Roy Herron Visits Waverly

Roy Herron, a Democrat and former state Senator who has announced for U.S. Congressman John Tanner's seat, visited Waverly Thursday afternoon, February 11 as part of a Jobs Listening tour.

Representative John Tidwell introduced Herron to the some 15 persons who attended.

Commissioner Jessie Wallace, Chairman, Public Safety and Works Committee; Wanda Adkins, Trustee; Vickie Cowell, Tax Assessor; Jan Crowell, Register of Deeds; Betty Ethridge, County Clerk; Susan Goodman, head of United Way; Daniel Collier, Alderman, city of Waverly; Dave Porch, Porch, Stribling, and Webb Insurance; and Diane Hedge, formerly head of tourism for the county Chamber of Commerce, also attended.

Herron told the story about a group of 100 ants floating down the Tennessee River on a log.

"Everyone of them ants thinks he's driving that log," Herron said. The audience laughed.

To more laughter, Herron also said his father was "proud of his boys. Neither one of them has ever been in the penitentiary or the legislature." He also expressed his pleasure at working with Bill Collier (who has died), Daniel Collier's dad, who was his "dear friend" and "seatmate" who helped educate him when they were in the state legislature together.

"He (Collier) was awfully kind to me through the years," Herron said.

Herron also spoke highly of Rep. John Tidwell.

"I don't think we've ever had a cross word," Herron said. "I can't say that even about my wife." Again, there was laughter.

Herron said that Tidwell "doesn't ever forget where home is. He knows where he's from, and he doesn't forget his values when he gets up there." Herron said, "It's a privilege to work with you, John," to Tidwell, who thanked him.

Herron said he wanted to talk about "where we are in terms of jobs, and what the situation is." He said unemployment rate in the full 17-county district plus parts of two additional counties is at 12.9 percent, and 12.3 percent in Humphreys County. Herron said in Perry County, unemployment was 27 percent.

"Enormous numbers of people are out of work," Herron said. "More than any time in my lifetime, probably in your lifetime."

He told the story of a girl in Perry County not being able to see the blackboard, and her parents (mom was disabled and daddy lost his job) could not afford glasses. Herron said a school counselor and teachers took up a collection and bought her glasses.

"The best social program in the world is a good job," Herron said. "My top priority right now, if you elect me your congressman, will be jobs, jobs, and jobs. Those will be my top three priorities." He said he understood "what was happening right now."

Herron said he planned to "make things better," and the area "is poised for some real growth" as the economy comes back. He mentioned the river and "good access to the Interstate" and said "good things can happen in this county."

Herron said the special legislative session that just ended had passed legislation that would help education.

"My daddy was a school teacher for a time. My sister was professionally a schoolteacher all her career, and I believe in schoolteachers. I'm not here to criticize them, but at the same time, you probably know and I know of a few teachers who maybe are not what they might be," Herron said.

He said that programs aimed at helping teachers and kids "can be successful" by measuring the performance of students.

Herron spoke of higher education and said we had a community college that gave us connections to Nashville and programs connected to Austin Peay State University.

"That's clearly where we've got to go," Herron said. "We've got to educate our kids." He spoke of having a "better-educated workforce."

Herron said when he was growing up, "if you had a strong back and a strong work ethic, you could make a decent living for your family. But those days are gone." He said that he unloaded 50-pound fertilizer bags from trucks and hauled hay when he was young.

Herron said a strong mind "was where our future is, that's where our opportunities are, and that's where education is so crucial to our future." He said the rankings of persons "as a percentage of the population" with high school and college degrees was too low.

"But we're making progress," Herron said.

He mentioned Decatur County and said "about a third" of students went on to higher education facilities. Herron said "last dollar" scholarships and two councilors in high schools increased students who went on to college or vocational school to nine out of ten.

Herron said broadband access and "the right computer system" in schools would allow students to access the best teachers in the world from their classrooms. He said Al Gore told him students in rural areas would eventually have access to the finest libraries in the world via the Internet.

