By AP
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter is questioning his Republican rival Bill Haslam's ability to objectively run the state's environmental program. Haslam's family owns a chain of truck stops that have in the past been cited dozens of times for violations. Haslam was president of Pilot Corporation until he was elected Knoxville mayor in 2003. McWherter's campaign says records show Pilot has been cited nearly 50 times in several states for negligent maintenance of underground storage tanks and for more than 20 violations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Haslam spokesman David Smith counters the criticism, saying the company "has a 52-year history of operating with integrity."
