Backroads and Backstories with Paul Bailey

Paul Bailey
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Politics

Senator Paul Bailey started the Backroads & Backstories podcast to take a behind-the-scenes look at the issues and to better get to know the people who are shaping the future for the Volunteer State. In this series, we’ll explore the backstories along the backroads of our part of Tennessee. We invite you to join us on our journey to highlight these folks and what makes our area such a special place to live.

  1. 08/27/2021

    A Conversation with Jim Henry

    Bio: Throughout his career, Jim Henry has worn many hats, including a Vietnam veteran, a state representative, a cabinet member, a Deputy Governor, a candidate for governor, a city councilman, a city mayor, and, now, you’re the state director for U.S. Senator Bill Haggerty.

    1h 15m

  2. 05/19/2021

    A Journey Through the History of Tennessee Politics with Chris Bundgaard

    Some of the highlights of the show include:  Discussion of experiences with being a reporter on fresh disaster scenes and the importance of being sensitive to those who have lost everything.Mr. Bundgaard’s father was a college coach and his mother was an English teacher and briefly a reporter. She was formative in how he looks at things as a journalist.The important questions: “Why do you do this, why do you want this?” - the questions he would ask politicians and how he would get authentic answers.He came to Nashville to work for WKRN as a producer, later moving on to covering more political matters.Discussions of Tennessee politics in the 90’s and early 00’s - transition from democrat to republican control.Goes into the Tennessee Protests- highlights Marsha Blackburn’s role.Discusses the era of sales tax vs income tax - how it changed the political climate in Tennessee.Mr. Bundgaard then recounts the protests on Capitol Hill.Moves on to discuss the differences between the protests back then vs. those that recently took place at the US Capitol.Mr. Bundgaard discusses the person he found most interesting and his experience of speaking with him.He goes on to discuss who he believed to be the most rogue politician.Discusses how he is adjusting to retired life and what he plans on doing in the future.The final question: Mr. Bundgaard explains his experience with Muhammad Ali back in the 80’s and then later covering his funeral in Louisville.

    1h 2m

  3. 04/07/2021

    Jobs for Tennesseans: The Important Role of TN’s Department of Economic & Community Development

    Show Notes Guest Bob Rolfe, Tennessee’s Economic and Community Development Commissioner, graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in marketing and ended up working in the finance industry.  After working in several different positions over the years, Comm’r Rolfe was asked by Bill Haslam to work for the state.Comm’r Rolfe worked under Randy Boyd and was tasked with keeping programs in rural communities successful.Comm’r Rolfe discusses the difference between working in the public sector and the private sector. Senator Bailey asks Bob about his job as commissioner.Comm’r Rolfe answers the questions with tasks such as recruiting companies to Tennessee and making sure they thrive. If the first two go well, he i s to make sure Tennessee remains in the running for the location of  future expansion. Another side to the job, is making sure there are programs available in rural communities to ensure they thrive as well. Comm’r Rolfe describes a recent win for Tennessee in the company NTT. This is a global brand that will be headquartered in TN, recruiting graduates from universities all over the state.Comm’r Rolfe explains Tennessee as being attractive to these large businesses due to our General Assembly being fiscally conservative.Comm’r Rolfe explains how California is one of the most unfriendly places to do business due to high-taxes and high regulation.The economic growth of the Upper Cumberland had been stagnant until Academy Sports announced they were going to build their distribution center in Cookeville.That put a spotlight on that area and now there have been numerous companies locating there. Sen. Bailey asks how the pandemic affected the recruitment of industry. Comm’r Rolfe advised there being an initial pause, but after some time they were able to retain some of the Foriegn Direct Investment projects. Comm’r Rolfe states they try to treat companies that already call Tennessee home the same way they treat a new prospective company, they continue to provide support and make sure those companies continue to thrive, that way they will want to keep the next phases of their company in Tennessee. They discuss the improvement in electric cars and the interest in getting the companies that manufacture the car batteries into Tennessee.They discuss Georgia being our major competitor.  Comm’r Rolfe sees the ECD’s efforts continuing in the next 5 years. They will continue to focus on the Foriegn Direct Investments and headquarter relocations.The person who has made the biggest impact on Comm’r Rolfe is Allen Borden, who has travelled with him on 30+ international trips. Comm’r Rolfe describes some of the most interesting CEO’s he’s met on the job and some interesting interactions he’s had. .

