Bill Haslam

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Bill Haslam (b. 1958) is the mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee. A member of the Republican Party, he defeated Madeline Rogero to win election in 2003 [1], replacing retiring four-term mayor Victor Ashe. Prior to becoming mayor, Haslam was the president of Pilot Corporation, a petroleum company founded by his father Jim Haslam which runs a nationwide chain of travel centers. [2] Haslam is frequently mentioned as a possible candidate for the 2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election.^{[citation needed]}

Controversy

In October 2006, Mayor Haslam joined Mayors Against Illegal Guns, an organization run by three big city northern mayors, Michael Bloomberg (NY, NY), Thomas Menino (Boston, MA) and Richard Daley (Chicago, IL), and funded by the anti gun Joyce Foundation. Mayors Against Illegal Guns has indicated an intent to substantially restrict second amendment rights by adopting nationwide laws - including bans on the ownership and possession of many models - that are based on the prohibitive gun control programs adopted in New York, Boston, and Chicago.

In an October 2006 Radio Interview, Mayor Haslam denied his association with the group Mayors Against Illegal Guns. However, the web page of Mayors Against Illegal Guns still lists Mayor Haslam as a member. The continued failure of Mayor Haslam to withdraw from the organization has been the subject of much local controversy, and many Tennessee commentators believe his decision to join this group has seriously eroded any chance Mayor Haslam has for higher statewide office.