BusinessTN

An Activist and a Gentleman

A Knoxville-based Hollywood actor best known for his role in An Officer and a Gentleman, David Keith is rapidly emerging as a strong voice in Tennessee Democratic politics. Attractive, recognizable, articulate and youthful, Keith even appeared on the speakers’ bill at last year’s Jackson Day festivities, the party’s top annual event. During the 2004 election season, Keith joined established party officials on visits to college campuses statewide, cajoling students to get out and exercise their power to vote. Keith also took a highly visible role in former General Wesley Clarks’ 2004 presidential campaign, appearing with Clark on both the Tennessee and national stages. Keith made his first splash in Tennessee politics in 2004 when he traveled to Nashville to hold a press conference on Capitol Hill. There he served as a front man for the push for new legislation allowing juries to learn if someone accused of sexually abusing a child had a past conviction for that offense. The legislation initially appeared of little interest to lawmakers. Following Keith’s involvement, which included statewide radio ads, the votes fell into place.—Drew Ruble

The Right-to-Life Wing

Anyone who doubts Harris as a political force in Tennessee need only ask former Republican state Sen. Bill Clabough his opinion. Clabough was ousted in November’s elections, a feat largely attributed to the work of Harris and the anti-abortion organization he heads, Tennessee Right To Life. After Clabough voted to water down a proposed constitutional amendment placing new regulations on abortions in the state, Harris promptly recruited a primary opponent to oppose the Republican senator from Maryville. Tennessee Right to Life worked tirelessly for that opponent, Raymond Finney, and against Clabough, then a prominent member of the legislature. On election night, Harris was on site in Maryville when Finney shocked the state with his victory. Close observers of Harris say his formidable political skill is rivaled only by his concern for the cause he champions. In addition to the success he’s had as an advocate, Harris has put great effort into a support organization for mothers who might otherwise have chosen abortion.—Drew Ruble

Power Coupling

Sara Kyle, the niece of former Tennessee Gov. Frank Clement, was appointed as one of the original three members of the new Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) in 1996. TRA has power over setting the rates and service standards of privately owned telephone, natural gas, electric and water utilities. A former assistant public defender and Memphis judge, Kyle is considered by many the true current power on that board. In 1987, she married Memphis Sen. Jim Kyle. A plausible future gubernatorial candidate, Sen. Kyle recently supplanted longtime Senate Majority Leader Ward Crutchfield as leader of the Democratic Party in the Senate. Though minority leader under a newly elected GOP controlled Senate, Kyle nevertheless is the point man for Gov. Phil Bredesen’s agenda in the Senate and a key mover and shaker given the unusual distribution of party power in the upper chamber. Together the Kyles cut a broad swath of power through Tennessee politics and commerce. —Drew Ruble

Here Yesterday, Gone Today

In the case of Steve Odland, one sees exactly how quickly the fabric of Tennessee power can tear. The former chairman, president and chief executive of Memphis-based AutoZone, ranked No. 20 on Business Tennessee’s Power 100 last year, and he was set to place just as high in the list again this year. Then, in mid-March, Odland surprised Memphis with news that he had resigned from the top position at the auto parts retailer. Odland was headed to Office Depot, where he accepted the positions of chairman and CEO, and his replacement at AutoZone as president and CEO is Bill Rhodes, previously executive vice president of store operations and commercial. The departure of Odland means Memphis has lost an art enthusiast who had led AutoZone to the size of more than 3,400 stores with more than $5.6 billion in sales in 2004 and a 9.4% increase in net income. Also, Odland had headed the “business-led” Memphis for the Arts initiative, which has raised more than $27 million for the Greater Memphis Arts Council..—Paige Orr