    42 min

  4. 03/31/2021

    Journalism in the Age of Social Media

    Some of the highlights of the show include:  Natalie Allison was raised in North Carolina and knew she wanted to be in journalism from a young age. She’s covered a range of topics from breaking news to now politics.Her historical inspiration is Dorothy Thompson who covered the rise of fascism and nazism in the 1930’s.Her current inspirations are drawn from many streams of media. Erik Schelzig went to high school in the Philippines and college in DC where he was working on his Ph. D. in political science, then got a job at The Washington Post and loved it.He dropped his Ph. D. and got a Master's and went into Journalism and ended up with the Associated Press.He started in Miami, then to West Virginia, followed by Tennessee where he now works at The Tennessee Journal, a weekly publication.Mr. Schelzig drew inspiration from Tom Humphrey from Knoxville, Tn, and Richard Locker from Memphis, Tn. Senator Bailey asks, how, as an editor and a journalist, have you adapted to the change in news media now that social media and other platforms are in the picture?Erik references his blog as a way to adapt, but the other part is that he reminds himself that not everyone is going to see each and every frenzy that goes on in social media. People will miss things and he still has a responsibility to report on important events to make sure they are not forgotten or to tell people about it for the first time, those that may not be on social media.Natalie answers the same question. She highlights that she has been a reporter for 8 years and she has always had the expectation of using social media or websites and making sure it gets out on all necessary platforms. She adds, there’s always been a time-sensitive element. Sen. Bailey asks her if these changes are good for the consumers of media, the media, or both?Natalie answers there are pluses and minusesErik highlights that there are fewer reporters out in the field due to budget cuts, people expect free news now and don’t see the value in paying for news subscriptions.Natalie explains how with fewer reporters, fewer stories can be covered, spreading those who are reporting very thin. Natalie believes important subjects that aren’t being talked about or covered can be highlighted through news media coverage and create change. Erik states there is not an invisible hand that’s guiding what the media should cover or not cover. What is covered boils down to what is interesting. The three discuss competition between journalists. Sen. Bailey asks what they think about the phrase “fake news”.Erik’s most memorable story is the election of Kent Williams as Speaker in the House, in 2009, which caused a huge uproar. Natalie’s most memorable moment in 2019 at her first session, the coucher vote day on the House floor.Links: The Tennessean USA Today Network: https://www.tennessean.com/network/The Tennessee Journal: https://www.tnjournal.net/TNJ: On the Hill: https://onthehill.tnjournal.net/on-the-hill/

    50 min

  5. 03/03/2021

    Lt. Gov. Randy McNally Shares His Experience As a Legislative Leader

    Links https://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s5.html Some of the highlights of the show include:  Lt. Gov. Randy McNally was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He and his family moved to Oak Ridge, TN, when McNally in 1948 when his dad accepted a job at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.McNally graduated from Oak Ridge High School and went on to study pharmacy. He met his wife during a game of Bridge while a student in pharmacy school and working at Cardinal Health. Jan worked at the same hospital at the time, Covenant.McNally’s pharmacy career includes both retail and hospital pharmacy.Lt. Gov. McNally is a big lacrosse fan and player. Most recently, he participated in a 24-hour game in Kennesaw, GA that raised over $10,000 for Wounded Warriors. McNally and his wife, Jan, have a fondness for Golden Retrievers. They have rescued four over their 50+ year marriage, including their current pup, Shadow.Growing up, McNally did not see himself getting into politics. Initially, he was interested in history but ended up studying biology and chemistry.McNally first got involved in politics while in college when he volunteered on Winfield Dunn’s election for governor in 1970.McNally first ran for elected office in 1978. Today, he is the longest-serving member in the Tennessee Legislature.According to the Lt. Governor, a lot has changed in the legislature during his tenure. He says there is a lot more professionalism now, of which he believes social media has played a part in.McNally played a key part in Operation Rocky Top, which focused on breaking up illegal Bingo Operations known as the Cornbread Mafia in the state. The operation led to about 80 people being indicted and all but one were convicted for crimes ranging from income tax fraud to kidnapping and assault.McNally was elected Speaker of the Senate in 2017, which also holds the title of Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee. He describes the day as being very special for him and his family.After McNally stepped into the role of Speaker of the Senate, he helped Senator Paul Bailey join the Transportation Committee and then later the Chair of the Commerce Committee. McNally says staying grounded and not letting the public recognition get to his head has been his biggest challenge since getting elected to office. He reminds himself that he is a public servant.

