From left: Daniel Boone, Gina Hancock, Jeanne Nelson, Emily Parish, Kathleen Williams, Mark Cate, Will Cromer, John Noel, Bob Tuke and Bill Franks.

On Wednesday, October 20, nine members of the Forever Green Tennessee coalition met with Bill Haslam Campaign Manager Mark Cate and Policy Director Will Cromer to discuss the Forever Green Tennessee campaign. In attendance were Ashley Heeren and Kathleen Williams (Tennessee Parks & Greenways Foundation); Jeanne Nelson and Emily Parish (Land Trust of Tennessee); Daniel Boone (TN Scenic Rivers Association); Bill Franks (TN Ornithological Society); John Noel (TN Conservation Voters, TN Parks & Greenways); Bob Tuke (TN Environmental Council, TN Parks & Greenways); and Gina Hancock (The Nature Conservancy). The group explained to Mr. Cate and Mr. Cromer the importance of the Tennessee Real Estate Transfer Funds and our recent 2010 victory. Haslam’s staffers indicated that Mayor Haslam has a strong sense of commitment to conservation and that his work as the Mayor would back that up. While the two couldn’t endorse the campaign, they did seem to understand the mission and the message. It was a positive meeting!

On the democratic front, Gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter has gone on record saying he believes in conservation funding, and recent conversations with his staffers support this stance. (To see McWherter’s stance on the ENVIRONMENT, CLICK HERE)

We fully believe that if either man should be elected Governor, the Tennessee Real Estate Transfer Funds are understood and appreciated by both. The Forever Green Tennessee” campaign will still be in full force during the 2011 budgetary process, but we feel confident that our next Governor — whomever it may be — will make the beauty of Tennessee and conserving the BEST the state has to offer a top priority!

This was possible because our General Assembly said “enough is enough!” and voted to keep the Tennessee Real Estate Transfer Funds IN the budget in 2010! Thanks to that progressive attitude, the State was recently able to award $3.5 million in grants!

To see the press release and list of grantees, CLICK HERE