"Hilleary Spotlights High-Tech Security in Campaign Stop"
The Commercial Appeal
February 19, 2002
by Ken Garland, Scripps Howard News Service
U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary on Monday continued his whistle-stop tour announcing his candidacy for governor, saying he is an advocate for better education in Tennessee.
Hilleary of Spring City has served since 1994 as the Republican congressman from the 4th District of Tennessee.
Hilleary stopped first at Atmospheric Glow Technologies, a high-tech company in the Stock Creek Development Centre. The company is made up of professors and graduate students from the University of Tennessee "who are finding commercial applications for exciting new technology," he said. The company's "atmospheric plasma technology" can be used to destroy bio-terror weapons such as anthrax and smallpox spores, Hilleary said. He said the product destroys "harmful agents at the level of the atom, rendering them harmless."
Hilleary, 42, said he wished the company had been in Washington recently when workers were cleaning up congressional offices after anthrax was mailed to a senator.
"Unfortunately we live in a world where this technology is needed," he said. "But at least we have talented people with scientific knowledge and creativity to design the means for protecting ourselves.
"President Bush has proposed a $38 billion strategy ensuring homeland security, and bioterrorism is one of the four key areas his plan addresses. It also includes money for emergency responders, airport and border security and improved intelligence."
He said such a defense should also include local officials, and federal funds should flow through state governments to the local officials.
"As governor, I will create a homeland security task force that will not be limited to state officials," he said. "It will have representatives from local communities who can help decide how we can best respond to terrorist threats."
Hilleary is facing two GOP challengers, former state Republican House leader Jim Henry of Kingston and Methodist minister Bob Tripp of Knoxville.
The Democratic front-runner is former Nashville mayor Phil Bredesen.