    40 min

  6. 02/20/2021

    A Conversation with Speaker of the House, Cameron Sexton

    Some of the highlights of the show include:  Cameron Sexton is an eighth generation Tennessean.While his family roots are from Scott County and Oneida, Tennessee, Sexton grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee.Speaker Sexton moved to Cumberland County in the late ‘90s when he began working for Van Hilleary, a congressman at the time.The Speaker of the House attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and studied political science with a concentration in public administration.Upon graduation from college in 1994, Sexton went to work for now-lieutenant governor and Speaker of the Senate, Randy McNally for his state Senate race campaign at the time.1994 marked a pivotal point in Speaker Sexton’s career and Republican politics in Tennessee with the election of Sundquist, Bill Frist, and Fred Thompson.Speaker Sexton helped Paul Bailey on his first race for state Senate.Along with scenic views and nice weather, Sexton’s favorite parts of living in the Upper Cumberland are the wide range of outdoor activities you can enjoy, including kayaking, golfing, and hiking.Sexton was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 and became the whip during his second term.With all of its challenges, Speaker Sexton is proud of what the state of Tennessee was able to accomplish in 2020. Speaker Sexton says his office has been cooperating and working with the FBI during their probe into some members of the Tennessee House of Representatives.When it comes to the most challenging issues this legislative session, Sexton named Education at the top of his list as Tennessee continues to work toward improving its educational ranking and student achievements.Sexton and Bailey agree that the combined governing and budgeting efforts from Governor Haslam and Governor Lee are what helped Tennessee manage 2020 as well as it did.\Links http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/speaker.html

    24 min

  7. 01/07/2021

    TN Comptroller of the Treasury Justin P. Wilson Shares His Knowledge of the State’s History

    Some of the highlights of the show include:  Justin P. Wilson was born in California, but moved to Nashville when he was 4 months old. He has lived in Nashville for 75 years. After finishing law school at Vanderbilt, Wilson took his first job at the Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine law firm. Wilson has been in and out the political world for years. In 1996, he became Commissioner of Environment for the state of Tennessee, and then for the Sundquist administration where he was later deputy governor for policy.Wilson’s father was finance chair for the state party as well as for the RNC. He was the national finance chair, and he came in right after Watergate.The treasurer is chosen every two years when the General Assembly reconvenes a new legislative session, but the secretary of state’s on a four-year term. The comptroller of the state has a lot of responsibilities including keeping the financial integrity of the state. Part of Wilson’s responsibilities as comptroller include auditing all the counties and all the cities they are responsible for. They also have to review budgets and make sure debts are being paid. “Our mission is to make government work better. And local government is a major—of course, is a key to the state of Tennessee.” - Justin P. Wilson According to US News and World Report, Tennessee is number one among the states for financial stability. Wilson says the person who influenced him the most in his political career is Bill Brock, who was a senator from 1970 to 1976. There is a trail named after Wilson that runs through Bledsoe County and Cumberland County.Wilson loves to travel and has been to about 100 different countries. Wilson says he has a couple of dogs, about two grand-dogs, a cat, and a parrot. He and the parrot have coffee together every morning. “Remember three things these days: wash your hands, make government work better, and keep your sense of humor.” - Justin P. Wilson

    32 min

  8. 12/11/2020

    TN Secretary of State Tre Hargett Talks About How Voting Works in the State of TN