"We have more opportunities now than we've ever had, and the future is yet brighter if we'll take advantage of it," Herron said.

He said having broadband connections in rural areas would lead to "great things." Herron said, "We are poised to see enormous economic growth and some real opportunities." He said he wants to be a part of that if he's elected to serve in Washington, D.C.

Dave Porch asked if federal stimulus money "was really doing what they thought it was going to do" because "it doesn't seem like it's reached this far." He also asked Herron and Tidwell to finish Highway 13.

"I'm with you," Herron said. "I will continue to push." He said, "The job was started but not done."

"A lot of it hasn't been spent yet," Herron said about stimulus money. "A lot of it is just now coming. It's hard to say how much of it's helping."

Susan Goodman asked about Race to the Top dollars and Tennessee's chances.

"People in the administration tell me we've really got a good shot at it," Herron said.

Jessie Wallace asked for examples of success stories "that we can emulate" and improve "our situation in Humphreys County."

Herron said when the megasite in West Tennessee (Haywood County near Exit 56 off Interstate 40) goes online, it "has the potential for a lot of jobs actually here as well." He also mentioned Clarksville and said Hemlock's investment there will "also have spin offs in this area."

Herron said TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) has helped "lead the way for energy in this country and electric power and alternative energy sources." He said TVA has reduced dependence on foreign oil, and reduced imbalance in our trade deficit.

Herron also mentioned a call center that has been set up in McKenzie as a success story.

Tidwell said Highway 70 has been paved "this way" using stimulus money "right off the bat. It was shovel ready." Tidwell mentioned other projects that were planned and waiting for more stimulus money.

"It's going to make a difference," Tidwell said.

There was a question from the audience about Humphreys County competing with Chattanooga when a U.S. Senator (Corker) resides there.

"The mega-plants, the 1,500-2,000 worker plants, often are going to go to the urban area or just outside the urban area," Herron replied. "That's just the reality for a lot of that." He says spin offs from these plants are available to other counties.

"We're certainly within the range for where their suppliers can be," Herron said.

Herron asked for counsel if he has "the privilege of representing you."

"Balance the budget," a man said.

"They're scaring me," Herron said. "The folks in Washington look to me like they've lost their minds." He said for the last decade, the Congress has gone from black ink "deeply into red ink. It is truly frightening."

Herron said his priority is jobs, but fiscal policy needs to be "back in order. Let's balance our budget."

"I have always believed is it takes money to make money," said Meleia Schwerdtfeger. "The problem is, that we don't know what money they need to be spending that we need to go in debt for. And that's what makes it hard." She said frustration comes from spending by the federal government "where it needs to go to do the most good."

Schwerdtfeger asked Herron to get the "one line item veto."

Herron said he and Tidwell have to balance the state budget.

"We do all we have to do to live within our means like you do and your household does," Herron said. "We haven't piled it on our kids to have to pay the bills." He said the actions in Washington, D.C. are "immoral" and "threatens the country."

Herron talked about the partisanship in Washington, D.C.

"We've got to find us some people that are willing to work together," Herron said. He said the two parties have to stop shooting as each other. "What they're really hurting are the American people."

"Republicans, of all people, are bellyaching because we're spending too much money," Schwerdtfeger said, "don't want the Pay as You Go. I'm puzzled by that."

Referring to fiscal responsibility, Herron said Republicans have "given that up." He said majorities in both parties are "being fiscally irresponsible."

Herron was then asked whether he would support Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Speaker of the House.

"I don't intend to represent the folks of San Francisco or California," Herron said. He said he intends to represent "the people from this Congressional District. These are the people I'll be accountable to."

Herron said he was fiscally conservative, and did not believe in spending but did believe in investing "in the future of this country."

Herron is from Dresden, graduated from Dresden High School, and practices law there. He graduated from the University of Tennessee campus in Martin, and teaches at Vanderbilt's Law and Divinity Schools, according to his website.

Herron has been married to wife Nancy for 23 years, and has three sons: John, Rick, and Ben. He is the author of three books. The Herron's are members of the First United Methodist Church in Dresden.