As a senior at UTM, I am concerned about the direction of economic opportunity and education in this state.

It is obvious the past eight years has not worked for our state due to poor management skills. It is obvious that education in our state is at its lowest.

The state is 49th in education out of the 50 states in America.

These two facts highly concern me as I prepare to graduate and begin my professional career. If I decide to peruse my career will there be any opportunity for me in Tennessee, or if I decide to enter graduate school would I want to attend a college that is located in a state that is 49th in education?

This is why on November 5th I will vote Phil Bredesen for governor.

As mayor of Nashville from 1991-1999, Bredesen infused almost a half billion new dollars into schools, employed 440 new teachers, created 32 new schools, and renovated 43 others.

Economically, Bredesen drafted a business plan that led to HealthAmerica and employed 6,000 people. He recruited major companies such as Dell, HCA, Sprint PCS and the Titans.

Nashville is still the fastest growing city with the lowest effective tax rate than any major city in the state of Tennessee.

Most of my friends and others have graduated from UTM or UTK and moved to the Nashville area to peruse their professional careers. I wonder whom we have to thank for that.

Vote Bredesen for governor. Do you really want another four years like the past eight?

Judith Hill is a senior Communications major.