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Profession: I am the Vice President of CONCORD Professional Services. CONCORD is a services firm supporting the government agencies such as the DoD, VA, DOE, etc. I have over twenty years of successful experience supporting non-profits, government agencies, and the commercial sector in economic development, training, educational initiatives, and job placement.
Education: BS in Management with master’s work in Urban Planning and Public Administration
Family: I live in Kingston with my wife Esther, a researcher at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and lifelong Democrat, and our two children Levi age 7 and Avery age 5. We are members of Morrison Hill Christian Church. My parents, Eddie and Joan Parish are lifelong residents of Kingston having retired from ORNL and the State of Tennessee’s Health Department.
Organizations: Board Member (Governor appointed), State of Tennessee Workforce Development Board, Vice-Chair, Strategic Planning, 2005 – Present; working on career training and job opportunities for the State and local region.
Local WIA #04 & Youth Council (covering Morgan County), 2005 – Present
Appointed by the Tennessee Commissioner of Health and Human Services to the Tennessee Technology Access Program Statewide Advisory Committee, this committee works with disabled people and their families to provide them with the tools that they need to live independent, productive lives where and how they choose, 2009 – Present
Member, State of Tennessee Taskforce for Health Science Education Standards, 2004
Co-Chair, Big South Fork P-16 Council working on educational issues, 2006 - 2009
Member, Government Relations Committee, East Tennessee Environment Business Association, 2003 – Present
Member, Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer, Education & Training Committee, 2005 – Present
Member, State of Tennessee Taskforce for Health Science Education Standards, 2004
Member, Roane State Community College, Environmental Health Advisory Board, 1994 – Present
Member, Tusculum College, Advisory Committee, 2005 – 2007
Board Member (elected), Rural Health Association of Tennessee, 2002-2003
Experience: I have been a life-long resident of the 12th District, as well as a hard working Democrat during my 40 years of life.
I am the Past Chair of the Roane County Democratic Party. I currently serve on the County Party's Executive Committee (supporting the party in a key advisory role from my past political experience). I have worked on numerous critical campaigns in roles such as Campaign Manager to grassroots organizing and door canvassing.
For several years I co-hosted the local democratic TV political talk show “The Point” that aired on BBB Communications Channel 12 in Morgan County. That show gave me the opportunity to listen to and talk with the people of the district about what concerned them.
As evidence by my hard work for the Democratic Party, I was presented with the Statewide Young Democrats Award by the Tennessee Democratic Party and Chair in the mid-1990s.
Earlier this year, I launched an Exploratory Committee considering a run for the 3rd Congressional District to replace Zack Wamp after the Democratic Party was left without a candidate following Paula Flowers' departure. I have now endorsed a candidate in that race to carry on that fight, but was not willing for the Democratic Party to simply concede the seat without a competitive choice for the voters.
I am a strong believer in responsible government with good elected representation. I have even taken this fight of responsible government to City Hall on behalf of the people. In 2005, I tried to hold the City of Kingston’s taxes in line when out of control city leaders proposed a massive 25% tax increase, due to unbridled spending and lack of constraint. Even though entrenched politicians won that fight, my resolve was tested making he stronger for any and all political and campaign fights to represent the people of the 12th District.
Why Running: I believe that my outward passion is an advantage that will allow me to be a great representative for the Democratic Party and for the 12th District as I seek to represent the interests of “every” county in the district. My passion also comes with by desire to be a servant for the people of the 12th District.
I will bring to this seat a clear strategic understanding of the district in addition to my accomplished background of supporting the Democratic Party and our Democratic issues.
I will represent the 12th District at the State Party to ensure that we have a strong statewide infrastructure to win elections - in a proactive, strategic, and planned approach. I will help support the 12th District’s county parties’ events, strategies, and basic communication across the district so we can support each other as I totally understand that resources are slim with resources getting even slimmer. I have been a County Party Chair and understand the challenges.
I have the business, organizational and fund raising experience that is needed both in government and for the State Party. I have experience growing revenues for local companies and the economy and working to create win-win public-private partnerships. I have experience organizing large successful events and raising money.
Top Issue Beliefs: 1. Accessibility of the 12th District Executive Committee members
The Democratic Executive Committee members must be accessible and visible in the 12th District. The Executive Committeeman must be engaged with the local democratic parties across the 12th District. The 12th District has not always had Executive Committee members that were accessible. I will change that. I will be accessible.
2. Encouragement the Involvement of the People in Government
The Democratic Executive Committeeman must be engaged and understand the politics of the district. I will continue to seek a strong understanding the politics of the district and will continue to be engaged. I will help recruit new leaders to the party to fight for good governmental policies and our citizens.
I will encourage strong participation by the Young Democrats throughout the 12th District as our future leaders that can make a difference today. The Young Democrats that I grew up with and mentored over the past 20 years have now become the leaders of their communities and the Democratic Party. They are making positive things happen for the State and the Democratic Party. I have seen the excitement and enthusiasm on the younger generation and will strive to facilitate that even more.
3. Solid Government Policies that strive to be responsible to the People
Economy and Job Creation:
I have a long history of working to help create a strong regional economy. I am a two-term Governor Bredesen-appointed member of the State’s Workforce Development Board, where I served as the Vice Chair of Strategic Planning. I was also one of the key personnel for the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee. This organization worked to create regional jobs through using old Oak Ridge government buildings and equipment to spur growth of private automotive, transportation and technology companies in East Tennessee. I will continue to support improvements in the economy through the role of the 12th District Executive Committeeman as we set State Party policies and recruit candidates.
Education:
On the topic of education, I have been a leader in pushing for technical education and career planning. I have worked with a coalition of companies and unions aligning educational opportunities with career paths in the energy, industry, and construction sectors across the State. I have also served as Co-Chair of the P-16 Education Council developing communication strategies to keep kids in school from preschool through the completion of the college degree with school directors and the President of Roane State. One of the educational projects that I helped initiated was recently listed by UT and the Southern Growth Policy Board as one of the State’s best youth initiatives. Over twenty years ago, I helped found a long-lasting Pre-Engineering Program that partly paved the way for hands-on technology education. In addition, I have worked as an Education Program Manager with the Oak Ridge Associated Universities supporting educational initiatives. I will continue to support improvements in the educational system through the role of the 12th District Executive Committeeman as we set State Party policies and recruit candidates.
Health Care:
On the topic of health care, I have actually helped in a small way change health legislation in Tennessee. In 2003, I worked with the Rural Health Association of Tennessee, the largest rural health association in the country at that time. As a member of the Government Relations Committee, I worked on strategies to bring health care to rural areas of Tennessee through recruiting doctor and nurses, and by improving technology. As the East Tennessee Organizer for the Campaign for a Healthy and Responsible Tennessee, I was instrumental in the successful anti-tobacco fight—the fight that led to subsequent legislative changes like smoke-free restaurants—through a coalition of the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, and the March of Dimes. In 2004, I served on the Tennessee Taskforce that established the Health Science educational standards for statewide high school curriculum. I will continue to support improvements in the health care system through the role of the 12th District Executive Committeeman as we set State Party policies and recruit candidates.
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