Championing East Tennessee Values and Vision for the Future
Growing up in the scenic beauty of East Tennessee, nestled close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I have always cherished the natural splendor and tight-knit communities that define our region. I am proud to call Tennessee's First Congressional District my home and am honored to have the opportunity to represent the hardworking people who live here.
I come from a family with deep roots in East Tennessee. My great-grandfather was a friend of the Walker sisters. Three of my four grandparents were teachers in East Tennessee. Their dedication to educating and inspiring young minds has deeply influenced my belief in the power of education to transform lives and communities. For over sixty years, my family has started and run several of their own small businesses in East Tennessee. These experiences have given me a firsthand understanding of the challenges and rewards that come with entrepreneurship, and I am passionate about supporting and advocating for our local small businesses. These connections to our local history and community has profoundly shaped my values and commitment to service.
In the summer of 2013, I was one of four students selected to represent my high-school at Tennessee American Legion Boys State at Tennessee Tech University. That same summer I attended an International Relations Academy at Georgetown University, where I got the chance to learn hands-on how some of our nation's foreign policies are crafted, and the great value of our relationships with our allies across the globe. In 2014, I graduated from Gatlinburg-Pittman High School, where my grandfather taught for over over a decade of his nearly 40 year career in education. That year I also earned my Eagle Scout Award. For my Eagle project, I built a weather sensor station for my elementary school, Pi Beta Phi Elementary. After I earned my Eagle rank, I received congratulation letters from a number of public figures and elected officials, but one stood out to me. While many of the letters were form letters, one in particular stood out. It was from the office of John Lewis, unlike most of the others, it mentioned my project specifically. The fact that his office had taken the time to for a kid who wasn't even from his district let alone his state has stuck with me, and his challenge to continue to contribute to my community is one I took to heart.
In 2020, I graduated with a degree in History and Political Science from Warren Wilson College, a Work College in western North Carolina, just on the other side of the National Park, where I gained a deeper appreciation for the value of hard work, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. While at Wilson I got the opportunity to work on a documentary about how gerrymandering was corrupting our electoral process. I went with a group of students to the Friends Committee on National Legislation's Spring Lobby Weekend, where we lobbied members of Congress to push for comprehensive and humane immigration reforms. Being in the work program I worked for three years in Warren Wilson's IT department allowed me to learn more and strengthen my existing technology skill set while helping to maintain critical infrastructure for the college. During my second year at Wilson I was selected to represent Warren Wilson College at the Work College Consoritum's semi-annual DC meeting where we lobbied members of Congress and the Department of Education about the importance of the work college system. My time at Warren Wilson College reinforced my commitment to making a positive impact on the world and equipped me with the skills and knowledge necessary to serve my community effectively.
My political journey began in 2017 when I got involved in Tennessee politics with a strong desire to make a difference in my community. Since then, I have been actively serving on the Executive Committee of the Sevier County Democratic Party. From 2017 to 2023, I served as the District Representative for Gatlinburg, advocating for the interests of my district and engaging directly with constituents. In 2023, I was unanimously elected as a Vice Chair of the Sevier County Democratic Party, a position I currently hold. In this capacity, I continue to work tirelessly to support our party's values and objectives, and to bring about meaningful change in our community.
As a candidate for Congress, I want to bring a vision for a prosperous and sustainable future for East Tennessee. I believe in the importance of preserving our natural heritage while fostering economic growth and innovation. My commitment to public service is grounded in the values of integrity, accountability, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact on the lives of my friends and neighbors in the first district.
Join me in building a brighter future for our district. Together, we can create a world where every Tenneseean has the opportunity to thrive, where our children can receive the world class education they deserve, where our environment is protected, and where our local businesses can thrive and flourish.
Thank you for your support. Let's work together to make East Tennessee an even better place to live, work, and raise our families.
