A little about me-
I have proudly called Putnam County home since 1994. My husband, Michael, and I raised our three children in this community. Active members of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Michael and I believe in service, accountability, and stewardship. I have been a licensed Tennessee attorney since 2000, so I bring more than 25 years of legal experience and strategic problem-solving to the table. I currently work for a national healthcare company operating hospitals in 20 states, where I have developed expertise in governance, compliance, budgeting (in the millions of dollars), and public accountability. I have served on nonprofit governing boards for historic sites, my church, and local civic organizations. Service is in my nature.
My why-
In August 2025, I made the decision to run for County Commissioner after recognizing the growing housing affordability crisis in Putnam County. The 2024 US census ranked Putnam County at 18.4% poverty rate. The State of Tennessee estimates Putnam County, as of 2025, to have a poverty rate of 16.9%, with 21.4% of our children living in poverty.[1] Compare these numbers to a national poverty rate of about 10.6% in total, with 14.3% for children.[2] I believe that our local government can and should be doing more to address these embarrassing statistics. It is time for renewed energy and leadership that ensures every resident—regardless of income or background—has a voice in local government.
[2] www2.census.gov/library/publications/2025/demo/p60-287.pdf
How I plan to improve the Commission-
After attending 7 of the past 10 county commission meetings, I am concerned about the lack of transparency in local government. Committee meetings are held immediately prior to the monthly commission sessions (with their recommendations already placed on the agenda as a foregone conclusion), budget amendments receive little discussion, and agenda items frequently omit key details. Citizens are often left to file public records requests after meetings just to understand how decisions were made. One specific example is where the commission approved the County Clerk’s expenditure to purchase 27 office chairs for $29,000, after the county received a $3,000-credit for the trade-in value of the existing office chairs. There was no discussion, no questioning of the competitive bidding process, and no verification of the need for such expensive office chairs. I have never been a “yes” person. I have experience questioning decisions and advocating for change when necessary. I promise to bring my expertise in service as your next District 2 Commissioner.