Karl Dean in 2018 TN Governor's race
On Abortion:
Politicians shouldn't insert themselves in abortion decision
Q: Abortion: Mostly ban or mostly legal? Karl Dean (D): Legal. "Between her and her doctor and her family and her faith. Politicians should not insert themselves."
Bill Lee (R): Ban, even for rape and incest. "Any restriction that would limit
abortions." Supports "Heartbeat Bill" banning at around six weeks.
Q: Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it morally?
Karl Dean (D): Unknown.
Bill Lee (R): Yes. "Our constitution protects an absolute, fundamental right to live your life--at home & in the workplace--according to your values & your faith."
Q: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion healthcare?
Karl Dean (D): Unclear. Supportive of expanding women's health services.
Bill Lee (R): No. Make sure they don't get another dime of state money.
Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide on 2018 Tennessee Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Drugs:
No recreational marijuana; decriminalize light medical use
Q: Do you support legalizing or decriminalizing medical or recreational marijuana?Karl Dean (D): Legalize medical use.
No legalization of recreational marijuana, but possibly decriminalize small amounts.
Bill Lee (R): Opposes legalizing recreational marijuana; says further exploration of medical use is needed.
Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide on 2018 Tennessee Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Education:
Opposes vouchers & for-profit charter schools
Q: Increase funding for K-12 education?Karl Dean (D): Yes. Wants to make public education a top priority as governor.
Bill Lee (R): No. Wants to better use existing dollars. Will appoint an inspector general to "seek out waste & abuse in the
system."
Q: Education: Support expansion of charter schools or provide vouchers or tax breaks to parents to send their children to private schools with public money?
Karl Dean (D): Opposes vouchers & for-profit charter schools. Believes nonprofit charter schools have a role to play in large urban districts, though "they're not a silver bullet."
Bill Lee (R): Yes.
Supports charter schools. "Vouchers are an opportunity to provide another choice. We should certainly pilot voucher programs to see what positive impact they could have."
Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide on 2018 Tennessee Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Energy & Oil:
Pledged to work toward reducing greenhouse gases
Q: Consider climate change a serious crisis?Karl Dean (D): Yes. Signed US Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement, pledging to work toward reducing greenhouse gases.
Bill Lee (R): Unknown.
Q: Climate Change:
Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases? Support US participation in Paris Climate Accord despite President Trump's withdrawal? Support participation in interstate initiatives to limit levels of greenhouse gases?
Karl Dean (D): Yes.
Supported national emission trading system through Climate Protection Agreement. Worked to lower Nashville's greenhouse gases as Mayor. "We can be pro- business and pro-environment...[will] work with businesses to reduce their carbon footprint."
Bill Lee (R): Unknown.
Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?
Karl Dean (D): Yes. "We need to focus more on incentivizing the use of solar."
Bill Lee (R): Unknown.
Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide on 2018 Tennessee Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Families & Children:
Supports gay marriage
Q: Support gay marriage?Karl Dean (D): Yes.
Bill Lee (R): No. "Marriage is between a man & a woman."
Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide on 2018 Tennessee Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Free Trade:
Opposes Trump's tariffs on China
Q: Support Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?
Karl Dean (D): No.
Bill Lee (R): No.
Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide on 2018 Tennessee Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Government Reform:
Nonpartisan redistricting; no voter ID
Q: Support nonpartisan redistricting to address charges of partisan gerrymandering?Karl Dean (D): Yes.
Bill Lee (R): Unknown.
Q: Voting Rights: Support stricter voting rules such as voter ID requirements or reduced registration times,
even if they prevent some people from voting?
Karl Dean (D): No. Will look at options to make voting more accessible & increase participation.
Bill Lee (R): Unknown.
Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide on 2018 Tennessee Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Gun Control:
Strong background checks; ban bump stocks
Q: Support more restrictive gun control legislation? Restrict semi-automatic weapons?Karl Dean (D): Supports 2nd Amendment, but wants to see strong background checks, bans on bump stocks, & continued support for the permit process.
Bill Lee (R): No. "Law abiding citizens should not be punished for the actions of criminals. Adding a new law won't solve the problem. As governor, I'll oppose any attempt to ban an entire (class) of weapons."
Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide on 2018 Tennessee Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Health Care:
Support ObamaCare; expand Medicaid
Q: Support or Repeal ACA, aka ObamaCare? Accept ACA's Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants?Karl Dean (D): Support ACA. Expand Medicaid. "My biggest health care priority would be making sure all
Tennesseans have access to quality and affordable health care."
