KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - It's official - Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam has announced he will make a run for governor of Tennessee in the 2010 election. He says his private business experience and his five years in the Mayor's office makes him a great candidate. He's been busy working on a financial and political plan and finally kicked off his campaign in downtown Knoxville this morning.

It was a special breakfast for folks at Pete's Coffee Shop when Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam made a major announcement.

"I'm here this morning to announce that I'm a candidate for Governor for the great state of TN for the election of 2010."

It's news George Grote likes getting with his coffee. "He loves the downtown area, he's committed himself to it, and to the urban areas, he's a Mayor for all the people."

Conversations in hometown restaurants is a theme Haslam hopes to carry across the state for the next 19 months. "I look forward to that journey of being all across the state and getting to know people in all 95 counties in a way that they can be comfortable with me as their next leader."

So to kick off that journey, with his family by his side, and hot tea on the table, Haslam talked about the importance of education, jobs and the economic state of TN. "Short term a governor can recruit more and better jobs here like the current administration has done with Volkswagon, Hemlocks Semiconductor in Clarksville, like we've done here with Sysco and Green Mountain Coffee, expanding existing businesses like HGTV and Gerdau Ameristeel. Long term the best thing a Governor can do is what any state can do: increase the future welfare of its state."

Grote has lived in Knoxville for many years and says Haslam is the best the city has had. "Bill Haslam is the best and I support him 100%, whatever he wants to do, he's got my vote."

Haslam says the marathon campaign is a good thing. "It gives the people of the state to get to know each candidate, not their image and not the way their opponents try to paint them, but who they really are."

But on the trail he's keeping Knoxville and people like Grote in Pete's Coffee Shop a priority. "I understand the commitment we've made and I am incredibly excited about the momentum that is happening right now in Knoxville and I don't want to see anything hurt that."

Mayor Haslam says most of the team here in Knoxville will stay at their jobs and they'll look for a new team outside of city government.
Tuesday he traveled to the Tri-Cities and Chattanooga. Wednesday he will visit Nashville, Jackson and Memphis.