Dedicated Leadership for Sumner County

Hello friends of District 17 — and beyond,

I know the past couple of weeks have been difficult for many Tennesseans. Many of you have expressed disappointment with members of our legislative body, and I share your frustration.

The mid-cycle redistricting changed Tennessee's congressional representation from an 8–1 Republican advantage to a 9–0 advantage. As a result, the state lost its last Democratic congressional seat, which was in Memphis.

Sumner County was also significantly affected by this remapping. Most of the county was moved from the 6th Congressional District to the 7th District, leaving many unanswered questions and creating understandable confusion among Sumner County residents.

But there is good news — and we should celebrate it.

Democratic voters showed up in force during the primaries. In Sumner County alone, Democratic voter turnout increased by an incredible 93%. Even more encouraging, every suburban county surrounding Davidson County saw an increase in Democratic voter participation.

This is our moment. We have a unique opportunity to bring meaningful change to our communities. We need elected officials who will represent everyone — not just the majority.

Do not let culture wars distract from the issues that truly matter. We are a nation made up of many voices, backgrounds, and perspectives, and it is the responsibility of elected officials to serve us all.

Now is the time to get informed, get involved, and volunteer. Our candidates need your support.

We are a force for change — and together, change is exactly what we will bring.

— Kay Lokey
Candidate for District 17 County Commissioner

While phone banking the other night—for those who may not know, phone banking is when I call potential voters to introduce myself and share my platform—I had a conversation that stayed with me.

Typically, these calls are made to voters who are likely Democrats, which can make the conversations a little easier. My second call of the evening started out like any other. I introduced myself and asked if he would be willing to give me a few minutes to share my vision for Sumner County. He graciously agreed.

I walked through the seven priorities that I believe can improve life in our county. He listened attentively and even agreed with several of my points along the way. After a few minutes, I asked how likely he would be to support my candidacy.

His response surprised me: "Not likely."

I thanked him for his honesty and asked if he would mind sharing his concerns. He kindly replied, "Please don't take this personally. I like everything you said except rent control. I just don't understand Democrats, and I wouldn't vote for one."

At that moment, I realized something important. This gentleman had given me his time, listened respectfully, and engaged thoughtfully with my ideas. The least I could do was offer that same respect in return.

I thanked him sincerely for hearing me out and for sharing his perspective. He told me he appreciated that I was personally calling voters, explaining my platform, and taking the time to listen to people. I thanked him again and told him how grateful I was for the opportunity to share my vision and hear his thoughts.

That brief conversation reinforced something I've believed for a long time: Democrats and Republicans often have more in common than we think. We may disagree on some policies, but many of us share the same hopes for our communities—affordability, responsible growth, safe neighborhoods, and a high quality of life. We all want a government that listens, responds, and works on behalf of the people it serves.

I won't promise to solve every problem. What I can promise is that I will listen. I will listen respectfully, without bias, and work to address concerns as fairly and thoughtfully as I can. I believe government should be fiscally responsible, while also recognizing that sometimes people need a helping hand to get through difficult times.

As we move forward, I hope we can spend less time focusing on the labels that divide us and more time focusing on the values that bring us together.

Let's do this, Sumner County District 17. By working together, tackling tough issues, and showing compassion and respect for one another, we can build an even stronger community for everyone.

— Kay Lokey
Candidate for District 17 County Commissioner