Greene eyes spot vacated by Hilleary: Says security must be our top priority
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Greene, 58, recently stepped down from his post as state safety commissioner, a post he held since 1994, to seek the congressional seat being vacated by fellow Republican Van Hilleary, who is seeking the governor’s position. Prior to his time as safety commissioner, Greene had served as county executive in Maury County from 1986-90.
Greene said he feels his time as a businessman in Columbia, where he owned a sporting goods store and office supply store, coupled with his years of political service, make him a prime candidate for the congressional seat. Greene believes a freshman congressman can have an immediate impact in Washington D.C.
“Now, more than ever, we need elected officials who have proven they can lead effectively,” Greene said. “We don’t have time for someone who is looking to gain experience. I have the leadership, I have the experience and I am ready to do the job. We will make sure we are involved immediately.”
Greene pointed to his track record to show his resolve that government can run efficiently without high taxes. Specifically, Greene referred to his seven years as safety commissioner, when the department returned $40 million to the state.
“During the past seven years, the Department of Safety returned taxpayer dollars to the general fund every year, anywhere from $2.5 million to the $8.5 million returned last year,” Greene said. “We proved government can be run efficiently and effectively. We didn’t follow the practice of spending dollars simply because they were there. We were able to save millions of dollars in state government. In Washington, we will have the opportunity to turn saving millions of taxpayer dollars into saving billions of taxpayer dollars.”
Greene said while he was head of the safety commission, services increased and highway fatalities – a major target of the safety commission – fell in four of the seven years. While running on a platform of common sense, less expense government, Greene noted the No. 1 issue this election season is homeland security in the wake of Sept. 11.
“When a terrorist act occurs, it is our law enforcement officers, firefighters and other emergency responders who are first on the scene,” Greene said. “Yet often, especially in our smaller cities and towns which can’t easily afford it, our first-responders do not have the equipment they need.”
Along with his business and professional duties, Greene has also been involved in his community. Among his service has been president of the Maury County Chamber of Commerce and Columbia Rotary Club; chairman of Columbia Academy board of directors, the Maury County library board and Columbia-area mental health board; the advisory board at Maury County Regional Hospital; a deacon at Grayer Church of Christ; and a long-standing member of Tennessee Farm Bureau.
He is married to Sharon Warren Greene, his wife of 37 years. They have three children and three grandchildren.
The district in which Greene is running is made up of 24 counties which stretch across the state’s three grand divisions. However, Greene said he looks forward to covering the long district, noting in his former job he was used to traveling the state’s 95 counties.