MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As Memphians head to the polls on Election Day, one of the races to watch is for Tennessee House of Representatives District 83.
Republican incumbent Rep. Mark White is taking on Noah Nordstrom for the post.
White’s Platform
According to Rep. White’s website, his focus is on the following issues:
- Crime
- Highlights his vote for the Truth in Sentencing law which require violent criminals to serve out their entire sentence
- Support of blended sentencing, allowing judges to set sentences for violent juvenile offenders in a juvenile facility, then another in an adult facility when they turn 19.
- Support for Tennessee Highway Troopers in Memphis to assist MPD
- Economy
- Says Tennessee is ranked top for fiscal stability and lowest debt per person and has best public pension system
- Says “prudent fiscal leadership” to the reason for state’s economic stability
- Says “fiscal restraint” allowed for reduction of sales tax on groceries and abolishing death tax
- Says they cut red tape and reduce taxes for small businesses to allow for more jobs.
- Health Care
- Says he respects “doctor-patient relationships” and will work to keep government from interfering in decisions between patient and provider. (Note: According to VoteSmart.org, White voted in favor of prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors, prohibiting gender-altering medical procedures for minors, and has voted in previous years in favor of strict abortion restrictions.)
- Education
- A former teacher and principal, White says fought to increase K-12 funding and teacher pay
- Backed vocation and technical training for high school students
- Supported funding for increased school security
Nordstrom’s Platform
According to Nordstrom’s website, his focus is on the following:
- Education
- As a teacher, he opposes school vouchers
- Wants to secure more funding for schools and higher pay for teachers
- Supports Universal Pre-K, early reading programs, and trade programs for students
- Crime
- Supports safe storage laws and universal background checks for guns
- Wants to relocate TBI crime lab back to Memphis from Jackson
- Supports creation of universal mentorship program in schools “to prevent our youth from choosing lives of violence and crime.”
- Other
- Wants to stop government overreach
- Wants to protect reproductive freedom
- Return power to local governments from state overreach
