District 89 Interim Appointment

The first thing that you probably notice about me if is that I’m young. I am. I’m twenty-four years old, and I can’t pretend otherwise. Don’t let your judgment end there, though. What I have to offer this district is passion and dedication.

I’m passionate about this city. My wife and I had the good fortune to be born into the land of the blues and BBQ, but we missed the river by about ninety miles. We got here just as soon as we could, though. I’m here for the long haul, and dedicated to helping make this great city even better.

I’m passionate about education. I’m the first person in my family to go to college. I grew up living with a single mother who had to work as many as three jobs to support my brother and I. From a young age, she instilled in me the importance of both hard work and education. After I graduated college, I took my passion for education and applied it to teaching in the Memphis City Schools. If I was sent to Nashville, my first priority would be to look out for the best interest of our children, parents, and teachers.

I’m passionate about people. Because I grew up in a household that at times featured alcoholism and abuse, I turned to God for strength as a child. Those experiences and that faith have instilled in me a compassion for people that drives me to service. Contrary to the cynicism of the times, I think public service is an honorable thing, and I believe that I could serve well to give a voice to our district in my brief time in Nashville.

I’m passionate about politics, as my long-suffering wife knows all too well. I’ve been involved in politics at all levels since before I was old enough to vote. I’ve knocked on doors, helped raise money, called voters, and generally worked myself ragged for issues and candidates I believe in for years. I’ve been called a liberal, a progressive, and a populist. I don’t shy away from any of those labels, although my politics is not necessarily bound by any label. I realize that as an interim representative my powers will be limited, but I do want to use my time in Nashville to push for improving access to healthcare, strengthening our education system, protecting our environment, and keeping our spending within our means. I am passionate about these issues and hope to be able to affect them in Nashville. In reality, I doubt that my voting record would be much different from what that of Sen. Marrero and Councilperson Chumney would have been.

I’m dedicated and hard-working. If I am entrusted with representing the people of District 89 in Nashville, this is a responsibility that I will take to heart, and they will not regret it.