Former 8th District Congressman John Tanner today announced he is endorsing Mike Bloomberg in the Democratic presidential primary. He joins Crockett County native Lt. Gen. John “Glad” Castellaw, USMC (Ret.) in endorsing the former New York City Mayor.
Tanner said, “The Blue Dog Democratic Coalition in Congress, of which I was a founding member, coalesced around the principles of financial responsibility and social tolerance. In my opinion, Mayor Blooomberg has demonstrated his commitment to those principles, which I believe most Americans endorse. Therefore, I am pleased to endorse his candidacy for President.”
“I swore to support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic, and we are facing a national security problem,” said Castellaw. “To defend our nation, we need to fix our education and health systems to provide those who serve with the mind, body, and spirit to win on the challenging battlefields of today. When they come home as veterans, we need to make sure they have good jobs waiting for them. We need someone who will get that job done and I know it is Mike Bloomberg.”
A native of Halls, Tanner was elected to Congress in 1988 and served through 2010. Prior to that, he was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. He currently works for Nashville law firm Miller & Martin and the Prime Policy Group. He became chairman of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation, a non-profit group that advocates U.S. leadership in conservation programs globally, in fall of 2011. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Tanner is a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Gen. Castellaw served 36 years in the United States Marine Corps, serving with the United Nations during the siege of Sarajevo, as chief of staff for U.S. Central Command during the Iraq War, and receiving the 1990 Marine Aviator of the Year award, among other duties and decorations. Following his retirement from the Marines, he returned to the family farm in Crockett Mills.. A recognized national security expert, he lectures on leadership at UTM, has testified before a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on food security, and is affiliated with severalWashington based think tanks providing expertise on the impacts of climate, food, and energy insecurity.
Tanner and Castellaw join a growing list of Tennessee leaders endorsing Bloomberg, including Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, and former Chattanooga Mayor Jon Kinsey.
The Mike Bloomberg 2020 campaign is surging in Tennessee, with seven field offices across the state and 45 local staff members.
Early voting goes through February 25 and Super Tuesday is March 3.