Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee kicked off his second term on Saturday, promising to focus over the next four years on improving aging transportation systems, advocating for better conservation efforts and protecting the state’s most vulnerable children. Lee, a Republican, took the oath of office in front of the Tennessee Capitol on a bright sunny day — marking a stark difference to the governor’s first inauguration when harsh weather forced the historically held outdoor ceremony into a smaller inside venue. Lee pointed to his push to revamp the state’s complicated education funding system as top accomplishments of his first term, as well as his administration’s work with Ford Motor Co. to build an electric vehicle and battery plant near Memphis. Yet Lee acknowledged that his first term involved deep challenges ranging from overseeing the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple fatal tornadoes, catastrophic flooding, wildfires and the 2020 Christmas morning bombing in downtown Nashville. Lee’s wife, Maria, has also been diagnosed with cancer and is receiving treatments for lymphoma.
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