District 23 gets stronger when we build opportunity for everyone who calls it home, not when we're divided over who deserves it. Here's where I stand.
I'm running for District 23 State Representative because I believe people here deserve someone who focuses on what affects daily life, not someone in Nashville focused on appeasing folks in DC or chasing PAC money at your expense.
Personally, I want a whole lot less government in my life.
I believe you should decide how you raise your children, what faith you practice, and that no one but you and your doctor should have a say in what you do with your body.
We need big business and its influence out of policy, and someone in Nashville who's used to writing the rules and building community, not just falling in line. I've been leading, building, and evolving since my teens. Power and wealth don't interest me, and I've got a few decades of practice standing firm under pressure.
The state government needs to get back in its lane. District 23 needs someone who can listen, understand, and cut through the bureaucracy to get things done.
I know what it took to put down roots in this community. For many people, it keeps getting harder: groceries, health care, housing, childcare. These aren't abstract policy debates. They are choices people make every day. If elected, I'll focus on improving local wages, increasing opportunities, keeping our money in the district, and making it easier to build a business and a great life here in District 23.
Our schools are the foundation of everything else. Strong public schools mean families can stay here, businesses want to locate here, and our kids have a future. That means no to school vouchers. We must hire the best teachers, pay them well, and let them focus on what they've dedicated their lives to so we can keep them in our school districts. If elected, I'll push to fully fund public schools, reduce the administrative burden pulling teachers from the classroom, and support smaller class sizes. The legislature should stop dictating curriculum, banning books, or pushing religion into our classrooms. I also want to expand vocational training and bring creativity and the arts into our schools so every young person has a real path here at home.
Rural health care access is worsening. Deeper cuts to federal programs are coming, and more of our local, rural facilities are at risk of scaling back services or closing. Mental health services, substance abuse treatment, maternal care, and basic preventive medicine are harder to access here than almost anywhere in the state. This isn't a talking point. I see it in my work with trauma survivors every week. Protecting access is the first part of the solution, and that includes closing insurance gaps and expanding health coverage. I also want to invest in community-based care and bring more resources into our communities so we can move away from the reactive, pharmaceutical-first approach to health. Families need real options, not just a prescription pad and rising costs. Our neighbors shouldn't have to choose between getting help and going broke.
Our mountains, rivers, and forests aren't a side issue. They are a huge part of our economy. I saw that first-hand in Tellico with the Bald River Falls bridge project. The Hiwassee River, Cherokee National Forest, the Tellico River, the trails, and ridgelines attract people from all over the country to explore our woods and scenic drives. If elected, I'll balance development with preservation and back agritourism and outdoor recreation as economic drivers. I'll also push for better support for farmers to help feed our neighbors and slow the conversion of agricultural land. If we let development, pollution, or poor land management degrade what makes this place special, we lose not just the beauty but also businesses, tourism dollars, and property values.
I think of government like building a house: federal is the foundation, state is the framing, and local government is the rooms you live in. Right now, the state is far too focused on personal choices and culture-war battles instead of building a strong frame for opportunity so Tennesseans can thrive. Our elected officials are public servants. Unfortunately, without term limits, most of them worry more about their own future than about doing the job we elected them to do. Changing that starts with two things: electing neighbors, not career politicians, and creating term limits. We don't need people representing us who have lost sight of the real world. And we've got to get big money out of politics. My campaign is fully funded by individual donors, not PACs, which means if I'm elected, I'll answer to the people who live here. Open, honest communication is how we learn from one another and unite.
I believe in limited government that has no business in your personal decisions. To me, that means upholding the Bill of Rights for everyone. That includes decisions about your body and health care. It includes your right to raise your children according to your values, not the state's or one group's religious preferences. It includes your ability to live honestly and openly without fear of discrimination. It also includes free speech and your right to bear arms and protect the lives and property you're responsible for. And it means no to Flock cameras. Legislators should build the frame, not dictate how people live inside it. It's past time for Tennessee to stop overreaching.
District 23 is stronger when everyone who lives and works here is part of the community, not divided by where they were born. Local law enforcement is already stretched thin, and expanding cooperation with federal immigration agencies too often chases federal dollars rather than serving our community's own interests. If elected, I'll work to keep our local resources focused on public safety and the real issues we're facing here at home. We've got to rebuild trust in our community and build a better relationship with law enforcement.
No to data centers without community approval and protections for our water and power. Communities shouldn't be the last to know or the first to pay when a data center moves in. I'm not interested in rubber-stamping projects that strain local water, power, and land without real community involvement. If elected, I'll push for a process where communities have a real seat at the table before a project is approved. Environmental impact and resource drain must be mitigated before construction begins, and there should be a robust, enforceable plan to protect the places where these projects land.
Labels like Republican, Democrat, liberal, and conservative only push us apart. The problems we're facing in District 23 need people who show up, have a plan, and have our backs.
I'd love to learn what matters most to you for our district, and earn the chance to represent you in Nashville. Let's Unite for Progress.
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