praised Haslam for his work with the Tennessee Promise program. In fact, Dean created public-private support for free community college before Tennessee Promise was implemented statewide.
Although Dean supports Tennessee’s current focus on increasing the number of college graduates, he also wants to increase access to vocational training programs. These training programs will align with the fast-growing occupations and industries of Tennessee.
Republican nominee Bill Lee is the president of Lee Co., a home services business worth $250 million. He also served on the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and Belmont University’s Board of Trustees.
Lee’s diverse experience with business and higher education has led him to advocate for vocational, technical and agricultural education in Tennessee. During his campaign, he stressed the importance of providing opportunities for all Tennesseans, including those who do not choose the traditional college route.
Both nominees believe concentrating on higher education and technical school is key to creating jobs, opportunities, and better pay across the state.
Tennessee’s general election will take place Tues., Nov. 6.
To see a list of all the candidates running for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Tennessee Senate and Tennessee House, visit the Tennessee.gov website.