Bill Lee (R): Repeal ACA & oppose Medicaid expansion. "ObamaCare will not expand in Tennessee under my watch."
Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide on 2018 Tennessee Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Immigration:
Earned path to citizenship; they are Tennesseans
Q: Support DACA, allowing "Dreamers" who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, to achieve legal status if meet certain conditions?Karl Dean (D): Yes. Congress should figure out a solution to retain DACA.
Favors in-state tuition for DACA recipients: "They grew up here and went to school and church here. They are Tennesseans."
Bill Lee (R): No. "Setting up additional benefits for illegal immigrants is the wrong strategy." Opposes in-state tuition for DACA recipients.
Q: Immigration: Support path to citizenship for America's 11 million illegal immigrants?
Karl Dean (D): Yes. Supports earned path to citizenship.
Bill Lee (R): No.
Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide on 2018 Tennessee Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Technology:
Increase gas tax to fund local transportation infrastructure
Q: Position on Tennessee taxes?Karl Dean (D): Would allow counties to increase gas tax to fund local transportation infrastructure.
Bill Lee (R): Recruiting new businesses while "growing
Tennessee businesses of all sizes. requires reducing the tax & regulatory burden for everyone."
Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide on 2018 Tennessee Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Drugs:
Provide treatment for opioids while stepping up prosecution
The number of opioid-related deaths in Tennessee has skyrocketed over the last two decades. More people are now dying in Tennessee of drug overdose than motor vehicle accidents, and 72% of the state's overdose deaths are opioid-related. Karl believes
the government response to opioid use should match the level of public health crisis it has become. To that end, he supports the recent work of the state legislature's opioid task force.Karl knows that opioid addiction is a complex issue and that
more must be done to provide treatment programs while also stepping up prosecution of drug dealers. He also agrees with the state's opioid task force that solutions must address the overuse of legal access to drugs. Tennessee has the second highest rate
of opioid prescriptions in the country with opioid prescriptions in our state outnumbering residents 4 to 1. As governor, Karl will work in partnership with the healthcare community to identify and address the root causes of the state's opioid crisis.
Source: 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial campaign website KarlDean.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Education:
Expand access to vocational training programs
Most of Tennessee's fastest growing industries and occupations require some type of postsecondary education or training. Karl supports Tennessee's current focus on increasing the number of college graduates.
In fact, as mayor, he created public-private support for free access to community college in Nashville before Tennessee Promise was implemented statewide.
However, Karl also knows that college isn't the right fit for every high school graduate.
As governor, he will work to expand access to vocational training programs across Tennessee, and he will work to align them with the industries and jobs that are growing in our state.
Source: 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial campaign website KarlDean.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Education:
Increase teacher pay; more resources for schools
Karl has pledged to make public education his top priority as governor. He made the same commitment as Mayor of Nashville and fulfilled it through every operating and capital budget he proposed. During his eight years in the mayor's office, he worked
with the Metro Council to increase funding for Nashville schools by an astounding 37 percent and invested $629 million in school buildings and other capital infrastructure for the school district. The graduation rate increased, the dropout rate
went down and test scores improved.As governor, Karl will do the same for the state. He will make education a funding priority every year he is in office with specific emphasis on:-
increasing teacher pay
- investing in high quality early childhood education
- expanding afterschool program opportunities
- ensuring all school districts get the resources they need
Source: 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial campaign website KarlDean.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Education:
Supports charters; opposes vouchers
While Karl believes in school choice, he opposes the use of for-profit charter schools and vouchers. Private school vouchers would allow taxpayer dollars to fund private schools, taking money directly away from Tennessee public schools.
And while many nonprofit charters are among the highest performing schools in the urban school districts of Memphis and Nashville,
Karl believes charters with a profit motive can't focus on doing what's best for their students. Karl believes nonprofit charter schools have a role to play in large urban districts, but they're not a silver bullet.
However, he believes rural areas do not have large enough student populations for charter schools to be an effective tool.
Source: 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial campaign website KarlDean.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Environment:
Cuts to the EPA are unthinkable
Our environment--including access to clean air and clean water--have a big impact on our health. As Mayor of Nashville, Karl was committed to environmental stewardship, creating a dedicated Office of Sustainability. This office worked to expand the
city's recycling program, conserve open lands by adding 25 percent more park space and reduce the energy use of government buildings with more efficient features. Karl's administration also worked to reduce pollutants in the city's waterways with new
water-sewer infrastructure. Nashville is greener and more environmentally-friendly today because of Karl's leadership.Current proposed federal budget changes call for historic cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, a department created to
regulate air and water pollutants. The cuts would bring the department's funding to its lowest levels in 40 years. These cuts are unthinkable, especially in the wake of large environmental disasters like the TVA coal ash spill in 2008.
