He promises to shine a light on the issues of healthcare, affordable housing, and other local problems facing our neighbors. I have had connections with McMinn County since 1984 when I joined the Athens Community Theater while living in Knoxville. Marrying Kathryn Hunter, who worked out of Etowah, solidified my connections here. Since then, we have lived in this county on and off, helping Kathryn’
s parents in California and working overseas in between. While living here, I worked as an occupational therapist at Life Care Athens, the former Woods Hospital, and Guardian Home Health. Kathryn and I have lived and worked in 7 different countries in Africa, Asia and South America where I cared for people with disabilities, but we always came back to our home base in McMinn County. Currently I am retired and dedicating my life to volunteering to help the people of the 23rd District. I repair the homes of needy people at no cost with Helping Hands Ministry, build affordable housing with Habitat for Humanity of McMinn County, facilitate in the provision of assistance following house fires with Red Cross, support public education with McMinn Neighbors, help distribute free food at Grace House food pantry, and lobby for legislation addressing climate change with Citizens Climate Lobby. I spent 2 weeks in Louisiana helping those affected by hurricanes with Red Cross and I mentor Occupational Therapists in developing countries. I come from a family of public servants; my father was mayor of Pleasant Hill near Crossville and my grandfather founded a hospital in China which is still operating today. I am a Quaker; the importance of helping those in need is an essential part of my Quaker beliefs. My volunteer and work experiences have given me a deep understanding of the challenges facing McMinn County residents and the urgent need to address some of these problems. I look forward during this campaign to meeting residents of the portion of Monroe county in this district and learning more about issues they face.
