DISTRICT 8
CRAVEN FOR COMMISSION
PUBLIC EDUCATION. PUBLIC SERVICE. PUBLIC FIRST.
STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Our kids deserve every opportunity we can make available to them. That starts by funding our public schools so our kids can have the academic and wrap-around resources they need. That funding amount is determined by County Commission. During my time on the Oak Ridge Board of Education, I’ve been a part of setting the budget for public schools. And I know how big an impact a strong School Board/County Commission relationship can have to create opportunities for our kids.
Some things I think are particularly important in being a voice for public education in Anderson County for the next 4 years: FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER 1,339 students were served by the Family Resource Center in Anderson County Schools in 2025. That’s almost a quarter of the entire student population. I will be loud voice advocating for more community partnerships, nonprofit collaboration, and finding more ways we can serve student needs. Food insecurity, lack of transportation, domestic violence – our Family Resource Center serves our most vulnerable and they deserve all the help we can give them. IMMIGRANT STUDENTS I believe EVERY child deserves an education. (And the Supreme Court ruled as such in Plyer v. Doe.) I will always fight tirelessly for what is in a child’s best interest, and that is access to free public education. Children – regardless of their citizenship status – deserve a safe and welcoming learning environment. If they’re not in school, where will they be? Having kids in school increases our community stability while giving them the opportunity to build skills that develop college and workforce readiness. We also have an opportunity to grow how we help our families achieve citizenship through education and access to immigration resources. STATE LEGISTLATOR COMMUNICATION Our state legislators need the local government to know when to take a stand and when to ask them to do the same. Most of them have never worked in public education and laws get proposed every year that are detrimental to our kids. We need commissioners who track these bills, communicate to constituents, and who will reach out and let our reps know when something harmful is making its way through the legislature and the impacts it will have on our kids. Joint resolutions from school boards and commission and city council have proven effective at swaying votes with our representative on key issues such as vouchers. As a member of the Oak Ridge Board of Education and an Anderson County Commissioner, I would be uniquely positioned to be an advocate for every single public school student in all of Anderson County. That is an honor I would not take lightly. I will fight for every child – In Oak Ridge,Clinton, and Anderson County - to have every opportunity I want for my own kids.
A STRONG CITY-COUNTY RELATIONSHIP.
General Sessions Courts and EMS
services serve the whole county including Oak Ridge. I want to make sure we maintain
and grow ways to serve ALL of our residents efficiently.
COUNTY TAXES FOR OAK RIDGE RESIDENTS It’s easy to feel insulated within the Oak Ridge city limits from decisions that are made by County Commission. But Oak Ridge residents pay county taxes too and you should know how your money can help you in your district. GENERAL SESSION II COURT Districts 6, 7, and 8 strongly benefit from us maintaining a presence in Oak Ridge and would benefit even further having an advocate on Commission for a Juvenile Court Judge to hold sessions in both Oak Ridge and in the County. EMS SERVICES are the only first responder service that covers the entire county. It is essential to make sure they have the resources they need for the most comprehensive training and the ability to keep response times low.
A VOTE FOR ME IS A VOTE FOR
ANIMAL SHELTER OVERSIGHT
​Coming from the vet industry, I understand the importance of record-keeping, and accountability. Our animals deserve both compassion and safety in transition.
Partnerships with reputable rescue groups can take a lot of strain off an animal shelter. It’s essential that we build and maintain those relationships so we can work together to find homes for our vulnerable animals. Nonprofit rescues are also a valuable resource to help alleviate to cost burden from taxpayers while still operating with the animal’s best interests as the focus. They can do targeting fundraising, help cover high-cost medical bills, sponsor individual animals, and organize adoption events to help reduce overcrowding Volunteers are the backbone of shelters. They deserve our respect and gratitude and an environment they want to give their time and energy to. Oversight is essential to staying in compliance with state regulations, ensuring a safe environment for pets and people, and building trust with the community we serve. My professional position is project management of new veterinary urgent care facilities. That knowledge and experience would be invaluable as a commissioner for a county starting to build a new animal shelter.
A CHAMPION FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
I believe in the right to read. Parental discretion can be achieved without book-banning. Public libraries are government entities and are therefore bound by the First Amendment not to censor materials.
Did you know as an Oak Ridge resident you can get a library card in Anderson County at any (or all!) of the public libraries? They also have an incredible selection of digital materials for Kindle and Audiobook readers though the Libby app. Public libraries are our biggest opportunity for community engagement and assistance. People can use computers and printers to help with job applications. They offer summer reading programs. They are the embodiment of the idea of freedom to access information. So, let’s make MORE information MORE accessible. Make residents more aware of digital content. Of the ability to check out a mobile hotspot for $7/week when they don’t have broadband access. The ESL language database. Let’s offer citizenship test packets. Let’s start making more resources available to homebound individuals. These are all things that can uplift and build community in the process.