Source: 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial campaign website KarlDean.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Health Care:
Expand Medicaid for low-income families
Under the Affordable Care Act, states have the option of expanding Medicaid and receiving additional federal tax dollars to provide health coverage for low-income persons and families. Karl believes our state should act immediately to do this. He
supported Gov. Haslam's Insure Tennessee plan. The plan would expand coverage to those who do not fit in a category to qualify for Medicaid & do not make enough money to afford health insurance.By not expanding Medicaid in Tennessee, the state loses
$2.5 million a day of federal funding. This means billions of our tax dollars are going to other states and more than 300,000 Tennesseans have been left without affordable health insurance. Veterans and those with a mental health diagnosis are among
the vulnerable populations most detrimentally impacted by this, including those in the throes of opioid addiction who need treatment.
By not serving all Tennesseans in need, our state is also at risk of receiving fewer federal dollars for Medicaid.
Source: 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial campaign website KarlDean.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Immigration:
Immigrants are part of community; college tuition break ok
The Republicans at the State Collaborative on Reforming Education forum voiced opposition to offering the tuition break at state higher education institutions. "It doesn't seem fair to me that we would offer something in college tuition to an immigrant
that was here illegally that we wouldn't offer to an American citizen from Georgia," businessman Bill Lee said.The push to make that change has come up just short in the Republican-led General Assembly in recent years. Term-limited Republican Gov.
Bill Haslam has backed the measure, which has wide support in polls.
Former Nashville Democratic Mayor Karl Dean likewise voiced support for the change, and responded directly to Lee's comment about Georgia, drawing a rare round of applause. "They
grew up here. They went to school here. They have families here. They have friends here. And they're different than Georgians because they're Tennesseans," Dean said. "They're part of our community."
Source: U.S. News & World Report on 2018 Tennessee governor debate
Jan 23, 2018
On Drugs:
Medical marijuana ok, but opposes recreational use
Tennessee's gubernatorial election is still over a year away, but with a newly appointed committee on medical marijuana, [some analysts] expect cannabis to play a large role in the election.
Democratic candidate Karl Dean said he would be supportive of medical marijuana, but opposes recreational use. Dean also said he believes Tennessee should be guided medical professionals as it relates to medical marijuana.
Source: WBIR-TV on 2018 Tennessee governor race
Sep 4, 2017
On Education:
Small city property tax increase to directed to education
In a video, the Republican Governors Association [showed Dean saying that he raised property taxes but] did not include Dean's entire commentary on taxes. Dean went on to say that he was perhaps the first Metro mayor who did not raise taxes during his
first term and that he opted to raise property taxes during his second term for "a variety of reasons.""No. 1, you've got to run the city and you've got to make sure that you're taking care of the services that are needed by the citizens,"
Dean told reporters. "And that tax increase was directed largely to education."
Dean, in his statement, said despite a "small property tax increase" during his second term, Metro's property tax rate was still lower when he left the mayor's
office than when he arrived. "This was because we saw property values grow significantly and by state law, tax rates have to go down to adjust for an increase in assessed values," Dean said.
Source: The Tennessean on 2018 Tennessee gubernatorial race
Apr 25, 2017
On Tax Reform:
Raised city property taxes, but after Great Recession
The Republican Governors Association is accusing Karl Dean of getting "caught misleading voters on taxes." The RGA released an 8-second video of Dean saying, "I don't want to raise taxes on Tennesseans, let me be clear about that, and I would point to
my record as mayor." The RGA referenced Metro's 53-cent property tax hike in 2012 that was proposed by Dean and passed by the Metro Council.It marked the only property tax increase over Dean's eight years in the mayor's office--but the RGA pointed to
news clips of a Dean campaign pledge from the 2007 mayor's race when he said he opposes property tax increases. "Tennessee voters can't trust Dean to tell the truth or keep his promises," the RGA press release said.
Dean responded, "If the clip hadn't
been cut off after just a few seconds, you would hear that I did not raise property taxes during my first term in office. I kept my promise to voters, even through the Great Recession," Dean said.
