Age: 44
Occupation: Small Business Owner & Attorney
Residence: Knoxville
Family: Married, two children.
Education: B.A. University of Tennessee, J.D. University of Memphis
Previous Public Office Experience: N/A
Church or Civic Involvement: Pro-bono legal services to those in need in the Knoxville area, advisory board for the Junior League of Knoxville, Founded an Entrepreneur Center to help people get their businesses off the ground who would otherwise not have access to legal services.
Achievements: Peer reviewed as a “Top Attorney” in several categories as published in Knoxville Cityview Magazine, in the categories of Consumer Protection, Real Estate Development and Financing Law, Business/Commercial Law, and Sports and Entertainment Law. Licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Tennessee, United States Tax Court and United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee. Author of The Art & Science of Negotiation; Business Law: Representing the Whole Client; and Getting it Right When it Counts – Crisis Management and Critical Decision Making.
What is the biggest challenge facing the office you are seeking, and how would you address it?
Just because the corruption is legalized does not make it any less corrupt. The “Big Money” takeover of the American system is the epicenter of what is wrong with our country. The fact of the matter is that issues of economic inequality, inability to address climate change, inability to reform Wall Street, inability to fund a comprehensive veterans bill, or pass a jobs bill stems from the fact that the game is rigged in favor of Wall Street and against Main Street.
We must first end Citizens United, pass meaningful campaign finance reform that eliminates Super PACs, dark money and unlimited contributions. Common sense tells you that corporations are not people and money is not speech. Once we take our democracy back from the corporations, billionaires and special interests we can give the middle class a much needed a tax cut, overhaul our infrastructure, and take care of our veterans.
Why should voters choose you?
This election is for the heart and soul of the Democratic Party in the State of Tennessee. There are three multimillionaires in the U.S. Senate race but only one veteran. This is so in an era where there are more millionaires and fewer veterans than at any time since World War II. A vote for our campaign is a vote for the future, to get “Big Money” out of politics, to address economic inequality, to fight climate change, and to stand up for veterans. I will work to rebuild the middle class and fight for Tennessee jobs. I will fight to raise the minimum wage, pass the Fair Pay Act and for student loan reform. I will also hold the Governor’s feet to the fire until Tennessee expands Medicaid. A vote for Terry Adams is a vote for working class leadership.