At the recent debate for the Tennessee State Senate District 22 seat, Karen Reynolds and Bill Powers laid out two very different visions for the future of Clarksville and Montgomery County. Karen, a retired Army Master Sergeant, public servant, and fierce advocate for working families, offered a people-first approach that contrasts sharply with the corporate-focused and conservative agenda of her opponent, Bill Powers.
Here’s why Karen Reynolds is the best choice for Tennesseans who care about education, healthcare, and fairness.
1. Fighting for Public Schools, Not Private Interests
Karen Reynolds made it clear: public education is a top priority. Tennessee already ranks 45th in funding and 44th in teacher pay, and we can't afford to divert more funds away from our public schools. School vouchers, a favorite talking point for her opponent, Bill Powers, would further defund public schools and weaken our children’s education.
Karen Reynolds: “We do not need to defund and move money into private schools. Our teachers are underpaid, our schools underfunded—what we need is stronger investment in public education.”
Bill Powers, on the other hand, supports vouchers under the guise of “school choice,” a plan that would drain critical resources from the public schools that 90% of our students attend. Vouchers are a handout to private schools, leaving public school students with fewer resources and lower teacher pay.
Bill Powers: "I hear it called vouchers, but it's really not, it's school choice... Imagine if you had to go to McDonald's and eat every day, which is kind of the way it happens every day. You are pigeonholed into a school by virtue of where you live."
In contrast, Karen wants to protect public education from further attacks and ensure every child has access to quality education, regardless of their zip code.
2. Putting Working Families First
While Bill Powers brags about corporate successes and billion-dollar projects, Karen Reynolds knows that real progress begins with everyday working Tennesseans. Karen’s focus is on affordable housing, access to healthcare, and fair wages—issues that directly impact families across Montgomery County.
Karen Reynolds: “Economic development should start with everyday Tennesseans who get up and go to work every day. We have working families in our community that can’t pay their health bills or buy a home. We need affordable healthcare and housing.”
Meanwhile, Bill Powers seems content to cater to big business, touting large corporate deals while failing to address the skyrocketing costs of living that plague working families in Tennessee.
Bill Powers: “The state of Tennessee hands out money every day. We just need to make sure that we get our unfair share.”
What does that really mean for you? It means more corporate handouts, while families struggle to afford basic necessities. Karen believes economic development must be about people, not corporate giveaways.
3. Taking Real Action on Gun Safety
As a retired Army Master Sergeant, Karen knows what responsible gun ownership looks like—and she’s ready to fight for safe storage laws and background checks that will protect Tennessee families. Tennessee leads the nation in women murdered by intimate partners with guns, and we need leaders who take this issue seriously.
Karen Reynolds: “We have the highest rate of women being murdered by their intimate partner with a gun in Tennessee. Safe storage laws and background checks are crucial steps to making our communities safer.”
Bill Powers, meanwhile, offered little beyond platitudes, continuing to sidestep the need for real gun safety reforms by focusing on reactive measures like school mapping instead of tackling the root causes of gun violence.
Bill Powers: “Knowing what happened and what drove that person to shoot those people is paramount in learning what to do next.”
“In the absence of knowing [the shooter's motives], we sponsored a bill for school mapping.”
Karen doesn’t just talk about change—she’s ready to make it happen by standing up to the gun lobby and protecting our families.
Why Karen Reynolds Deserves Your Vote
Karen Reynolds is more than a candidate—she’s a fighter for working people. Whether it’s advocating for fully funded public schools, standing up for safe communities, or ensuring that every family has access to affordable healthcare, Karen is ready to work for the people of District 22.
Bill Powers, on the other hand, has spent his time in office siding with corporate interests and conservative donors while voting against the interests of working families. If you care about public education, affordable healthcare, and real progress in Tennessee, the choice is clear: Karen Reynolds is the leader we need.
Now is the time to get involved and support Karen Reynolds as she fights to restore common sense to the Tennessee State Senate. Donate today, volunteer, and help spread the word. Together, we can turn District 22 blue and build a brighter future for Tennessee!