Hilary Trudell

Hilary Trudell earned a high school diploma from Bearden High School and a bachelor's degree from the College of Charleston in 2004. Her career experience includes working as a nonprofit professional.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a mother, proud East Tennessean, and life-long public servant. I have spent my career serving communities, bringing people together, and standing up for civil liberties. I have worked across the country training community leaders, teaching future public servants, and leading organizations that build bridges across differences by finding common ground. Throughout my life, I have learned that we make real progress when we listen to each other, respect the dignity of others, and have the courage to stand up for our values.

I grew up in East Tennessee. My husband and I chose to return here to raise our son near the mountains, communities, and people we love. I chose to run for Tennessee House District 8 because I am concerned about the Tennessee my son—and all of our kids—will inherit.

The political decisions being made too often only benefit special interest groups and the uber wealthy. I am running to protect our public schools, support working families, and make sure everyone has a voice in the decisions that affect our lives.

We are in a time of great division in our country. This is a time for leaders who will show up, listen to a variety of different viewpoints, and work across our differences to build a better future for all of us.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

No School Voucher Expansion. TN politicians have determined that $1 BILLION in taxpayer money be allocated to school vouchers, yet the majority of households that accept vouchers already send their kids to private schools. So, instead of investing in our public schools, we are paying wealthy families to send their kids elsewhere. I am adamantly against any expansion of the voucher system in Blount County. It is a gross misuse of taxpayer money. Public dollars are being sent to private institutions and taxpayers do not have any say in how these private schools operate; there is no public oversight. We should be investing in our public schools so that they are strong, competitive institutions that receive the support of their community.Stop Data Center Construction. Data centers are being quickly built in communities before anyone has time to regulate them. This puts our jobs, environment, and resources at great risk. Everyone who lives here deserves a say in how we grow. We will let politicians in Nashville know that Blount County is not for sale by working to stop the development of all new data centers until stricter regulations - including job protection - are in place.Repeal the Grocery Tax. Tennessee is one of only 13 states with a tax on groceries. Our grocery tax rate is the 6th highest in the nation. This puts the heaviest burden on low-income households that spend a higher portion of their income on taxes in Tennessee than any other group. We all deserve to be able to feed our families. I will work to repeal the grocery tax, so that those who call Blount County "home" are not only able to survive - they are able to thrive.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am incredibly passionate about investing in public education. I don't believe any child should have a inferior education because of their zip code or their parents' income. We should invest in public education so that ALL children get the education they deserve.

I am passionate about healthcare. We should expand TennCare so that all people have access to comprehensive healthcare and no one has to go without. Further, the maternal mortality rates in this state are incredibly troubling. We need to work together to ensure that women giving birth in the Volunteer State have the support and care they need.

I am adamantly against data centers being built in communities without input or regulation. We deserve full transparency on this front.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I believe honesty, integrity, respect for others, and humility are incredibly important characteristics for an elected official.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I believe the core responsibilities of this office are to listen to the concerns, needs, and hopes of my constituents, work to find the best solution for all Tennesseans, and break down barriers of division to create more unity within our state.