McMillan drops out of governor's race

Kim McMillan announced today in an interview with The Leaf-Chronicle that she will drop out of the race for governor of Tennessee and will instead run for mayor of Clarksville.

The move was anticipated Monday in a report of a telephone poll forecasting a possible McMillan campaign for mayor, should she step out of her quest for the Democratic nomination for governor.

That decision came, she confirmed, after Johnny Piper announced he wouldn’t seek a third mayoral term.

“These last 24 hours have been very eventful,” McMillan said. “Over the last several weeks I’ve had a number of friends and others in the community contact me about the idea of running for mayor of Clarksville. I felt it was important to answer a call ... to serve the people of Clarksville, and to make Clarksville the best city it can be.

“I am excited about the opportunity, because I believe I have the qualities, and the experience. I think Clarksville can continue to do better, to rise up and be a major player on the state and national level.

“Clarksville is a city on the move. It continues to grow and gain recognition not only in the state, but nationally,” she said.

McMillan believes the state contacts she has made, including those during her campaign for governor, would serve her and Clarksville well in the mayor’s office.

The bid for governor started in 2008 when she first formed the campaign exploratory committee, canvassing the state to gauge public support.

“I have traveled across this state to listen to Tennesseans. I have given it my all,” she said.

The field of Democrats in the running was originally seven candidates, and then was narrowed to five, and finally down to two — herself and Mike McWherter of West Tennessee, son of former Tennessee Gov. Ned McWherter.

Prior to Wednesday’s interview with The Leaf-Chronicle, McMillan said she had a conversation with McWherter about her decision to drop out and run for Clarksville mayor.

“We had a very pleasant conversation,” McMillan said, but didn’t say whether she would campaign for McWherter in Clarksville.

Kim McMillan announced today in an interview with The Leaf-Chronicle that she will drop out of the race for governor of Tennessee and will instead run for mayor of Clarksville.

The move was anticipated Monday in a report of a telephone poll forecasting a possible McMillan campaign for mayor, should she step out of her quest for the Democratic nomination for governor.

That decision came, she confirmed, after Johnny Piper announced he wouldn’t seek a third mayoral term.

“These last 24 hours have been very eventful,” McMillan said. “Over the last several weeks I’ve had a number of friends and others in the community contact me about the idea of running for mayor of Clarksville. I felt it was important to answer a call ... to serve the people of Clarksville, and to make Clarksville the best city it can be.

“I am excited about the opportunity, because I believe I have the qualities, and the experience. I think Clarksville can continue to do better, to rise up and be a major player on the state and national level.

“Clarksville is a city on the move. It continues to grow and gain recognition not only in the state, but nationally,” she said.

McMillan believes the state contacts she has made, including those during her campaign for governor, would serve her and Clarksville well in the mayor’s office.

The bid for governor started in 2008 when she first formed the campaign exploratory committee, canvassing the state to gauge public support.

“I have traveled across this state to listen to Tennesseans. I have given it my all,” she said.

The field of Democrats in the running was originally seven candidates, and then was narrowed to five, and finally down to two — herself and Mike McWherter of West Tennessee, son of former Tennessee Gov. Ned McWherter.

Prior to Wednesday’s interview with The Leaf-Chronicle, McMillan said she had a conversation with McWherter about her decision to drop out and run for Clarksville mayor.

“We had a very pleasant conversation,” McMillan said, but didn’t say whether she would campaign for McWherter in Clarksville.

“At this point I’m just thinking about running for mayor of Clarksville,” she said.