!generalassembly! … · 2019-08-29 · ! 7!! %!! % % %!!!!!
TRANSCRIPT
New Members of the 111th General Assembly
Senate District 13—Dawn White (R-‐Murfreesboro)—[email protected]
Dawn White is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, where she also earned her Master of Education degree. She is elected to the seat vacated by Bill Ketron. White served the past six years in the House of Representatives. She is a board member of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Rutherford County and an Advisory Board Member for the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring. She is a member of the Lions Club, Junior League, and Rotary Club. White served on the House Education Administration and Planning Committee as well as the Business and Utilities Committee.
Senate District 19—Brenda Gilmore (D-‐Nashville)—[email protected] Brenda Gilmore is a graduate of Tennessee State University and received her Master’s Degree in Human Resource Development from Vanderbilt University. Gilmore is filling the Senate seat vacated by retiring Senator Thelma Harper. She previously served for 12 years in the Tennessee House of Representatives, where she sat on the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, Business and Utilities Committee, and Fiscal Review Committee. Gilmore is a member of the League of Women Voters, Nashville Women’s Political Caucus, Women in Numbers, Junior League, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She is a former trustee for Belmont University.
Senate District 29—Raumesh Akbari (D-‐Memphis)—[email protected] Raumesh Akbari is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and earned her JD from St. Louis University School of Law. Akbari will fill the seat vacated by Senator Lee Harris, who won his mayoral bid in Shelby County. For the past six years, Akbari has served in Tennessee House of Representatives. She was a speaker at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia and has served as treasurer of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. Akbari was recognized by the Memphis Flyer’s “20 under 30” award. In 2016, she was honored with the Reformer Award from the National Juvenile Justice Network. Akbari has served as Democratic Caucus Floor Leader and was a member of the House Criminal Justice Committee and the Education Administration and Planning Committee.
Senate District 33—Katrina Robinson (D-‐Memphis)—[email protected]
Katrina Robinson received a BA degree in marketing and management from the University of Memphis and a BS in nursing from Union University. She fills the seat formerly held by Senator Reginald Tate, who was defeated in the August primary election. Robinson founded The Healthcare Institute Inc., a vocational training school that has provided scholarships to over 500 Memphians in the school’s first three years of operation. She also serves as chair of the Health Design team for Shelby County Schools Career and Technical Education programs. She has received numerous honors, including the Memphis Business Journal Top 40 Under 40 and the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Top Young Memphian Award.
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House District 10—Rick Eldridge (R-‐Morristown)—[email protected] Rick Eldridge graduated from Walters State Community College before opening Cumberland Glass at the age of 28. The company has been in operation for 33 years. Eldridge served on the Hamblen County Commission for eight years, two of which he served as chair. Eldridge feels his time on the Commission has prepared him to take the next step and serve as Hamblen County’s state representative. He is especially interested in the need for better roads in his district. He will be filling the seat vacated by outgoing Representative Tilman Goins.
House District 13—Gloria Johnson (D-‐Knoxville)—[email protected] Gloria Johnson has a degree in Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is a retired Knox County school teacher with 27 years of experience educating special needs children. Johnson was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2012 and served one term. During that time, she served on both the Health and Agriculture and Natural Resources Committees. Johnson has served as chair of the Knox County Democratic Party. She is a member of the Knox County Education Association, the Tennessee Education Association, and the National Education Association. She defeated incumbent Representative Eddie Smith.
House District 19—Dave Wright (R-‐Corryton)—[email protected] Dave Wright earned his bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. A life-‐long resident of Corryton, Wright was a Lieutenant in the US Army during the Vietnam era. He recently retired from AT&T and formerly served on the Knox County Commission. The son of a dairy farmer, Wright is a former Boy Scout, a Mason, and member of the Methodist Church. He is filling the seat vacated by retiring Representative Harry Brooks.
House District 21—Lowell Russell (R-‐Vonore)—[email protected] Lowell Russell holds a degree in criminal justice from Roane State Community College. A former highway patrol officer who was critically injured on the job, Russell is now retired from the agency. He attended the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Academy and the Cleveland State Police Academy. He fills the seat vacated by Representative Jimmy Matlock.
