He has traveled throughout Tennessee, hitting the campaign trail, talking about issues that matter to folks, telling people which candidacy is best in the governor's race.
He gets good reviews for his speaking skills. It makes you wonder what his future in politics might be. The name is Wamp.
Not Zach Wamp. The congressman's son, Weston Wamp.
"I've learned a lot from my old man," he says.
So right off the bat, Weston Wamp shows an appreciation of seniority and an ability to refer to another political figure in colorful terms. There's some potential.
Weston Wamp is 23. His current occupation is helping his father, the eight-term U.S. representative from Chattanooga who is running for governor, get elected. You get the impression he wouldn't consider any other place in life.
Candidates routinely appoint surrogates to stand in for them at speaking engagements. They simply can't be in more than one place at a time. It's common for family members, frequently spouses, to pinch-hit for the candidate. Sometimes it's a business associate or someone especially suited for the occasion. Zach and Kim Wamp's daughter, Coty, has also spoken for her father.
But every now and then, you hear -- or overhear -- someone mention that Weston Wamp is impressive on the stump, which naturally makes somebody who's heard maybe too many political speeches want to look up a fresh face. It turns out Weston Wamp is much less interested in Weston Wamp right now than in Zach Wamp's prospects of being governor.
But that doesn't stop someone who has heard too many political speeches from asking Weston Wamp about Weston, not Zach.
He'd rather talk about Zach.
"From the time I was a little boy, I saw a guy who genuinely cared about public service," Weston said. "That had an impact on me. Growing up, I've been back and forth about whether it would be anything I would be personally interested in."
When asked several days ago about his experience in the campaign, Weston said he had been on the stump 40 times in 25 counties. The figures have surely grown since then.
"People have been kind to me," he said. "Republican women have especially kind of taken to what I have to say about my dad. So sure, along the way I've gotten questions about whether I'd ever end up on the ballot, and there's a chance one day."
Weston Wamp graduated from the University of Tennessee last May. The gubernatorial campaign was already underway, so there was plenty to do.
"It was natural for me to kind of step alongside my best friend and dad and help him become the next governor," he said.
So what might Weston do if and when his father is elected governor?
"We'll see. I may grow some roots in Nashville. I may return to Chattanooga," he said. "Both of those are in play."
So just to get it out there, will politics be in Weston Wamp's future?
"If I were to enter politics it would most likely be in our hometown of Chattanooga, where we not only have deep family roots but a lot of pride in what has become one of the cooler cities in America," he said.
So you realize you see a guy who genuinely cares about his hometown. Sounds like a future political figure. Sounds like the old man.
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