SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. — Residents gathered at Koffee Broz in Springfield last month for a town hall meeting hosted by the Robertson County Democratic Party, where Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Jerri Green discussed issues she believes are most important to voters across the state.
Green, a member of the Memphis City Council and candidate for governor, addressed a range of topics during the event, including voting rights, education, healthcare, economic concerns and voter engagement.
During her remarks, Green criticized actions taken by the Tennessee General Assembly following a Supreme Court decision involving the Voting Rights Act. She argued that a special legislative session was used to approve new congressional district maps that altered political representation in Tennessee, including changes affecting Memphis.
Green said conversations with voters across Tennessee have revealed concerns about rising costs and access to essential services. Among the issues she cited were grocery prices, public education, job creation, healthcare access and fuel costs.
According to Green, many Tennesseans are seeking new leadership and policies that address the challenges facing working families.
“People are looking for leaders that have some compassion, that have some heart—in addition to brains,” Green said. “In addition to a brain and a heart, people are aching for leaders with a backbone. People who are willing to stand up to Donald Trump.”
Green highlighted several accomplishments from her tenure on the Memphis City Council, including efforts related to wages for workers and opposition to tax increases. She also discussed ongoing work with fellow council members on legislation addressing paid leave for Memphis residents.
The candidate emphasized the importance of voter registration and grassroots organizing, saying strong voter participation will be critical in upcoming elections. She pointed to recent voter turnout trends she believes indicate growing engagement among Democratic voters in parts of Tennessee.
Green also outlined several priorities she would pursue if elected governor. She said, would be appointing experienced professionals to leadership positions within state government, including education and health officials with direct expertise in their respective fields.
She also proposed using Tennessee Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to help address medical debt, reduce waiting lists for child care assistance and provide additional housing and rental support for families in need.
On education, Green pledged to seek the repeal of Tennessee’s school voucher program and increase investment in public schools. She said her administration would work to raise teacher salaries and improve support for educators across the state.
Healthcare was another major focus of the discussion. Green said she supports accepting federal Medicaid expansion funding and using those resources to strengthen Tennessee’s healthcare system and help keep rural hospitals open.
She also advocated eliminating Tennessee’s grocery tax, proposing to offset the lost revenue by rolling back tax breaks that she says primarily benefit large corporations and wealthy business owners.
The town hall provided attendees an opportunity to hear directly from the candidate and ask questions about issues affecting their communities as the race for Tennessee governor continues to take shape.