House District 89—Justin Lafferty (R-‐Knoxville)—[email protected] Justin Lafferty attended Pellissippi State Community College and earned a political science degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Lafferty previously told the Knox News Sentinel that he wants to push for education reform by focusing on what he calls the “skills gap.” He plans promote shadowing opportunities in the trades for high school students. In addition to being a stay-‐at-‐home dad, Lafferty owns and manages rental property in Knox County. He was elected to the seat vacated by Representative Roger Kane.
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House District 23—Mark Cochran (R-‐Englewood)—[email protected] Mark Cochran holds both a bachelor's degree in journalism and electronic media and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Since 2010, he has served as Assistant to McMinn County Mayor John Gentry. He served two terms as chair of the McMinn County Republican Party and is currently chair of the Community Action Group of Englewood. Cochran is the immediate past president of the Southeast Tennessee Resource Conservation and Development Council and serves on the boards of Full Circle Women's Ministry, Keep McMinn Beautiful, the McMinn County Senior Center, and the McMinn County Health Council. He lives in Englewood, where he is a member of Englewood First Baptist Church. He will fill the seat vacated by retiring Representative John Forgety.
House District 24—Mark Hall (R-‐Cleveland)—[email protected] Mark Hall has served on the Bradley County Commission for 12 years and owns a barber shop. As a former Marine, Hall says his main passion is to get the Bradley County Veterans Home from vision to reality. Hall has proudly noted he is a product of technical and vocational schools and has indicated strong support for trade schools. Hall will fill the seat vacated by newly elected Mayor Kevin Brooks.
House District 26—Robin Smith (R-‐Hixson)—[email protected]
Robin Smith attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a degree in nursing. She also is a graduate of Stanford University’s Center for Professional Development as a Certified Project Manager. While at UTK, she was a Student Government Association (SGA) Senator. Smith worked as a critical care and transplant nurse at the University of Alabama-‐Birmingham. She returned to her home in Hamilton County to pursue a career in sales and marketing before starting her own small business. Smith was active in the US Senate campaigns of Bill Frist, Fred Thompson, Lamar Alexander, and Bob Corker, and the US House campaign for Congressman Zach Wamp. She held leadership roles in both presidential campaigns of George W. Bush. She previously served as Chair of the Tennessee Republican Party. Smith will fill the seat vacated by Representative Gerald McCormick.
House District 28—Yusuf Hakeem (D-‐Chattanooga)—[email protected] Yusuf Hakeem attended Chattanooga State Community College. He served on the Chattanooga Public School Board for 10 years and then, in 1990, was elected to the newly-‐created Chattanooga City Council. He served as a City Councilman until 2017. During his last term, Hakeem advocated for the city to conduct a formal disparity study to evaluate the impact of its programs and services across communities. He advocated the rezoning of Erlanger Hospital's new Behavioral Health Center in District 28, continuing his efforts to both increase access to healthcare and tackle gun violence. Hakeem was appointed by Governor Phil Bredesen in 2006 to serve on the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole. He is filling the vacated seat of retiring Representative JoAnne Favors.
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House District 30—Esther Helton (R-‐East Ridge)—[email protected]
Esther Helton is an East Ridge City Council member and has had a career in professional nursing for 35 years. Helton campaigned as a supporter of public education. Throughout her campaign, she has praised East Ridge High School’s career and technical education curriculum. She is a member of Graceworks Church, the East Ridge Alumni Association, and the Optimist Club. She is the mother of three grown children. Helton was elected to fill the vacated seat of Representative Marc Gravitt.
House District 37—Charlie Baum (R-‐Murfreesboro)—[email protected]
Charlie Baum is an alumnus of Wake Forest University. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina. He moved to Murfreesboro to teach economics at Middle Tennessee State University. From 2008-‐14, he served as chair of the MTSU Department of Economics and Finance. Bloomberg BusinessWeek, U.S. News and World Report, and the New York Times have cited his research on employment trends, wages, labor force participation rates, and employment benefits. Baum currently serves on the Rutherford County Commission, where he chairs the Audit Committee and serves on the Commission’s Budget, Finance, and Investment Committee. Baum is on the boards of the Murfreesboro City Schools Foundation, the Linebaugh Library Foundation, and Oaklands Mansion. He is a past board member of the Murfreesboro Domestic Violence Center, the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties, and the American Heart Association. He will be filling the vacant seat of former Representative Dawn White.
House District 39—Iris Rudder (R-‐Winchester)—[email protected] Iris Rudder served two terms on the Franklin County Commission and as former Chair of the Franklin County Republican Party. She and her husband, Michael, have two children and are Alabama fans. She has been heavily involved in local politics and community organizations. She will be filling the seat of former Representative David Alexander.
