Even though the next Tennessee gubernatorial election won’t be held until November 2, 2010 the field of candidates is already quite packed.  However, among the sea of candidates, Kim McMillan(D), the former Majority Leader of the State House of Representatives stands out.  If she wins she will be the first female governor of the state of Tennessee.  Currently there are seven female governors in the United States.

The adopted daughter of two teachers, McMillan’s parents instilled in her at a young age a passion and sense of duty for public service.  Though neither of her parents ever ran for public office they did teach her that “the most important thing you can do when you turn 18 is register to vote,” McMillan said of her parents in a recent interview.  But it was concern for her own children’s education opportunities that prompted her to become involved in politics. 

McMillan has a long history of public service, having served 12 years in the Tennessee House of Representatives.  While there she served on the Finance, Ways & Means Committee, the Budget Subcommittee, the Judiciary Committee, the Government Operations Committee, the Calendar and Rules Committee, and was the Chairperson of the House Ethics Committee and House Rules Committee.  In 2002 she was became the first woman in Tennessee history to be elected Majority Leader of the State House of Representatives and in 2004 her colleagues elected her to this post for the second time.

In 2006 she did not seek re-election to the House of Representatives; instead she accepted an appointment by the Governor to serve in his Cabinet as Senior Advisor to the Governor.  In 2008 she made the decision to return to her hometown of Clarksville as Executive Director of Community and Business Relations for Austin Peay State University.

Shortly after returning to Clarksville McMillan launched an exploratory committee to review her potential bid for the governorship.  Based on the results of the exploratory committee McMillan made it official that she would run in a press release stating, “For almost a year I’ve been listening to the needs of our neighbors and families and loss is on everybody’s mind– loss of jobs, loss of homes, loss of health insurance, loss of retirement security. I know that tough times call for leadership that lifts us up and brings us together,” she added “I’m running for governor because I believe I can bring Tennessee together, and I know that together we can do more than just make it through – we can make it better.”

And while McMillan is excited about the prospect of being Tennessee’s first female governor she views this opportunity as a chance to set an example for other women, “What’s really important is about moving Tennessee up in the rankings of political participation of women.  I would like to see more political participation by women. You need to run.  When women run, women win.  Part of the reason women don’t win is because they don’t run.  Many women don’t run because they are afraid of the challenges they face.  They’re afraid to raise money, they are afraid of balancing family life.  They don’t think it’s possible.”  Currently, Tennessee is 49^th in the nation in terms of women holding elected office.  No woman there has ever been elected to U.S. Senate, two have run in the past and both were defeated. 

McMillan herself is familiar with those challenges.  During her campaign and during her time in the House of Representatives she said she has faced and continues to face the “same challenges working mothers face every day; juggling making a living and being the best wife and mother you can be.”  McMillan has a husband and two children who she says have made her campaign possible by supporting her every step of the way. 

While McMillan will first have to make it through the primary (which is currently set for August 5, 2010) she is definitely in it to win it commenting, “I want Tennessee to be the best place to work, live and raise families.  I look forward to the next 18 months.  While my opponents may outspend me they will not outwork me.”

For more information or to contribute to Kim McMillan’s campaign, visit: http://www.kimmcmillan.com/