    Some of the highlights of the show include:  Tennessee Secretary of State, Tre Hargett, grew up in Ripley, TN. He served 10 years in the House of Representatives, and was first elected in 1996, then re-elected four more times.“Republicans being in control feels like it has made a big difference in how our state has been governed.” -Sec. HargettHargett is running for reelection in January. Hargett’s father was the Adjutant General of the Tennessee National Guard.“I have such respect for the men and women in our families who do serve the National Guard and all branches of our government.” -Sec. HargettHargett views politics and government as a vehicle to make a positive impact on the lives of others.Part of Hargett’s job is to work with all 95 county Election Commissions to try and make sure that Tennessee runs elections that meet the highest test of integrity.There are two types of mail-in ballots. There is an absentee by mail ballot, in which case, a voter makes a proactive decision. And there is a way to do that by email, fax, or by traditional mail. Voter list maintenance is a constant effort on behalf of election officials around the state. Two counties in the state of Tennessee: Hamilton County and Williamson County have Dominion Voting Systems. Paper ballot counties have to have some type of audit done in TN.Mark Goins said his team and all 95 county election commissions around the state did a great job of upholding the integrity of Tennessee's elections.Hargett serves on about 15 different boards and commissions, but also the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.“We are a very well-managed state due to good leadership at the governor level, but also for a legislature that has been very fiscally conservative.” Sec. HargettTranscriptAnnouncer: For the politics of Nashville, to the history of the Upper Cumberland, this is the Backroads and Backstories podcast, with Senator Paul Bailey. Sen. Bailey: Welcome back to the podcast. I'm your host, Senator Paul Bailey. Today's guest is Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett. Welcome, Mr. Secretary, glad you joined us. Sec. Hargett: Thank you, Senator. I appreciate the invitation. Sen. Bailey: Yes, sir. We're always happy to have our friends here in the state government join us for our podcast so that our listeners can always learn more about state government. So, before we get started, tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school? Tell us a little bit of your family. Sec. Hargett: Well, thank you for asking. I grew up in Ripley, Tennessee, which is all the way on the western part of the state, about an hour north of Memphis. Graduated Ripley High School, and then, later on, went and got my bachelor's degree in accounting from Memphis State University. That tells you how long ago that was.  And then got my master's degree in business administration from the University of Memphis, whatever it changed names, about a year and a half later. So, that's where I'm from. I lived down in the Bartlett area until 2007, at which time I moved over to East Tennessee after leaving the House of Representatives, and my wife and two sons now live in Hendersonville, Tennessee. So, the 17-years-old and 13-year-old boys. Sen. Bailey: So, you mentioned that you were a state representative. How many years were you a state representative? Sec. Hargett: I served 10 years in the House of Representatives, so first elected 1996, and re-elected four more times, and retired voluntarily in 2006 after 10 years. I was one of those people that said I was going to serve 10 years in the State House of Representatives, no more than that. And so, I kept my word and didn't run for reelection that year. Sen. Bailey: Now, I also understand you were a Minority Leader during that time. Sec. Hargett: There's a interesting story about that. When I became the Republican Leader in 2002, I told people, we were going to quit calling it ‘Minority Leader,’ we would call ‘republican’ because ‘minority’ was temporary and ‘republican’ wasn’t. Sen. Bailey: Oh, okay. Sec. Hargett: And so I told them we need to start thinking about not being in the minority anymore and begin developing our plans to build up to the majority. So, we call it ‘Republican Leader’ back then. Sen. Bailey: And how many years were you Republican Leader? Sec. Hargett: Twice elected as Republican Leader. Sen. Bailey: Okay. So, you basically served four years, then, as Republican Leader. Sec. Hargett: Well, and actually, my last year I didn't serve as Republican Leader. I had accepted a job within my company. It required a lot of travel, and I was going back and forth between Memphis and Knoxville every other week, and just would not have been able to do it. And knew I was retiring, so it was better to go and pass baton to somebody, and let somebody else lead and also get ready for the upcoming reelections for those people. Sen. Bailey: So, tell me what you see is the differences between your time as a state representative and the Republican Leader and today. Sec. Hargett: Wow, a lot of differences. And one of the big ones, though, is—be pretty obvious is that Republicans being in control feels like has made a big difference in how our state has been governed. One of our friends and I—Ron Ramsey, we used to talk a lot about when we were both in the minority, we talked about how it matters who governs and the decisions we get to make as we lead. So, when I was in the House of Representatives, I was in the minority for five terms, and I knew that anytime I had an idea, or one of our members had an idea on the House floor, I had to appeal to at least five other people on the other side of the aisle to get them to come over to our side to be able to pass any amendment or any bill that we wanted to do.  And now of course, with Republican supermajorities, it's much different to be able to take an idea that we see and be able to go ahead and pass those things after they pass the smell test and the committee process. And so, we're able to govern is the real big difference. And as you know, you and your colleagues have given me the opportunity to serve as secretary of state, I'm elected every four years by members of the House of Representatives and the Senate coming together in a joint convention. And now you've given me the opportunity, with some autonomy, to be able to go and run a department of over 300 people and show that Tennessee government can, in fact, work with a lot of business-like principals. Sen. Bailey: So, when the General Assembly convenes in January, will this be your time for reelection? Sec. Hargett: I'll be asking for your vote for reelection this January. Yes, sir.  Sen. Bailey:

    44 min
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Senator Paul Bailey started the Backroads & Backstories podcast to take a behind-the-scenes look at the issues and to better get to know the people who are shaping the future for the Volunteer State. In this series, we’ll explore the backstories along the backroads of our part of Tennessee. We invite you to join us on our journey to highlight these folks and what makes our area such a special place to live.

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