John Rose visits Blountville amid quest for Tennessee governorship

BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — Congressman John Rose made his way to the Tri-Cities Tuesday as part of his “Tennessee True Tour” as he seeks to secure the Republican nomination in Tennessee’s upcoming gubernatorial election.

Rose is holding a series of town halls across the state to talk with voters and hear their concerns.

On Tuesday, the governor hopeful visited the Ron Ramsey Regional Ag Center in Blountville. Rose is an entrepreneur who started his own I.T. training company. He says his business experience translates to the governor’s office.

“I think Tennessee needs to think about who they’re going to choose as their next governor,” he said. “And they need a leader that’s ready to go to work on day one. The job of being governor is the job of being CEO of our state. It’s a big organization. It’s not a business, but it’s got a lot of the attributes of a business.”

The ag center was a familiar backdrop for Rose. He grew up working with his father on their farm that has been in their family for more than 200 years.  That experience, Rose says, makes him able to relate to farmers who may be struggling.

“They want a governor who will listen,” he said. “They’re tired of DC politicians who come and speak at them when it’s election time, but then don’t show up and don’t address the challenges of the day. They want a governor who will apply our conservative Tennessee values, faith, family, and freedom in taking on the challenges that face Tennessee. And finally, they want a governor who will work hard to protect the nature and quality of Tennessee, our natural beauty, but also the values that really define Tennessee, our southern hospitality.”

Rose will face U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and State Representative Monty Fritts, as well as others, in the primary on Aug. 6.