Conversations with Gubernatorial Candidates Bill Haslam and Mike McWherter

NewsChannel 5’s Vicki Yates hosts half-hour interviews with both of the major party candidates for Tennessee Governor

Public television viewers throughout Tennessee have a chance this month to learn more about the two candidates for Tennessee Governor. Produced by WKNO in Memphis, A Conversation with Bill Haslam: Election Edition and A Conversation with Mike McWherter: Election Edition will premiere on Friday, October 8 at 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Central, respectively, on NPT-Channel 8 and across the state on public television stations (check local listings)

With Nashville producer Tim Weeks, WKNO is the first station to talk with the two candidates in their homes. Who is Republican Bill Haslam? Who is Democrat Mike McWherter? In these two landmark half-hour programs, interviewer Vicki Yates (Nashville’s NewsChannel 5) finds out by asking the questions that every Tennessean wants to ask.

Throughout the two 30-minute shows, the candidates talk about where they are from, their parents, their values and influences. They also talk about their public records, the highlights of their campaigns and what they hope to achieve if elected in November. In addition, the candidates’ wives (Crissy Haslam and Mary Jane McWherter) reveal how the couples met, what attracted them to each other, and what has made their marriages work.

“There’s much more to a candidate than just his or her political views,” said Weeks. “With these two conversations, we learn more about what makes these candidates tick and how their backgrounds and environments affect what kind of leaders they’ve become.”

“An important mission for public television,” said Michael J. LaBonia, WKNO President and CEO, “is to inform citizens, helping them be more engaged voters. The position of Governor is the highest position in the state. It’s essential that our viewers be prepared when casting their votes, and it’s an essential role of public television to help prepare them.”

In addition to the premiere NPT broadcast on Friday, October 8 beginning at 7:00 p.m. Central, viewers can catch rebroadcasts on NPT and NPT2: