Mark Proctor

Mark Proctor's career experience includes working as a business owner.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m running for State Representative because I believe Tennessee needs steady, trusted leadership. The kind that listens before acting and puts people ahead of politics.

For more than 25 years, I had the honor of serving Tennesseans with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, working every day to keep our families safe. I led hundreds of troopers across the state, managed critical divisions, protected three Tennessee governors and served as Captain, Major and LT Colonel over our troopers that protected our legislators and visitors to our TN State Capitol and Legislative offices.

That experience taught me something simple but powerful: leadership is about protecting what matters most — people, families, and the communities we call home.

Now, I’m stepping forward to serve in a new way. To protect those same values at the policy level. I’ve seen firsthand how government decisions affect real people, from school safety to small business regulations to public trust. And I know we can do better when leaders focus on solutions instead of sides.

District 59 deserves a representative who shows up, listens to neighbors, and fights for what makes our communities strong — safe streets, good schools, and a healthy local economy. My goal isn’t to score political points; it’s to bring accountability, compassion, and common sense back into our state government.

I’m running because I’ve spent my life serving others — and I’m not done yet.

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?

Affordable Living

We need practical solutions that lower costs for working families-expanding access to affordable housing, bringing down healthcare and prescription drug costs, and investing in strong public schools so families aren’t stretched thin.

That means supporting responsible development while protecting existing neighborhoods, providing property tax relief for longtime homeowners, especially seniors, and ensuring Tennessee brings back its fair share of federal healthcare dollars.

We should also focus on cutting everyday costs by exploring targeted relief for essentials like groceries, childcare, and utilities, while being responsible with taxpayer dollars.Strong Public Schools

As a dad with two daughters in public schools, this is personal to me. My sister is a public school teacher, so I’ve seen firsthand the impact on educators every day.

Every child deserves a great education, no matter where they live. That means fully funding our public schools, supporting our teachers, and preparing students for real opportunities after graduation.

I oppose efforts to divert funding away from public schools. They are the foundation of our communities and serve the vast majority of Tennessee families. I also recognize that some families use voucher programs. If taxpayer dollars are used anywhere, there must be real accountability, transparency, and clear standards.Public Safety & Gun Safety

I’ve spent my career in law enforcement, and I’ve seen what gun violence does to families and communities. We can respect responsible gun ownership while still taking real steps to prevent tragedies.

I support consistent permitting requirements with meaningful training and vetting, safe storage education, and Extreme Risk Protection Orders that allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others, with strong due process protections.

These are practical, proven steps that save lives. Doing nothing is not a plan, and we owe it to our communities to do better.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Affordable Living

Strong Public Schools

Public Safety & Gun Safety

Women’s Healthcare

Equality & Fairness

Immigration & ICE

Accountable, Common-Sense Leadership

Support for Small Businesses & Local Economy

Community-Focused Leadership

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Former Gov. Phil Bredesen: "I’m proud to support him, and I believe he’ll be a strong, constructive voice for District 59."

TN State House Rep. Caleb Hemmer: “Mark Proctor is the right person to continue representing our community. I’m confident he will... work every day to deliver real results for the families of District 59.”

Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry

Former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean

Former US Congressman Bob Clement

TN State House Rep. Vincent Dixie Dist. 54

Rachael Anne Elrod, MNPS School Board Dist. 2

Zach Young, MNPS School Board Dist. 3

Erin O'Hara Block, MNPS School Board Dist. 8

Metro Councilmember Mike Cortese Dist. 4

Metro Councilmember Jason Spain Dist. 35

Metro Councilmember John Rutherford Dist. 31

Note: Proctor submitted the above survey responses to [the profile publisher] on May 5, 2026.

Show past responsesHide past responses

May 4 submission

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m running for State Representative because I believe Tennessee needs steady, trusted leadership. The kind that listens before acting and puts people ahead of politics.

For more than 25 years, I had the honor of serving Tennesseans with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, working every day to keep our families safe.

I led hundreds of troopers across the state, managed critical divisions, protected three Tennessee governors and served as Captain, Major and LT Colonel over our troopers that protected our legislators and visitors to our TN State Capitol and Legislative offices.

That experience taught me something simple but powerful: leadership is about protecting what matters most — people, families, and the communities we call home.

Now, I’m stepping forward to serve in a new way.

To protect those same values at the policy level. I’ve seen firsthand how government decisions affect real people, from school safety to small business regulations to public trust. And I know we can do better when leaders focus on solutions instead of sides.

District 59 deserves a representative who shows up, listens to neighbors, and fights for what makes our communities strong — safe streets, good schools, and a healthy local economy. My goal isn’t to score political points; it’s to bring accountability, compassion, and common sense back into our state government.

I’m running because I’ve spent my life serving others — and I’m not done yet.

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?

Affordable Living

We need practical solutions that lower costs for working families-expanding access to affordable housing, bringing down healthcare and prescription drug costs, and investing in strong public schools so families aren’t stretched thin.

That means supporting responsible development while protecting existing neighborhoods, providing property tax relief for longtime homeowners, especially seniors, and ensuring Tennessee brings back its fair share of federal healthcare dollars.

We should also focus on cutting everyday costs by exploring targeted relief for essentials like groceries, childcare, and utilities, while being responsible with taxpayer dollars.Strong Public Schools

As a dad with two daughters in public schools, this is personal to me. My sister is a public school teacher, so I’ve seen firsthand the impact on educators every day. Every child deserves a great education, no matter where they live. That means fully funding our public schools, supporting our teachers, and preparing students for real opportunities after graduation.

I oppose efforts to divert funding away from public schools. They are the foundation of our communities and serve the vast majority of Tennessee families. I also recognize that some families use voucher programs. If taxpayer dollars are used anywhere, there must be real accountability, transparency, and clear standards.Public Safety & Gun Safety

I’ve spent my career in law enforcement, and I’ve seen what gun violence does to families and communities. We can respect responsible gun ownership while still taking real steps to prevent tragedies. I support consistent permitting requirements with meaningful training and vetting, safe storage education, and Extreme Risk Protection Orders that allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others, with strong due process protections. These are practical, proven steps that save lives. Doing nothing is not a plan, and we owe it to our communities to do better.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Affordable Living

Strong Public Schools

Public Safety & Gun Safety

Women’s Healthcare

Equality & Fairness

Immigration & ICE

Accountable, Common-Sense Leadership

Support for Small Businesses & Local Economy

Community-Focused Leadership

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Former Gov. Phil Bredesen

"I’m proud to support him, and I believe he’ll be a strong, constructive voice for District 59."

TN State House Rep. Caleb Hemmer

“Mark Proctor is the right person to continue representing our community. I’m confident he will put people over politics and work every day to deliver real results for the families of District 59.”

Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry

TN State House Rep. Vincent Dixie District 54

Rachael Anne Elrod, MNPS School Board District 2

Zach young, MNPS School Board District 3

Erin O'Hara Block, MNPS School Board District 8

Metro Councilmember Mike Cortese District 4

Metro Councilmember Jason Spain District 35

Metro Councilmember John Rutherford District 31