House District 45—Johnny Garrett (R-‐Goodlettsville)—[email protected]
Johnny Garrett has a BS in business from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Garrett graduated from Nashville School of Law and practices in Sumner County, representing small to medium-‐size businesses and entrepreneurs who need guidance on starting their businesses. He also does probate and estate planning. Garrett served on the Board of Directors for Goodpasture Christian School and Vol State Community College Foundation and is President of Goodlettsville Little League Baseball. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church. He is filling the seat of retiring Representative Courtney Rogers.
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House District 47—Rush Bricken (R-‐Tullahoma)—[email protected] Rush Bricken is an Auburn graduate with a degree in accounting. He also has an Executive MBA from Owen School of Business at Vanderbilt University. Bricken is a Coffee County Commissioner and chairs the Commission’s Budget and Finance Committee. He is the CEO of Coffee County Bank. Bricken is filling the seat vacated by former Representative Judd Matheny.
House District 54—Vincent Dixie (D-‐Nashville)—[email protected]
Vincent Dixie is a graduate of Tennessee State University and holds both a BA and MBA. He owns bail and bond companies serving five counties in Middle Tennessee. Dixie is a member of St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church, where he serves as a member of the Church’s Finance Committee. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Dixie was a 2015 fellow for the New Leaders Council and has served as the Nashville Chapter’s co-‐chair for the past two years. He is filling the vacant seat of former Representative Brenda Gilmore.
House District 56—Bob Freeman (D-‐Nashville)—[email protected]
Bob Freeman graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in construction management and land development. He went on to earn a master’s from Lipscomb University. Freeman is Vice President of Real Estate Investment and Development with Forestar Group, Inc. He also co-‐founded Freeman Applegate Partners, a full-‐service consulting and construction firm specializing in energy efficiency and sustainable building practices. His wife, Rachel, serves as President and CEO of the Sexual Assault Center and holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Freeman is the son of UT President’s Council member Bill Freeman. He is filling the seat vacated by former Speaker Beth Harwell.
House District 59—Jason Potts (D-‐Nashville)—[email protected]
Raised on a tobacco farm, Jason Potts attended the University of Tennessee at Martin. He is a general contractor and a real estate professional residing in South Nashville. Since 2015, he has served on Metro Council. Potts has helped start neighborhood watch groups and is active with school organizations such as Haywood Lane Elementary Garden Club. He also volunteers with local non-‐profits, including Hands On Nashville and Habitat for Humanity. He and his wife, Amanda, have two young children. He will be filling the seat vacated by former Representative Sherry Jones.
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House District 61—Brandon Ogles (R-‐Franklin)—[email protected] The son of a police officer, Brandon Ogles is a graduate of David Lipscomb University with a degree in business administration. He has worked in the construction and building trades industry. Ogles started his own business as a commercial contractor specializing in the design and construction of retail structures and specialized interiors. Ogles and his wife, Grace, attend Grassland Heights Baptist Church. He works with the Tennessee Homework Hotline and has volunteered as a Reserve Deputy with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. He will be filling the seat vacated by retiring Representative Charles Sargent.
House District 64—Scott Cepicky (R-‐Culleoka)—[email protected]
Scott Cepicky worked his way through college with the help of an athletic scholarship for both football and baseball at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In baseball, he was a two-‐time All-‐Big Ten member for 1988 and 1989. He pursued a professional baseball career, where he won a batting title in South Bend, Indiana and was named MVP of the Florida State League. Immediately after college, he was signed as a punter for the Cincinnati Bengals while also being drafted by the Chicago White Sox to play baseball. He later spent ten years working for both Ford and Bridgestone/Firestone in sales, service, and management. For the past eight years, Cepicky has been a mortgage loan originator with Regions Bank. He has served as Chair of the Maury County Republican Party. In 2010 and 2011, he was named Chair of the Maury County Commission. He was elected to the seat vacated by retiring Representative Sheila Butt.
House District 67—Jason Hodges (D-‐Clarksville)—[email protected]
After graduating from Austin Peay State University, Jason Hodges joined the US Marine Corps. In 2014, he was elected to the Montgomery County Commission. He also serves as the Vice President of the Two Rivers Company and is a member of the Roxy Regional Theatre Board and the Montgomery County Health Council. He works as an operations manager for the Clarksville-‐Montgomery County School System. He and his wife, Diana, have two children. Hodges is filling the seat vacated by former Representative Joe Pitts.
