I’ve served on the Roane County Commission for almost 8 years. What’s happening now in our county is transformative. I want to continue to be involved in the growth. As part of the commission I’ve been involved in the Energy Communities Alliance, community leaders from communities all over the country that have a history of nuclear power some from the Manhattan Project Era. We work directly with DOE to discuss and solve problems specific to nuclear issues. Now that we are entering this nuclear renaissance the conversation has expanded to how to grow responsibly, train a new workforce, etc. This group of about 80 hosts nuclear company owners, leaders, and speculators as well as attend nuclear conventions to gather and share information on how we can all make our communities great as we expand in this field.

As Oak Ridge grows with these new nuclear companies moving in all of our infrastructure will need to be grown not with just thinking of what we need in 10 years, but what we will need in 30 years. That’s something Governor Lee said at a new company announcement event recently. The Oak Ridge Corridor Development Corporation has been working with DOE on land release from the reservation for housing and workforce training in our colleges. The Roane County Commission has sponsored a grant to expand broadband to cover the majority of our county. The Commission is also being careful to listen to residents that don’t want to lose the beauty of our county to land development. Where ever expansion happens, the Commission is also conscious of keeping traffic flow away from rural area. All of this is urgent.

Roane County has an amazing opportunity to bring an incredible education and jobs to its population. The local schools from elementary to graduate level colleges are expanding their education to grow a better prepared workforce for the nuclear companies moving here. Housing and traffic congestion is being addressed right now. As more people move here we are going to have to have more housing, for those in the service industry to those that are scientists and engineers. We need to be careful not to forget we have have affordable housing! As the director of Clinch River Habitat for Humanity, I hear people talk about affordable housing, but housing that costs $250,000 is not affordable. We need to rein that in!!! Supporting our state and roads departments as they build roads by cooperating will be the best we can do, the building is starting soon. Infrastructure planning will begin soon, we just recently got a new planner in Roane County. He’s got a big job to do!

It’s been brought to the Commission that there are books in Roane County schools that have explicit descriptions of sex, both heterosexual and homosexual. The school board formed a team to review books currently in the libraries and new books coming into them. It’s my understanding that they are reviewing books looking for this material and if they find it they are removing those books. My opinion is that this is a school board issue and they are handling as they see fit.

Education: EdS in Educational Administration and Supervision MS in Human Resource Development BS in Business Administration Leadership Roane County Class of 2019 graduate Leadership East Tennessee Class of 2026

Experience: Current County Commissioner 25 years of service to the Roane County School System: Since 2022- Supervisor of Secondary Education 5 years- Career and Technical Education Director 8 Years- Principal at Roane County High School 2 years- Principal at Midtown Educational Center 6 years- Business Teacher at Oliver Springs High School 6+ years- Kroger store management right out of college

Personal Married to Brandy for 31 years, she is a Speech Pathologist at with Oak Ridge Schools for the past 29 years. We are 26-year residents of Oak Ridge, living the past 21 years at 1998 West Outer Drive. Three children: Carter, Erin, and Kate

The Roane County portion of Oak Ridge provides an excellent location for our family with ties to both communities that District 4 represents.

Adequate housing to support new families, growing families, and retirees is one of our most urgent infrastructure needs. Additionally, many of our school facilities are over 70 years old, which is not attractive to prospective residents or businesses. Investing in modern, high-quality schools is essential to strengthening our workforce and attracting industry to Roane County. Finally, thanks to the work of the county commission, all residents will have access to broadband by December 31, 2026- an important step forward in supporting economic growth and connectivity.

No one wants to see taxpayer dollars spent on jail expansion if there are better options. We should prioritize alternatives, especially for nonviolent offenders. A large portion of our jail population consists of individuals struggling with substance abuse, so expanding programs like Drug Court is critical. These programs provide treatment and accountability, helping individuals recover while reducing the cost burden compared to incarceration.

We also need to continue leveraging community resources that focus on treatment, education, and rehabilitation. The sheriff’s department is already making a positive impact through its GED program and the inmate work program, both of which help individuals build skills and a foundation for reentry. If participants stay on track and remain drug-free, our entire community benefits through lower recidivism and safer neighborhoods.

Decisions about library books are not made by the County Commission—they are handled by school boards under state law and local policy. Tennessee’s Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 requires transparent collections and a formal review process to ensure materials are age-appropriate and aligned with the school’s mission.

Roane County already follows this with a clear policy that includes educator and parent input and a structured review process for any challenged materials.

I support this local, balanced approach.

I have spent my entire professional career in the private sector, primarily insuring Fortune 1000 companies, auto dealerships, and transportation companies. In that capacity I have worked with attorneys, accountants, business owners, safety personnel, HR, mechanics, office staffs, consumers, and local governments. I understand the concerns of both business and residents and am comfortable working with a wide variety of people and agendas to achieve common goals. Since I am retired, I have no conflicts of interest, so the folks in my district will know I am only representing their concerns. I am currently on the city of Oak Ridge's Environmental Quality Advisory Board, giving me a unique perspective in balancing commercial and environmental issues. I wasn't fortunate enough to be born in Tennessee, so I have experienced first-hand how the quality of life can rapidly deteriorate if we go down the wrong path.

Roane County residents should have access to broadband by the end of this year. As a county, we are behind on infrastructure improvements, and these issues need to be prioritized as we make plans for additional infrastructure and growth. For example, our water lines need to be improved and updated because many in the rural districts are too small to support fire hydrants, so the fire departments cannot access those lines to put out fires. Roads are always an issue, and Oak Ridge is in the process of upgrading its electrical infrastructure which hasn't been done in decades.

All growth should be for the benefit of this state and in particular Roane County residents. A certain percentage of all new jobs should be allocated to Tennessee businesses and workers. All positions should be occupied by current U.S. citizens. Additional infrastructure needed for industrial growth should be covered by those investing businesses and not put additional fiscal strains on current residents. Advanced planning is critical. Responsible zoning is key. Area-appropriate housing must be employed to determine how much and what kind of new housing this growth requires. Inappropriate expansion that destroys the unique character of Roane County is not progress. We must be judicial in this approach. Our local schools, colleges, and universities can be key in educating and preparing a local innovative workforce to take advantage of the incredible opportunities this new growth will provide.

School and library book decisions are not made by Roane County Commissioners. School boards and local policies cover that area. Current Tennessee law addresses this issue with a policy of transparency and review process to ensure materials are age-appropriate and adhere to individual schools' guidelines. Decisions on school materials are best handled locally with parent and educators' input.