KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- You will be able to voice your opinion on who should be the next governor in Tennessee in a little more than a year, but Monday night four candidates made their voices heard on issues the state faces.

The economy is an issue at every level of government. Looking at taxes, jobs, the over-all budget; There was one thing four candidates for Tennessee Governor shared as a concern.

And, for them it all starts with education.

The Blount Education Initiative held a public forum, with their mission as the topic.

As four candidates for Governor used education in Tennessee as a starting point for every issue the next Governor faces.

Democrat Kim McMillan says, "I think you have to partner education initiative with job creation so that you're creating the jobs of the future."

Republican Bill Haslam says, "Nothing drives economic development, nothing drives jobs, like education, and unfortunately we're at the bottom of the pack."

But, the person that does win the race for Governor will face a budget deficit, and the state sales tax is a key source of funding for the state.

Only less spending from consumers in a tight economy, means less tax flow.

McMillan says, "I had the opportunity one time in the general assembly to vote on an increase in the sales tax, and I voted against it."

Republican Zach Wamp says, "The last time you should ever raise taxes or come up with new taxes is during a recession"

Haslam says, "I think there's zero chance we're going to have an income tax in Tennessee. I'm not for it."

Democrat Ward Cammack says, "We can't have a state income tax, so what we're going to have to do is really rebuild our prosperity."

The four gubernatorial candidates have their own ideas of how to better education, to ultimately improve the state as a whole.

For some the improvements need to start, when school starts.

Wamp says, "If you're not a good reader, you're playing catch up the whole way, they start teaching things that you don't understand, because you didn't learn to read good. Early reading is my issue and it's the key piece."

Others are focusing on high school and higher education.

Cammack says, "Dual enrollment programs where people really learn a trade or a skill early and always have something they can fall back on."

As the candidates debate the issues, you will be the one to decide who will actually face them.

The state primary is next August, and the election will be in November 2010.