A Democrat will be in the race for State Representative in the 46th district this year.
Amelia Hipps of Lebanon announced her candidacy during the DeKalb County Democratic Mass Meeting Saturday at the DCHS Cafeteria. She plans to seek the Democratic nomination in August for the seat now held by Republican Incumbent Mark Pody of Lebanon. Pody is also seeking re-nomination by the GOP in August.
The qualifying deadline is April 7.
The race will be decided in the November General Election.
Hipps is currently a part time public information officer for the Wilson County School System and she has been involved in the newspaper business.
“My husband and I moved here 10 years ago when I took over the job as the managing editor of the Lebanon Democrat. I spent a little over 25 years in the newspaper business as editor and reporter at small community newspapers throughout the southeast including Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. I left about four years ago. We started our own business covering the General Assembly for small community papers that couldn’t afford to send somebody up there. I also covered the General Assembly for TNReport.com and I have also worked for the other newspaper in Lebanon The Wilson Post covering the General Assembly and county government. I got out of all of it when the opportunity came up to go to work for the school system which is what I do now. I am the Public Information Officer on a part time basis for Wilson County Schools. I also do publicity for a couple of other clients,” said Hipps.
After passing up an opportunity to run two years ago, Hipps decided in January to get in the race this year. “In January I decided the time was right. This is the time to go do it. I am here to tell you I am here to win. We need more Democrats in the General Assembly. We need a balance of voices in the General Assembly,” she said.
Hipps criticized Republicans in the State Legislature for lack of attention to local issues. “Your tax dollars pay their salaries. When they spend most of their time dealing with issues that don’t have to do with the 46th district, simply passing resolutions on national issues to support the national party, do you think that’s good use of your tax dollars? I want to change that,” she said.
“I want to listen to you. I can’t make you a promise that every legislative endeavor I will 100% succeed at. That’s unrealistic. But what I can promise you is I will be your voice for the residents of DeKalb County who are in the 46th district. The things you need to move your county forward I will be your voice at the General Assembly if you will elect me. I ask you to come out and work with me. Let’s get some more Democrats in the House,” Hipps concluded.
The 46th district includes all of Cannon County and a portion of Wilson and DeKalb Counties.