Bryson undaunted by gubernatorial bid

Jim Bryson, the last-minute Republican entry into the gubernatorial race, says he is undaunted by big projects.

Bryson founded a business after graduate school; adopted three children from Russia when he and his wife originally had planned for only one; and won a state Senate race as a political unknown.

?I think the conclusion to draw is that I?m not afraid of trying things, and I?m not afraid of doing new things,? Bryson said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Bryson, who represents Williamson County and parts of Nashville in the state Senate, announced his candidacy with just days to spare before the filing deadline. He?s the highest profile GOP candidate, but faces a daunting task against incumbent Gov. Phil Bredesen, a centrist Democrat with business backing and a substantial campaign account.

Perhaps best known for sponsoring legislation to create ?Choose Life? specialty license plates in Tennessee, Bryson often told reporters he was praying about whether to run for governor. But he doesn?t want his religious beliefs to define his run for governor.

The 2003 license plate bill took on a life of its own after a federal court ruled it unconstitutional ? only to have an appeals court later throw out that decision earlier this year.

?I was glad to carry the bill, but I don?t want that to define me as a politician,? he said. ?I think I would rather be defined by my efforts to strengthen the constitutional cap on spending.?

Beyond the spending issue, Bryson has been mum on what he expects to make his top campaign goals. That?s partly because he?s still busy working on his legislative agenda.

Senate Majority Leader Ron Ramsey said he tried to persuade Bryson to drop out of the Legislature so he could focus on campaigning ? and so he could raise campaign funds.

?But Jim?s the kind of guy that when he makes a commitment, he sticks to it,? said Ramsey, a Blountville Republican. ?And I admire that.?

Both candidates are restricted from raising more money until May 15, unless the legislative session ends before then.

Bredesen’s campaign reported in January it had raised more than $5.7 million and had $4.4 million cash on hand. Bryson?s Senate re-election campaign reported it raised $143,730 and had more than $101,000 on hand.

Bryson said his earliest goal will be to travel around the state so people can get to know him.

?What I think people are looking for is a leader they can have confidence in,? he said.

Bryson attended Baylor University as an undergraduate and earned his graduate degree in management from Vanderbilt. He founded 20/20 Research Inc., now a 50-person marketing research company that organizes focus-group projects for companies.

Bryson remains the majority stockholder of the privately held company, but no longer runs day-to-day operations.