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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Brenda Gilmore (b. December 9, 1952) is a Democratic member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing District 54. She was first elected to the chamber in 2006.

Gilmore earned her B.S. in business from Tennessee State University in 1984. She then received her M.A. in Human Resource Development from Vanderbilt University in 1988. Gilmore is a graduate of the Tennessee Government Executive Institute. She previously worked as Director of Vanderbilt University. Gilmore served on the Metro Council for the City of Nashville from 1999 to 2003.

Education

  • Graduated, Tennessee Government Executive Institute
  • MA, Human Resource Development, Vanderbilt University, 1988
  • BS, Business, Tennessee State University, 1984

Professional Experience

  • Graduated, Tennessee Government Executive Institute
  • MA, Human Resource Development, Vanderbilt University, 1988
  • BS, Business, Tennessee State University, 1984
  • Director, Vanderbilt University, retired

Political Experience

  • Graduated, Tennessee Government Executive Institute
  • MA, Human Resource Development, Vanderbilt University, 1988
  • BS, Business, Tennessee State University, 1984
  • Director, Vanderbilt University, retired
  • Senator, Tennessee State Senate, District 19, 2019-present
  • Representative, Tennessee State House of Representatives, District 54, 2006-2019
  • Candidate, Tennessee State Senate, District 19, 2018
  • Member, Nashville Metro Council, 1999-2003

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Business and Utilities Committee, Tennessee State House of Representatives

Former Member, Business and Utilities Subcommittee, Tennessee State House of Representatives

Former Member, Finance, Ways and Means Committee, Tennessee State House of Representatives

Former Member, Joint Fiscal Review Committee, Tennessee State House of Representatives

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Finance, Ways and Means Committee

Member, Joint Committee on Fiscal Review

Member, Joint Committee on Pensions and Insurance

Member, Transportation and Safety Committee

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Graduated, Tennessee Government Executive Institute
  • MA, Human Resource Development, Vanderbilt University, 1988
  • BS, Business, Tennessee State University, 1984
  • Director, Vanderbilt University, retired
  • Senator, Tennessee State Senate, District 19, 2019-present
  • Representative, Tennessee State House of Representatives, District 54, 2006-2019
  • Candidate, Tennessee State Senate, District 19, 2018
  • Member, Nashville Metro Council, 1999-2003
  • Former Member, Advisory Board, Junior League
  • Former President, C.A.B.L.E.
  • Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
  • Participant, Empowerment Congress Leadership Institute
  • Participant, Leadership Nashville
  • Participant, Leadership Vanderbilt
  • Member, League of Women Voters
  • Member, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation for STEM
  • President, Minerva Foundation
  • Member, Mount Zion Baptist Church
  • Chair, Music City Chapter of Links
  • Chair, Nashville Women Political Caucus
  • First Vice President, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
  • Executive Board Member, National Black Caucus of Black Legislature
  • Executive Board Member, National Caucus Environmental Board (NCEL)
  • Member, National Caucus State Legislator (NCSL)
  • President, National Hook-Up of Black Women
  • Member/Former President/Chair, Senior Citizens, Incorporated
  • Chair, Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators (TBCSL)
  • Member, Tennessee State University Alumni Association
  • Chair, The Northwest Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) $5 Million Capital Campaign
  • Member, Top Ladies of Distinction
  • Director, Women in Government
  • Member, Women in the Nineties
  • Member, Women in the Numbers (WIN)
  • Former President, Women's Network
  • Chair, Davidson County Delagation, 2010-2014
  • Former Chair, Davidson County Delegation, 2010-2014
  • Former Chair, Senior Expo, 2003-2004
Policy Positions

Tennessee State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Tennessee's budget.

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- No

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Tennessee?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Tennessee?
- No

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Tennessee high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Tennessee's health care programs?
- Yes

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- Yes

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- No

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Tennessee's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Tennessee's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support greater efforts by Tennessee state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes

4. Should Tennessee permit localities to adopt "Sanctuary City" immigration policies?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- re:D "As State Representative, I believe that the State should not overreach into municipal legislation matters."

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- We must fully fund our public schools and expand universal Pre-K and early childhood education to all families. We must support our public schools collaborating with school board officials, administrators, teachers, staff, and parents to make the improvements necessary to increase graduation rates. No one should work 40/hr a week and remain in poverty. Brenda will fight for good paying jobs that truly support working families. Brenda will make sure that everyone is included in the economic boom happening across Tennessee because until every Tennessean has a safe place to live and food each day, our work is not done.

State Bills
Events

2020

Aug. 14
Virtual Luncheon: Vote For Our Lives

Fri 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM CDT