TN State Senator Office

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 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 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 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.

DISTRICT 19

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 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 programs and promoting MNPS’s collaboration with Nashville State Community College. He supports social and emotional learning to address suspension rates.

JERRY MAYNARD

A renowned Nashville leader, Jerry Maynard serves as the junior pastor of Cathedral of Praise Church of God in Christ and heads up the largest Black-owned government relations firm in Tennessee. He spearheaded 3,000 pastors in a national ministerial alliance to activate more minority millennial voters and has led statewide efforts to register over 40,000 voters.

Maynard served as the Deputy Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party from 2005 to 2007. He was the first African American to serve as Chairman of the TNDP finance committee for four years. His efforts led him to become a delegate for President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.

As a council member, Maynard demonstrated his passion for accessible healthcare by co-sponsoring the Metro Employee Healthcare Incentive Plan. His initiatives on the Metro Small Business Growth Act, the Diversity and Inclusion Act, and the Metro Workforce Development Program led to $300 million in contracts awarded to women and minority-owned businesses. In addition, Maynard is passionate about gun control and supports red-flag legislation and banning assault rifles.

CHARLANE OLIVER

Charlane Oliver is the Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Equity Alliance (TEA), a Tennessee based non-profit, nonpartisan organization focused on increasing civic engagement, leadership development, and organizing in Black communities. Her work with TEA has earned her numerous awards, including recognition in the Tennessean’s 2020 People of the Year.

Oliver grew up in Arkansas, raised in a family characterized by Christian and working class values. She moved to Nashville to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Human & Organizational Development at Vanderbilt University, and later a Master of Public Administration from UT Knoxville. She now lives in Bordeaux with her partner Leshaun and their three children.

Oliver has extensive experience in policy, advocacy, and community engagement. She served as a congressional aide and communications strategist for U.S. Congressman Jim Cooper, where she focused on voting rights and criminal justice reform and was selected to lead Project Register, a bipartisan voter registration initiative. Additionally she has spoken about addressing the rising cost of living, economic development and infrastructure, supporting older adults, and healthcare access.

ROSSI TURNER

Rossi Turner was born in Nashville. After completing his high school education at Vermont Academy, he returned to Middle Tennessee to get a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Health Education.

Turner has worked as an organizer and an advocate, volunteering with the Boys & Girls Club of Vine Hill and working as a visiting artist. He is an accomplished dancer and has choreographed for the Miss Black Tennessee Pageant and the Dove Awards. He has also taught dance and kinesiology at Fisk University and is a member of the International Association of Blacks in Dance.

This is Turner’s first run for public office. Driven by conversations with his neighbors, he plans to focus on safe and affordable housing, increasing public transportation, investing in public education, and affordable healthcare. His economic platform, An Economy for All of Us, aims to combat the negative impacts of the pandemic and build a strong economy for Tennesseans of every socioeconomic status through policies such as paid leave and childcare subsidies.

LUDYE N. WALLACE

Ludye N. Wallace lives in Nashville. He has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Tennessee State University and is a member of their Alumni Association. He is a former Nashville Metro Councilman, serving for 28 years. He is also a former president of the Nashville NAACP.

During his long tenure on Metro Council he was known for his mastery of the parliamentary process and his advocacy for minorities, as well as his votes against the Metro budget and for increased Council pay. In 2018, he challenged the mayoral election date in Nashville and succeeded in getting it scheduled in May instead of April. He was a candidate in the mayoral race.

Wallace wants to focus on helping all Nashville communities thrive as the city continues to grow. Issues that are important to him include fighting for affordable housing, adopting legislation to combat discrimination against minority and LGBTQ+ communities, increasing the age requirement to purchase firearms, and reforming the criminal justice system. Wallace believes that his experience as Metro Councilman gives him an advantage.

DISTRICT 21

JEFF YARBRO

Jeff Yarbro grew up in Dyersburg, Tenn. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and after college worked on Al Gore’s Presidential campaign. He then received a law degree from the University of Virginia and moved to Nashville. After a clerkship with a federal judge, he practiced law with Bass, Berry, & Sims, focusing on civil and appellate litigation, consumer financial services, constitutional law, and public contracts.

In 2014, Yarbro won election to the Tennessee Senate, representing District 21. He was selected as the Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus in his first term and appointed Senate minority leader in 2018. While in office he has served on the health and welfare, rules, transportation, and safety committees. In addition to his political service, he has served as Casa Azafran’s Capital Campaign Co- Chair, and sat on the board of directors for East End Preparatory School.

Yarbro has spearheaded efforts to expand local health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. His campaign also focuses on increasing affordable housing to decrease homelesssness, reducing recidivism, and providing resources to new mothers.