This is my home, and you are my neighbor; together, we can build a strong, thriving future.
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VoteKathyLennon
Our Shared Priorities
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Meet Kathy
Kathy Lennon is a passionate advocate with a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to service. With a background in education and community leadership, Kathy has dedicated herself to making a positive impact in Hamilton County.
Kathy lives in Red Bank with her husband, John. A lifelong resident of Tennessee, she is a genuine leader who uses compassion, knowledge, and acceptance to find and create solutions and real-world compromises that benefit communities.
Show Your Support
Adequate School Funding
Every child in Tennessee deserves a high-quality education that prepares them for a successful future. Yet, Tennessee consistently ranks in the bottom ten nationwide for education funding per student.
Kathy will work to ensure
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Our neighborhood schools receive their share of state funding, and the state funding is more adequate to meet the needs of our growing community.
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Tennesseans hard-earned dollars, making sure our public funds go to our public schools - not private corporations.
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Local School districts have more “Home Rule” because what works in one school district may not be the right fit for another.
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Educators are elevated and respected. They are well-trained, well-paid, and have the resources to safeguard our schools for future generations.
Balanced Economic Growth
Corporations should not have more economic growth opportunities than hardworking Tennesseans. We must build on our economic growth and provide opportunities for all residents. Kathy’s business and community advocacy background gives her a solid foundation for understanding economic issues.
Kathy supports
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Construction initiatives for affordable housing.
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Cutting red tape for small businesses.
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Recruiting new companies to the district creates new jobs and economic growth for our neighbors.
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Prioritizing policies that ensure every worker earns a livable wage.
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Investing in roads and other infrastructure to support growth.
Kathy is dedicated to creating a thriving economy that works for everyone by expanding job opportunities, investing in workforce development, and supporting small businesses.
HealthCare that Works
Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege, for every individual in Tennessee. However, our state legislature has turned down funding for Medicaid, making it more difficult and costly for hardworking Tennessee families to obtain the care they need to get and remain healthy. Kathy is committed to protecting Tennesseans' health and well-being, from improving access to mental health services to legalizing medical cannabis.
Kathy is committed to
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Ensure that a woman's healthcare decisions are guided by her healthcare professional, not politicians.
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Expanding Medicaid which will bring millions of dollars into Tennessee's economy and give working families more healthcare options.
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Investing in Community Mental Health Resources.
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Supporting access to medical cannabis.
Safer Communities
Communities flourish when everyone feels secure and valued. However, according to a 2023 report from the Tennessee Department of Health, firearms are the leading cause of death for children in Tennessee, with 1 in 4 child deaths tied to guns. Kathy supports common-sense gun laws that prioritize public safety while respecting the Second Amendment rights of responsible gun owners.
Kathy Supports
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Repealing the 2013 law that allows any legal gun owner to store loaded guns in their vehicles.
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Respectful discussion regarding firearm safety: Kathy understands this can be an emotional topic that has to be discussed by leaders with the same vigor as Tennesseans discuss it.
Kathy also firmly believes in the fundamental principle that everyone has the right to be who they are without fear of discrimination or violence, ensuring that all members of our diverse communities are treated with dignity and respect.
“Working together, we can build a stronger, safer Tennessee where everyone can live without fear.”
Proven Leadership that Listens
Hamilton County School Board Member, District 2
Policy Committee, Chairperson
District 2 Advisory Committee, Founder. The District 2 Advisory Committee comprised community members from all the D2 schools. They worked together, held public informational meetings, and addressed school safety.
Kathy Lennon is a lifelong resident of Tennessee. From an early age, she learned from her mom, Betty Chamberlin Rawn, that service to your community was a necessary part of living a fulfilled life. She is the fifth of six children of the Chamberlin-Rawn family.
Kathy’s faith, compassion, and enthusiasm for community service only grew when she earned a degree in religious studies from Loyola Institute. She started her teaching career in 1987 and has worked as a teacher for over 25 years. She has taught students at every level, from elementary to high school. At the high school level, she served as Department chair for five years and developed and implemented a school-wide Service Learning and Outreach Program. She also served as the head swim team coach for five years.
As a former member of the Hamilton County School Board, Kathy understands the diverse needs of our local communities. Kathy’s faith guides her daily actions. She lives and leads by the golden rule. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Love your neighbor as yourself.
Kathy previously served as the Director of Chattanooga WorkSpace, fostering a vibrant arts community. She was also a founding board member of Welcome Home of Chattanooga, which provides end-of-life care for our local unhoused population. Kathy currently plays an active role in the family business, FarmToMed.
Kathy is happily married to John Lennon (not that John Lennon!) and a proud mother and grandmother. With deep roots in our communities, Kathy is committed to representing the voices of District 27 and ensuring all Tennesseeans have the opportunity to thrive.
Compassion and Advocacy in our Community
Welcome Home of Chattanooga, Founding Board member
Branding the Arts, Facilitator
6th Street Block Party, Organizer
Spark 2013, Partner with the Downtown YMCA
Any Given Child, Kennedy Center, Representative
HCS Foundation, Founding Board member
Scenic City Clay Arts, Board member
Red Bank Jubilee Committee, member
Mayor Kelley Transition Team, member
UT/TSU Extension – Hamilton County Agriculture Committee, Co-Chairperson.
Chattanooga Girls Rock, Board member
With your support, we will work to bring common sense back to our state government and achieve real progress for our community.
