By State Senator Lowe Finney
I admit that I have been absent from these pages during the holidays, but I hope you will forgive me. Tiffany and I enjoyed spending time with family and friends whom we did not get to see during the last campaign. I hope you and yours were also able to spend time together and prepare for the New Year.
In the time since we returned to the state Capitol, I have been thinking a lot about where we are now and where we are going as a state. Like every state, Tennessee has been dealt its share of difficulties during the recession. We all know too many people who are out of work or barely making ends meet. Even though times are tough, I have seen countless examples of neighbors helping each other.
I am convinced that we’re moving in the right direction as a state. I see the West Tennessee megasite preparation going forward, and I think about the hundreds, potentially thousands of jobs it will bring. I see our commitments to small businesses and farmers, and I think about the hard work they do to keep our state running. I see our teachers committed more than ever to our children, and I think about the leaders of tomorrow in that classroom studying math and science today. Fiscally, our state is head and shoulders above others with our very limited debt and low tax environment. Even so, many challenges await us this year that require making difficult and perhaps unpopular decisions, but I’m confident in our ability to meet those challenges and for West Tennessee to lead the way.
Last month, I had the privilege of attending Gov. Bill Haslam’s inauguration speech. I was struck by the fact that we share many of the same priorities. He spoke of education that makes a difference for both our children and our workforce, so that our current generation can quickly retrain for the new jobs that have come to the state. He emphasized a statewide environment that encourages job growth, so that the next generation will be ready to graduate and continue our progress. And he encouraged a culture of healthy personal choices to improve quality of life across the state.
In order to more fully discuss many of these issues, I will be planning a series of listening meetings with an emphasis on education in the coming weeks. Plans are currently underway for these sessions, and I look forward to inviting you to participate once the final preparations are made. Our teachers, administrators, and school boards face many challenges when it comes to educating the children of West Tennessee. Yet alongside such successes as our recent Race to The Top grant of $500 million for Tennessee, there are countless opportunities for us to seize over the coming years.
Finally, let me thank you for allowing me to represent you for another four years in the state Senate. Tiffany and I are truly honored that you have allowed us the opportunity to work for you. I am hopeful about the future, but I must emphasize that there is still a lot of hard work ahead. My colleagues and I are committed to what matters: jobs for Tennesseans and education that prepares us for those jobs. As we move through this legislative session, those goals are going to motivate me to work harder than ever for you. If there’s ever anything I can do for you to help us reach those goals, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I look forward to seeing you, talking with you, and serving you.