BALLOT BREAKDOWN
DISTRICT 7
MARK E. GREEN Mark E. Green is running for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives Ten-
nessee’s 7th district seat, which he has held since 2019. Born in Florida in 1964, Dr. Green graduated from United States Military Academy with a B.S. in Business Management. After receiving his M.D. from Wright State University, he served as a flight surgeon in the Army during the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Representing the 22nd district, Green served as a member of the Tennessee Senate from 2013-2018, where his legislation ended the Hall Income tax for those receiving interest from stocks and bonds.
In 2017, following concerns about his comments regarding transgender people, Green withdrew his nomination for the United States Secretary of the Army under President Donald Trump. In February 2022, he sponsored the Keep Schools Open Act, which proposed to withhold federal funding from schools that did not return to in-person instruction due to COVID-19. His platform focuses on lowering taxes, deterring illegal immigration, and advocating for small businesses and veterans.
University and earned a Master’s degree in Public Service at Cumberland University. Kelly led the Napier Community Center for over a decade, and co-founded the nonprofit Stand Up Nashville. Following the 2020 tornado and pandemic, Kelly petitioned for an economic recovery plan to protect local Black communities and organized around the CARES Act. When Nashville funded the soccer stadium, Kelly negotiated an agreement returning some of that investment to those impacted by the stadium’s
ODESSA KELLY Odessa Kelly is an East Nashville natives who graduated from Tennessee State
creation. Kelly has received several awards nationally and locally, including the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Award and Nashville Scene’s 2018 Activist of the Year. Kelly supports economic justice for all people; affordable housing; protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; a $15/hour federal minimum wage; and progressive tax rates that require corporations to pay their fair share. She is an advocate of justice and gun reform, LGBTQ+ equality, humane immigration policies, and the Green New Deal.
TN State Senator Office The Tennessee legislative branch consists of both a Senate and House of Representatives. Called the Tennessee General Assembly, the legislative branch enacts laws, proposes legislation, establishes a state budget, and can allow for a forum for debate. Tennessee is divided into 33 districts with relatively equal populations, giving it 33 seats and 12 committees are formed to oversee the
state’s functions: Commerce and Labor; Education; Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources; Finance, Ways and Means; Government Operations; Health and Welfare; Judiciary; State and Local Government; and Transportation and Safety. A senator’s role is to answer to their constituents and pass bills on public policy matters. The Tennessee Senate has the power to hold a
trial for a state official who has committed a crime against the state, like an impeachment trial. The Senate also has the power to vote to uphold or override vetoes made by the governor. Senators are elected to a term of four years, and there is no limit on the number of terms a Tennessee legislator may serve. In order to serve, candidates must be at least 30 years of age and have been a US citizen for at least
DISTRICT 17
MARK PODY Mark Pody is currently a Republican member of the Tennessee Senate from the
17th District and he lives in Lebanon, Tenn. He was born in Spokane, Wash., and moved to Wilson County in 1985. He is the owner of an insurance sales company called Educator Resource Association, which specializes in financial planning and insurance solutions. He is the Chairman of the Tennessee Legislative Prayer Caucus and a member of the Tennessee Firearms Association. He is also a private pilot and a member of the Civil Air Patrol. During a meeting at Woodmont Bible Church in
three years, as well as having established residency in their district for one year. Women, African-Americans and Latinos are underrepresented in the Tennessee State Legislature compared to the Tennessee state population. The Tennessee Senate is currently held by a Republican supermajority, with 27 Republicans and six Democrats, contributing to the state’s Republican trifecta.
DISTRICT 19 2015, Pody stated he believes he’s on a mission from God to stamp out same sex marriage. Pody supported the “Stop the Steal” movement that endorsed Donald Trump’s contesting of the 2020 election results. While in office, Pody has supported bills to nullify the Affordable Care Act, permit religious objections to vaccinations, and ban samesex marriage. He has signed letters with other state legislators disputing the results of the 2022 election. He is prosmall business and supports term limits.
BARRY BARLOW Reverend Barry Barlow studied Pastoral Care and
Counseling at American Baptist College and obtained a B.S. in Sociology from Tennessee State University after 20 years in the military. Barlow ran for Metro Council District 3 unsuccessfully in 2019. He is wellknown to Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and ran for the school board in 2020. Barlow was the first African-American male president of the Metro Schools Parent Advisory Council. He also served on
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the School Choice Committee for Superintendent Shawn Joseph’s Transition Team. An advocate for improving education in his district, Barlow is in favor of addressing racial inequality in schools by identifying children from early ages for gifted prog ra m s a nd promot i ng MNPS’s collaboration with Nashville State Community College. He supports social and emotional learning to address suspension rates.
