Governor Bill Lee is taking the unusual step of wading into a primary race in his home county.
Lee announced the endorsement Thursday of Lee Reeves in the GOP Primary for the State House 65 seat in Williamson County. Reeves has spent years practicing real estate law and serves as the current president of the Franklin Lions Club and the vice-chair of the Franklin Board of Zoning Appeals.
He’s facing county commissioner Brian Beathard and former State GOP Executive Committee member Michelle Foreman in the August primary.
“Big day for our campaign – endorsed in my race for the Republican nomination for State House, District 65 by Governor Bill Lee,” wrote Reeves on social media.
The seat opened for challengers when former Representative Sam Whitson, R- Franklin, announced his retirement earlier this year.
Whitson was among the 46 House members who voted against Governor Lee’s Education Savings Account program in 2019, sometimes referred to as vouchers, that allowed families in Davidson and Shelby County to use taxpayer dollars to send their children to private school. Lawmakers expanded the program to Hamilton County last year and the Governor made it clear that Reeves’ support for “vouchers” is an important factor in the endorsement.
“Lee Reeves is a principled man of character who will work in the General Assembly to champion limited government, individual liberty and school choice for Tennessee families,” said Governor Bill Lee. “I am honored to endorse Lee as Williamson County’s next conservative leader and look forward to working together to make life better for all Tennesseans.”
Governor Lee attempted to expand the Education Savings Account program statewide this year through the Education Freedom Scholarship Act. That effort failed when leaders in the House and Senate proposed vastly different plans and failed agree on a path to reconcile those differences.
The topic has divided opinions statewide, with some believing that the push for school “vouchers” diverts public education funds away from public schools that already rank low in per-pupil public school spending.
On his campaign website, Reeves says he believes taxpayer funds designated for education should be directed to the child’s parent’s preferred educational outlet, whether that’s public, private, charter or homeschooling.
“Parents are the primary decision-makers in their children’s education, and it’s time we start recognizing that again at all levels. My wife and I have long been passionate about the education of our youth – they are our future,” wrote Reeves on his website.
The winner of the August GOP Primary will be favored in November against House District 65 Democratic candidate Larhonda Williams.
