Bredesen deserves to be re-elected

Tennessee needs proven leadership. At a time when our state government is trying to prove it can live within its means while at the same time overcoming ethical lapses, we need a manager with a successful, quantified track record.

That is why The City Paper endorses Gov. Phil Bredesen for re-election.

Bredesen made very hard decisions in his first term of office on issues previous governors had failed to address. He made tough choices and implemented deep cuts to TennCare, drastically ramping down the program and reshaping it to be more fiscally realistic. He also appears to have ended all talk of a state income tax by managing state government with conservative, business-like efficiency.

Bredesen also brought a proactive approach to economic development and job creation that has resulted in tangible results during his first term.

During Bredesen