House District 70—Clay Doggett (R-‐Pulaski)—[email protected] Clay Doggett is a graduate of the University of Alabama, Huntsville, earning degrees in history and political science. After graduation, Doggett began working as a history and government teacher at Spring Hill High School. After two years in that role, he took a position with the Giles County Sheriff’s Department, where he worked initially as a correctional officer and later as a sheriff’s deputy. Doggett started his own business specializing in exterior cleaning. He is replacing Representative Barry Doss, who lost his August primary bid.
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House District 72—Kirk Haston (R-‐Lobelville)—[email protected] Kirk Haston earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree from Cumberland University. He authored a book, published in 2016, entitled Days of Knight, which is about the lessons he learned during his journey from playing high school basketball in Tennessee to playing for Hall of Fame coach Bobby Knight. In 2001, he was an NBA first round draft pick for the Charlotte Hornets. Haston has worked in the Perry County School System for over a decade, serving four years as Coordinator of School Health. He teaches wellness and serves as head boys basketball coach. Haston will replace retiring Representative Steve McDaniel.
House District 73—Chris Todd (R-‐Humboldt)—[email protected]
Chris Todd holds a biology degree from Union University. He is a small business owner as well as a former biologist and environmental specialist with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Todd served on the Tennessee Advisory Council on State Procurement. He also is active in the National Federation of Independent Businesses and is a former NFIB Environmental Advisory Council Chair. Todd is a member of the West Jackson Baptist Church. He will be replacing retiring Representative Jimmy Eldridge.
House District 75—Bruce Griffey (R-‐Paris)—[email protected] Bruce Griffey holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi and received his JD from the University of Mississippi School of Law. A practicing lawyer for 28 years, he has been a federal judicial law clerk, a prosecutor, and a defense attorney, practicing at both the federal and state levels. In addition to serving as an assistant district attorney, Griffey also served as an assistant attorney general. He currently operates his own law firm in Paris. His wife, Rebecca, is an assistant district attorney. Griffey worked on Donald Trump’s presidential primary campaign in 2016. He is replacing Representative Tim Wirgau, who lost his August primary bid.
House District 82—Chris Hurt (R-‐Halls)—[email protected] Chris Hurt holds a bachelor’s degree from Lambuth University. He is a small businessman and owns Hurt Land and Realty. Hurt is involved in agriculture and was a teacher and head football coach at Halls High School from 2000 to 2014. He believes farmers and small businesses are overburdened with regulations. Hurt and wife, Dawn, have five children. They attend First Baptist Church in Halls. He will be replacing retiring Representative Craig Fitzhugh.
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House District 85—Jesse Chism (D-‐Memphis)—[email protected] Jesse Chism holds a BS in marketing and economics from Morehouse College and a master’s degree from Union University. He is the founder and President of C&D Construction Consultants. He is replacing retiring Representative Johnnie Turner.
House District 91—London Lamar (D-‐Memphis)—[email protected] London Lamar holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. She is an independent political and non-‐profit consultant and strategist. Lamar currently serves as President of the Tennessee Young Democrats. She has previously served as Vice-‐Chair of the Black Caucus of Young Democrats of America and as National Organization of Black Elected Legislative (NOBEL) Women Vice-‐President and Leadership Fellow. In 2014, she ran for the Tennessee Democratic Party State Executive Committee. She was recognized by the Memphis Flyer as one of the “Top 20 under 30” in 2015 and again in 2017 as one of the “Top 40 under 40.” She is filling the seat vacated by Representative Raumesh Akbari.
House District 99—Tom Leatherwood (R-‐Arlington)—[email protected]
Tom Leatherwood earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Memphis and worked several years in the oil exploration industry. He holds a teaching certificate from Middle Tennessee State University and taught in public schools for eight years. He formerly served two terms in the Tennessee Senate from 1992 to 2000. While in the Senate, he was Vice Chair of the Education Committee and Vice Chair of the General Welfare Committee. He also served on the Finance Ways and Means Committee. Leatherwood retired from the Senate and was elected as the Shelby County Register of Deeds in 2000. He and his wife, Melissa, have five daughters. Leatherwood was named the Republican nominee for House District 99 to fill the vacancy left by the sudden death of the late Representative Ron Lollar.