2006

With the help of New Path, I won the race for Memphis City School Board with over 50% of the votes, avoiding an anticipated run-off election between myself and the incumbent to the District. We defeated two opponents, including the incumbent! I am proud of our clean, well run campaign, and I am grateful to the New Path Team for providing the necessary talent and expertise to help me win. From our initial meeting, I was impressed with this group of young professionals, and their commitment to positive change for our community. They have a refreshing and hopeful outlook for the future of Memphis and they seek out others who share their vision. Their high ideals and passion for excellence inspires the same from others. I am privileged to have worked with the New Path Team, and I am honored to now call them my friends.

Mere words cannot adequately express my gratitude for all of New Path’s encouragement, support and help during my campaign for Memphis City School Board Commissioner. I am appreciative of everything you did to help bring this to a positive conclusion. I know that New Path was an integral part of the success encountered. I want to encourage the organization and it’s members to continue your endeavors to help those of us who want to make a positive change.
Together we can do it!
I will make you proud of all of your hard work and efforts contributed to my campaign. I will also call upon you for assistance. I love you all and I will continue to keep you in my prayers that each of you will fulfill your purpose and destiny in the Lord Jesus Christ!

You could put in a sewing thimble what I knew about running a campaign, yet through the efforts and support of New Path I was provided with the tools to run a phenomenal campaign. I learned so much from the various members of the organization. Their knowledge level of campaign etiquette, networking, and the issues was impressive and unparalleled. New Path gave me the strength to cope with the rigors of the campaign and the hope that I could make a difference. They were the antithesis of everything that you hear about organizations that run political races. They were supportive, knowledgeable and encouraging with a strong sense of integrity. New Path is a bright light of hope for politics. It gives individuals like me, who are not professional politicians but concerned citizens, an opportunity to venture into the political arena and make a difference. It provides education to citizens, again like me, who want to know more and help bring about positive change. At the risk of sounding corny to many, I can truly say that New Path was a gift from God for me and my campaign.

When I was first contacted by New Path, I really didn’t know what to expect. My only knowledge of New Path was what I had heard about Tomeka Hart’s campaign. Here I was, a Republican running in East Memphis, being contacted by New Path for a possible endorsement. I decided to meet with this group to see what they had to say, but I assure you , I was skeptical. A funny thing happened in that meeting. I found out that I had more in common with New Path that I could have ever imagined, particularly our common desire to make Memphis and Shelby County a better place to live. Who knew that one meeting could change so many things….I had been campaigning for the County Commission for over 10 months, and my volunteers and I were beginning to run out of steam. We were running a campaign against a well financed opponent, and we were growing frustrated by the day. You could not put a price tag on the energy, finances, and political knowledge that New Path interjected into my campaign. Although I did not get more votes than my opponent, there is no doubt that New Path turned my campaign into a resounding success. I am so blessed to be associated with this group of outstanding young professionals that just want what is best for our community. In the process, I have not only gained political allies, but friends for life.