Franklin's Bill Lee Says Gubernatorial Announcement Coming

CLARKSVILLE, TN — Franklin businessman Bill Lee told The Tennessean his formal announcement about a gubernatorial bid will come "sooner rather than later."

Lee has been making the routine Memphis-to-Mountain City pre-campaign tour, though he told the newspaper he did not have a policy platform nor a broad understanding of the state's issues.

"This is just about leadership and leadership around meaningful, purposeful work, and I started having conversations about public service," he told the paper. "Ultimately I just kind of said what it would be like to wake up in the morning instead of thinking how do I make life better for 1,100 Lee Company workers, how do I make life better for 6.5 million people?"

Lee makes much of his background and plays up his just-folks attitude, noting he raises cattle and has a plumbing license.

So far, the only formal entrants on the Republican side are State Sen. Mark Green, though he is rumored to be in line for an appointment as President Donald Trump's Secretary of the Army, and former economic and community development commissioner Randy Boyd. House Speaker Beth Harwell said she won't make an announcement until after the legislative session is completed. State Sen. Mae Beavers has hinted she might enter the race, particularly if Green has to drop out.

Image via Lee Company