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I’ve had a bit of a writer’s block regarding meeting Ward Cammack. I own it. I headed into the Tech Center in Henry County about ten days ago to meet the candidate for governor and we talked about unemployment in northwest Tennessee. Little did I know that I would be a statistic the very next day. So, needless to say, writer’s block.

Let’s take a moment to bask in the irony.

There is much to say about Cammack. He is saying things regarding making Tennessee more of a global industrial powerhouse on issues that may not have been addressed in the past consistently. He wants us to look at alternative ways of bringing global industry into our state that relies on environmental industry as well as facing the realities that if we don’t think outside the box with a bit of business moxey then we have a hell of a time on our hands.

I think that GoldnI stated it well when she wrote last month that Cammack was looking at a green economy as a long-term business model.  Cammack mentioned in our meeting that we need to look at not only sustainable energy as a viable source not only for the economy but as a reasonable method in combating any more enviromental faux pas in the future. We also discussed the issue of the Tennessee River’s boundary issue between this state and Georgia from last year. I, of course, went and discussed this issue with the farmers I know that agreed this a bigger deal than we sometimes hear or think about.

I trust my local farmers. They know this stuff.

His knowledge on agribusiness is pretty impressive and we discussed the issue of small farmers owning their own land in comparison to those same farmers selling out due to rising costs to corporate agricorporations. This has always bothered me and he did go into detail about how his long-term “Green” business model could possibly assist local farmers just trying to keep ahead of next year’s yields and this year’s prices on fertilizer, which are out of control. We want Tennesseans owning Tennesse farmland. On this, Cammack and I agree.

My main primary objective in the discussion was how does someone from Nashville who has worked in business understand the considerations of an area in northwest Tennessee that is sometimes lost in the political discussion at this period of time. I also asked point blank about how he feels he will be received in an area that has two candidates (Roy Herron and Mike McWherter) with deep roots in Obion and Weakley Tennessee also with the lingering and powerful legacy of Ned McWherter in the shadows.

He answered the questions, citing that his plan is innovative and would stand through the upcoming generations He also mentioned that addressing nontraditional methods of economic development would  directly impact areas that have been stricken with impossible economic disasters such as manufacturing loss and agricultural financial uncertainty.

Much of what he said to me is obviously on his website and you can read his own words here.

As for switching parties, he said simply, “I’m a convert.” For yellow dogs and die-hard Republicans, this might not be the answer you wanted, but for the undecideds it is unclear if this will sway them one way or another. I have no answer for that.

On another plane, he did talk about training Tennesseans who might not have the opportunity to go to college about tech school possibilities in training for his long-term plan. As I know a great deal of folks that cannot currently afford college, I do believe this will most likely translate well in this area. He by no means said people shouldn’t go to college, but he did evangelize that training methods were available during this tough economic climate.

I focused on issues I though other rural communities in this area might be interested in. Other bloggers/journalists have spotlighted his tax stand and other issues he has come out on, which is also being spotlighted on his blog in the Ask Ward section, which I also think is pretty clever.

Ask him if you want to know.

Let’s be clear. I’m not endorsing anyone at this stage of the race. I hope to talk to other candidates in the coming weeks on their knowledge and impression of northwest Tennessee.

I will say that Cammack has been very accessible. And, I hope that he will continue to be over this long campaign.

Most of my concentration in the next bit will be how candidates, such as Cammack, interact outside of the confines of Nashville in rural areas that have different issues than urban areas and how they balance both very important subjects. I’m also intrigued on what their “business model” is to assist of all of the state and if they have an agenda for economic development for all three grand divisions.

Thus far, pretty good marks, answered the questions and we will see what happens next in his campaign.