The Commercial Appeal Editorial Board

Over the past 40 years, Tennesseans have elected governors from both parties who have served the state with dedication and distinction and without rancor or scandal.

In fact, each of the three Republicans and two Democrats who have filled the governor's chair since 1979 moved the state forward and were easily re-elected to second terms.

We are confident Tennessee will make another good choice Nov. 6.

Both men seeking to follow Gov. Bill Haslam are respected men of character and conviction, intelligence, compassion and accomplishment.

Democrat Karl Dean, who has a law degree from Vanderbilt University, has shown considerable skills as a government leader. He guided Nashville as mayor through the Great Recession and the 2010 flood, and he helped lay the groundwork for the city's current boom.

Republican Bill Lee, with an engineering degree from Auburn University, has demonstrated his acumen as a business leader. He has built his family’s Lee Company to 1,200 employees and nearly a quarter billion in revenue.

Both men have run uncommonly (these days) and refreshingly mature and respectful campaigns, keeping their focus on their plans, concerns and hopes for the state, and their own experience and expertise, running on faith, not fear.

But each man has very different ideas about improving education and health care, and running government more effectively and efficiently.

ON EDUCATION:School vouchers a key difference between Bill Lee and Karl Dean

Dean wants to boost funding for public schools and make teacher raises a priority. He opposes vouchers.

Lee says he would like to emulate local solutions like the success Innovation Zone schools in Memphis have seen, but he also favors vouchers.

Dean supports expanding Medicaid, which Haslam attempted unsuccessfully, to provide affordable health insurance to about 400,000 working poor Tennesseans.

Lee opposes Medicaid expansion as an old and unsustainable approach, and wants first to address the health care issues of cost and prevention.

ON HEALTH CARE:Dean, Lee have opposing views on Medicaid expansion. How they would make their plans work is short on details.

As a successful private employer, Lee understands the need for a better trained workforce, fewer and lower barriers for small businesses, and wider access to broadband and other 21st-century technologies.

As a successful big-city mayor, Dean understands the need for more equitable funding for public schools, sensible criminal justice reforms, wider access to affordable health care and public transportation.

Lee's conservative credentials, lack of political obligations and strong spirit of compassion position him to work with the legislature and find creative ways to address lack of access to health care, limited rural and inner-city opportunity, and the achievement gap in education.

On the other hand, Dean's progressive and collaborative approach to economic development in Nashville and his experience in addressing other big challenges facing government position him to work with the private sector to find creative ways to address the same issues.

Dean has a lot of relevant government experience, but his agenda could be stymied by the conservative Republican supermajority in the legislature.

On the other hand, Lee's agenda could be handicapped by his lack of government experience and connections, or hijacked by even more conservative Republicans.

Both men say they are aware of the unique challenges facing Memphis — high poverty and crime, underperforming and under-resourced public schools, competition from Arkansas and Mississippi for jobs, homeowners and tax revenue.

Both men say they are committed to devoting more of state government's time and attention to the state's largest county. We believe them.

Each man has the potential to be a great governor. But given Karl Dean's more relevant experience and his success as mayor of Nashville, we believe he's more qualified and better prepared to lead state government.

Viewpoint Editor David Waters wrote this editorial on behalf of The Commercial Appeal Editorial Board, which also includes President Mike Jung, Executive Editor Mark Russell, columnists Tonyaa Weathersbee and Ted Evanoff, and Digital Strategist Dann Miller.