http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/news_col...801339,00.html

Vines: Bryson talks about THP, immigration
By GEORGIANA VINES, gvpolitics@hotmail.com
June 26, 2006


State Sen. Jim Bryson, Republican candidate for governor, is stepping up appearances in East Tennessee now that he's getting his late-blooming campaign organized.
A fund-raising reception will be at the home of former Maryville Mayor Steve West on Thursday. This follows a reception in Bristol onJune 23, and another the candidate termed "extremely" successful with more than $75,000 being raised in his hometown of Franklin on June 22.


The best known of seven candidates seeking the Republican nomination, Bryson said, "Most of the effort will go toward the general election, but I'm not taking the primary for granted."

The one-term senator didn't join the race until April 5, and he couldn't raise money until May 15, when a ban ended on legislators raising money during the session.

He hasn't announced all of his campaign players yet - former Gov. Winfield Dunn is statewide chairman - but Knoxville businessman Jim Haslam II has agreed to be honorary finance chairman, and local legislators like state Sens. Jamie Woodson and Tim Burchett and House Minority Leader Bill Dunn have told Bryson they will help.

Bryson was available for a brief interview on Friday en route to Greeneville.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol and illegal immigration are the topics on which he gets the most questions, he said.

Troopers should not have to depend on politics for promotions, and people should be hired "at the highest level that have integrity and knowledge of the force," he said.

The safety director overseeing the THP is Jerry Nicely, who's temporary while also serving as transportation commissioner, and doesn't have a background in safety matters, Bryson said. Nicely was put in charge by Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen after a series of scandals at the THP became public.

Also, Bryson would like troopers to become "the elite police in the state. It can be, but it can't be if it's a political force," he said.

On immigration, Bryson emphasized a distinction between legal and illegal immigrants. "I have tremendous respect for anyone who comes in through the system. Most of our ancestors came that way," he said.

Bryson cited legislation that passed the state Senate but did not make it out of a House subcommittee that he said would have helped curb illegal immigration. This included beefed-up training for law enforcement officials and the authority to coordinate with federal officials, "all paid for by the federal government," he said.

Bryson, 44, runs a market research company, 20/20 Research. He said its function is to put focus groups together with offices in Nashville, Charlotte and Miami.


DEBATE HERE: The state's first televised Republican Senate debate will be sponsored by WATE, Channel 6, at 7 p.m. Thursday at the University of Tennessee in the University Center auditorium. It is co-sponsored by the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy.

Appearing at the hour-long program will be former U.S. Reps. Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary and former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker. The public is invited.