Bill Dunn This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. KnoxNews: Politics

   www.knoxnews.com/kns/politics/ - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/4/2005   Last Visited: 9/4/2005

   Bill Dunn, who earlier backed away from seeking election as House Republican leader, has changed his mind and now appears positioned to win the contest.
   
   At least that is the opinion of Reps. Jason Mumpower, R-Bristol, and Paul Stanley, R-Germantown, who jointly announced they are withdrawing as candidates because Dunn decided to run.
   ...
   Dunn still has three opponents in the intraparty competition to succeed resigning House Minority Leader Tre Hargett, who will become a lobbyist for Pfizer Inc.
   ...
   Both said they talked with Dunn before issuing a news release Friday announcing their withdrawal and praising Dunn.
   ...
   "It used to be that Bill Dunn was considered on the fringe or the far right of our party.
   ...
   At the same time, Dunn has impeccable conservative credentials. Early in his career, he was the only Republican representative to refuse to vote for Democrat Jimmy Naifeh as House speaker. More recently, he was lead sponsor of a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Tennessee.
   
   That combination will appeal to all segments of the current House Caucus, he said.
   ...
   Dunn had declared a week earlier that he would not run for the position. His change of mind came for two reasons, he said.
   
   First, Dunn said colleagues contacted him after hearing of his announcement and asked him to reconsider. Meanwhile, Dunn said his employer, Jim Cortese, of Cortese Tree Service, assured him that his work schedule could be arranged to accommodate extra demands on his time that the leadership position would require.
   ...
   "I'm probably the only candidate who wears a hard hat in his job," said Dunn, speaking on a cell phone as he went from one job cutting storm-damaged trees to another.
   
   Dunn said he called all 45 members of the caucus and was "overwhelmed" with those who promised to help him if elected.
   
   "It's not going to be about me, it's going to be about we," he said.
   
   Brooks, Casada and Todd all said they do not believe Dunn has lined up the support needed to win the contest.
   ...
   "Bill and I are pretty much in tune philosophically on just about every issue," he said.

2. 2. KnoxNews: Politics

   www.knoxvillenews.com/kns/poli - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/4/2005   Last Visited: 9/4/2005

   Bill Dunn, who earlier backed away from seeking election as House Republican leader, has changed his mind and now appears positioned to win the contest.
   
   At least that is the opinion of Reps. Jason Mumpower, R-Bristol, and Paul Stanley, R-Germantown, who jointly announced they are withdrawing as candidates because Dunn decided to run.
   ...
   Dunn still has three opponents in the intraparty competition to succeed resigning House Minority Leader Tre Hargett, who will become a lobbyist for Pfizer Inc.
   ...
   Both said they talked with Dunn before issuing a news release Friday announcing their withdrawal and praising Dunn.
   ...
   "It used to be that Bill Dunn was considered on the fringe or the far right of our party.
   ...
   At the same time, Dunn has impeccable conservative credentials. Early in his career, he was the only Republican representative to refuse to vote for Democrat Jimmy Naifeh as House speaker. More recently, he was lead sponsor of a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Tennessee.
   
   That combination will appeal to all segments of the current House Caucus, he said.
   ...
   Dunn had declared a week earlier that he would not run for the position. His change of mind came for two reasons, he said.
   
   First, Dunn said colleagues contacted him after hearing of his announcement and asked him to reconsider. Meanwhile, Dunn said his employer, Jim Cortese, of Cortese Tree Service, assured him that his work schedule could be arranged to accommodate extra demands on his time that the leadership position would require.
   ...
   "I'm probably the only candidate who wears a hard hat in his job," said Dunn, speaking on a cell phone as he went from one job cutting storm-damaged trees to another.
   
   Dunn said he called all 45 members of the caucus and was "overwhelmed" with those who promised to help him if elected.
   
   "It's not going to be about me, it's going to be about we," he said.
   
   Brooks, Casada and Todd all said they do not believe Dunn has lined up the support needed to win the contest.
   ...
   "Bill and I are pretty much in tune philosophically on just about every issue," he said.