Rep. Dan Howell files his qualifying papers as he announces his intention to seek another term as District 22 representative
Rep. Dan Howell (R-Georgetown) has announced his decision to seek re-election to the 22nd District seat of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing all of Meigs and Polk counties and the majority of Bradley County.
“It has been a distinct honor to represent the families of our community and to carry your voices to the State House,” said Rep. Howell. “Thanks to the encouragement from my constituents and after thoughtful discussions with my family and loved ones, I am once again declaring my candidacy for the Republican nomination for state representative.”
Rep. Howell currently serves as a member of the House Local Government Committee and Subcommittee, as well as the Government Operations Committee.
Campaign officials said, "In his short time in Nashville, he has already moved up the ranks to become a leader of his party, helping champion conservative reforms in the legislature and guide landmark Republican legislation to passage in the House. Recently he was appointed a deputy whip of the Republican Caucus."
Rep. Howell said, “Tennessee continues to serve as a national model for the kind of success that commonsense conservative policy making can accomplish. Thanks to our Republican majority’s bold record of cutting taxes, rolling back burdensome regulations, reigning in government spending, and fighting against Washington overreach in our schools and healthcare, our state stands as one of the country’s top destination for new businesses and jobs.”
Rep. Howell and his wife Beverlee, who is a retired public school teacher, have been married four years and attend First Baptist Church of Cleveland. Together they have five children and seven grandchildren. He spent his professional career in media and accepted the position of executive assistant to the Bradley County mayor after leaving the anchor desk at Fox 61 News in Chattanooga. After retiring from the County mayor's office, he was elected to the District 22 seat and first took office on Sept. 1, 2014.
Since being elected, Rep. Howell "has consistently worked to fulfill promises made and to meet requests from constituents on ways to improve state government," it was stated.
Specific bills sponsored by Rep. Howell from this year’s legislative session include:
· House Bill 1545 — Known as The HOPE Act, this bill increases the penalty for welfare fraud, helping to ensure these programs remain viable for those who need them most instead of being abused by fraudsters. The bill continues to work its way through the Legislature.
House Bill 1940 -- Co-sponsor of this bill that requires greater financial accountability from the Department of Human Services.
· House Bill 1840 — Critical in protecting the First Amendment rights of licensed, faith-based counselors in private practice in Tennessee. This bill is in response to a recently revised "code of ethics" passed by the American Counseling Association which denies these counselors their religious liberty and freedom of speech.
House Bill 1416 — The Slowpoke Law is Legislation designed to cut down on congested traffic and increase safety on Tennessee interstates, this legislation restricts slow drivers from continuously driving in the far left passing lane and impeding the normal flow of traffic. Research shows such laws do increase the flow of traffic, help increase safety on busy roads, and cut down on the occurrence of traffic jams on major highways and interstates.
Rep. Howell has also sponsored several private acts in the 109th General Assembly that he said will have a positive impact upon his district.
On why he is seeking re-election, Rep. Howell pointed to his plans for future legislative sessions: “It is imperative that our state continues to uphold the conservative reforms that have helped us see such remarkable progress, both economically and educationally, over the last several years. As we see our state improving on a variety of fronts, there is still much work to be done. I remain committed to partnering with my colleagues in the General Assembly to ensure our community continues to be the very best place to live, start a business, and raise a family in the entire nation.”