Herron Touts Jobs, Port in Visit to Reelfoot Lake

By: Evan Jones, Banner Editor
Posted: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 8:53 am

State Senator Roy Herron (D-Dresden) met with a group of more than a dozen persons for a luncheon Thursday at Bluebank Fish House and Grill as part of a jobs tour as he campaigns for the U.S. House seat being vacated by John Tanner who is retiring.

Herron, a former minister, small-town attorney and businessman said the Northwest Tennessee Port and Industrial Park at Cates Landing, I-69, and the expansion of Everett Stewart Regional Airport are just some of the reasons he is hopeful about Lake County’s future when it comes to jobs.

Herron made his remarks at the Blue Bank Fish House and Grill as part of his 19-county Jobs Tour. He met with small business owners, working people and local leaders about what he should do in Congress to help grow and save jobs.

“My top three priorities for Tennessee are jobs, jobs and jobs,” Herron said. “I am optimistic about the future of saving, growing and recruiting jobs for Lake County for several reasons.”

Herron said improvements to infrastructure and investments in people are crucial to creating jobs.

Regarding infrastructure, Herron said the Northwest Tennessee Port and Industrial Park will bring thousands of jobs to the area. The future completion of Interstate 69, Highway 45 West, and the expansion of the Everett Stewart Regional Airport also will open up new opportunities for business and job growth.

For investments in people, Tennessee’s recent award of $500 million in Race to the Top funds will greatly improve public education and play an important role in future jobs growth, Herron said. “We have an incredible opportunity to improve our schools as never before. Now we have to make sure we spend those dollars wisely.”

Making the area even more attractive for economic development is the progress made in fighting crime. In the state senate, Herron has worked for new criminal penalties for making and distributing crystal meth, as well as stronger measures to lock up sex offenders. He has also fought to protect people’s homes against predatory lenders and loan sharks.

“When crime is low, business is better,” Herron said. “And when people are not having to pay 300 percent and 400 percent interest to unscrupulous lenders, they are able to spend more money with local merchants and we are better able to recruit jobs. That’s why I will continue to be aggressive in fighting crime and predatory lenders who take advantage of our senior citizens.”

Living within our means to avoid additional taxes has also made Tennessee attractive to out-of-state companies. Herron recently voted against a state income tax for the fifth time, and he has a long record of voting against raising the state sales tax rate.

“The hard working people of Lake County didn’t cause these hard times, but they are certainly feeling the effects,” Herron said. “More than 10 percent of the people here are unemployed and people are suffering, but there are many reasons for hope.

“Tennessee is one of the top five states in the country in terms of business climate for jobs growth because we’ve worked hard to make the right investments in infrastructure and education. And we’ve fought crime and higher taxes,” he added.

“The most important asset is the quality of our people,” Herron said. “The people here work hard and are truly committed to this community.”