Source: The Tennessean on 2018 Tennessee gubernatorial race
Apr 25, 2017
On Budget & Economy:
Economic development statewide instead of just Nashville
Karl Dean, the former mayor of Nashville, says if he's elected governor, he would turn his economic development efforts far outside the city limits. Dean says folks in West Tennessee and parts of Memphis feel a bit left out as the state's capital city
boasts low unemployment and a booming real estate market. "We need to really focus on the areas that have not had the same success that Nashville has had," Dean says. "People are happy for Nashville. They're proud of Nashville, but at the same time,
they want something to happen in their communities too."The state-owned industrial site in West Tennessee, for example, still hasn't landed a tenant. Dean says he would make that a priority. "When you go to rural counties and the only job news has
been companies closing or companies moving out, or if you go there and their biggest concern is that none of their kids are returning, that there are no jobs for them in the future, those are things we need to address," he says.
Source: Nashville Public Radio on 2018 Tennessee gubernatorial race
Apr 19, 2017
On Corporations:
Used tax incentives to lure companies to Nashville
Dean's tenure as mayor included overseeing several major civic projects such as the construction of Music City Center and leading the city during a booming economy.
He often used tax incentives to lure companies to the city or to expand. His fans credit him with helping the city bounce back from a devastating flood in 2010 and battle through the Great Recession.
Source: The Tennessean on 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial race
Feb 26, 2017
On Education:
Supports publicly financed, privately led charter schools
Dean has a challenge to unite his party before getting a chance to deploy his statewide strategy. Although considered a popular mayor, Dean sometimes butted heads with Democrats over his support of publicly financed, privately led charter schools.
He's also not allied with labor unions, a key Democratic constituency. He instead has closer ties to the business community and Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Source: The Tennessean on 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial race
Feb 26, 2017
On Education:
Expand school choice teacher accountability
Dean called public education "the major civil rights issue of our time" and his top priority. He said he wants to build off the work of Tennessee's "two pro-education governors," Bredesen and Haslam.
Both men supported education reforms that included expanding school choice and controversial accountability measures for teachers. Tennessee should be known as a place, Dean said, where you want to move to because of the education.
Source: The Tennessean on 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial race
Feb 26, 2017
On Education:
Charters ok if non-profit, but vouchers not ok
Though known for his support of charter schools, Dean said his education approach might look different as governor than as a mayor of a large urban city. He also said he opposes vouchers that would divert public funds to private schools
and opposes for-profit charter schools."I think what my record as mayor of Nashville speaks to is that when I say education will be a priority, it will be a priority," he said.
Source: The Tennessean on 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial race
Feb 26, 2017
On Principles & Values:
Pro-business centrist: good things happen in the middle
Karl Dean is running for governor of Tennessee in an uphill bid to become the first Democrat elected statewide since 2006. Casting himself as a pro-business moderate focused on education and jobs, the former Nashville mayor said he made the call after
consultation with family, deciding he had "a reason and purpose" to run.He's looking to stake out the sort of centrist lane that helped catapult Democrats' most recent statewide officeholder, former Gov. Phil Bredesen, who also was an ex-mayor of
Nashville. For now, Dean is avoiding partisan attacks. In fact, Dean called Haslam, a Republican, a "very good governor" and he declined to offer a single criticism of the sitting governor when asked.
"I think I'm a moderate," Dean said, claiming
support of Democrats and Republicans as mayor, which was a nonpartisan office. "My sense is good things happen when you're in the middle of the road. That's where you can find agreement and move things forward.
Source: The Tennessean on 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial race
Feb 26, 2017
On Civil Rights:
First in Tennessee to join Mayors for the Freedom to Marry
Tennessee may have the distinction of having the first judge to rule in favor of a same-sex marriage ban, but it also now has the mayor from its capital city announcing support for same-sex marriage.Nashville Mayor Karl Dean became the state's first
mayor to join the Mayors for the Freedom to Marry campaign, a coalition of around 500 mayors "who are making the case for marriage for same-sex couples in their communities," according to a release from the campaign earlier today.
The campaign now boasts at least one mayor from every Southern state.
"I believe that all people should be treated fairly and equally and that their individual dignity should be respected," said Nashville Mayor
Karl Dean in a statement. "Embracing and celebrating our growing diversity makes our city stronger. Nashville needs to continue in that direction, and it's my hope that joining this effort will help us do that."
Source: Memphis Flyer on 2018 Tennessee governor race
Aug 21, 2014
Page last updated: Mar 08, 2019