Come Vote in the Davidson County Chapter Election May 17
Davidson County Chapter elections for chapter president, treasurer, and five district board positions will be held on May 17, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. at the Goodwill Center, 937 Herman Street, Nashville. The chapter positions are for two year terms which begin after the election is held.
The five board positions up for election this year are for the even-numbered districts 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. The chapter went through a process this year of redoing district boundaries, since several buildings have been partially or totally closed, been torn down, or sold, and employees have moved to new locations, The process of redoing the districts was completed and approved at the membership meeting in January. The new districts are listed below, along with biographies submitted by the candidates running for election. Although there are election districts for which board members are responsible, any Davidson County member who has been a TSEA member for more than six months may run for any district board position or office. Note: Nominations from the floor are not taken in accordance with current bylaws.
President (3 candidates):
Michael V. Kerstetter
Married- Wife Tiffany Kerstetter.
State employee and four children
I currently work for the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and have been for over 11 years. I have always had a commitment to wanting to help people because of who I am. I loved helping my constituents when I served in the Metro Council as a Councilman here in Nashville through different safety issues by pushing protective laws and ordinance here in Nashville. I served as the Chairman over the Metro employees personnel committee and worked closely with pro-Metro employee issues. Prior to my work here with the State I worked for radio station Mix 92.9. While at Mix 92.9 I had great experiences with people while I locally produced the Delilah Show. Although the show originated from the State of Washington many people thought Delilah was here in Nashville so they would call into the station with many issues and it was great to be a voice for those people to talk to and listen.
I want to be a voice for the great State workers that we all work with. I want to help my fellow State employees through the TSEA to make certain we all are treated fairly and equally. I think the TSEA can be a light to show people that we are all important to our cause of serving the great people in our State. We really need a strong voice for the State employee and I want to be a part of the team. I believe as a child watching my father who was a preacher put the passion in my heart to help others and I want to continue my passion through the TSEA.
I hope you consider me for the position of President of the Davidson County TSEA.
Andriette Coleman Parker
I have been an employee of the State of TN for 23+ years. Current location: TRICOR-State of TN.
I have been a member of TSEA for 23 + years. I began my career in the Department of Revenue 23 years ago. Today I am a 23 year employee and I work in the Department known as TRICOR. My job is to prepare men and women for success after their release from incarceration. But now I would like to talk to you about my involvement with the TSEA.
Timely communication and action is important in any position. As a TSEA Representative for 5 years, I have had the honor of being a voice for others, and being a positive influence within this organization, improving State Employee issues and current working conditions and situations. I will continue to speak up and out, when the circumstances call for the attention. I regularly attend chapter meetings, Representative Assemblies (RA’s), and other functions such as the Regional Legislative Dinners. And have also worked as a volunteer for several legislators and Senators endorsed by TSEA, before becoming the Davidson County Team Pac Coordinator.
As a committed State of Tennessee Employee I am asking to represent you once again in a new capacity, as the Davidson County Chapter President.
My values are Leadership. My mission is the success of many. My goal is to influence others. Diamonds do not start out shiny and polished at first. In fact in the beginning they are nothing, but with time and pressure they become spectacular yes even brilliant, are you that diamond? I hope these words motivate you to join and be a part of the TSEA Initiative being a voice and an influence.
Vivian Wilhoite
Former Metro Councilwoman Vivian Wilhoite qualified to be on the March 1, 2016 ballot for Davidson County Assessor of Property.
Wilhoite, who represented the 29th District on the Metro Council for two-terms, finalized her decision to run after hearing from a number of constituents and considering her background and experience for the office that she seeks. The Assessor of Property oversees the appraisal and assessment of taxable real and personal property not appraised by the state.
“This is an important time for Nashville and Davidson County as property values continue to rise across the county,” Wilhoite said.
A native of Gulfport, Mississippi, Wilhoite began her 30-year public service career as a real estate appraiser for the Tennessee Public Service Commission (TPSC), now known as the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA).
“Being a public servant is part of my DNA and my will to serve is as great today as it was when I first represented my Antioch, Edge-o-Lake, Priest Lake, Nashville & Una neighbors on the metro council.”
As an appraiser for the TPSC, Wilhoite appraised property of public utilities for ad valorem tax purposes. She also served as Assistant Director and later Chief of the Consumer Services Division at the TPSC/TRA. During that time, she ran for Metro Council member for District 29 and successfully won two terms with the second term won by 73 percent of the vote.
Wilhoite holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Tennessee State University and has completed course work toward a master’s degree in public administration. She served on the Nashville-Davidson Metropolitan Council from 2003-2011. She actively serves on various community groups and boards. She and her husband, Larry Wilhoite, are the parents of two sons, Pherius and Lelan.
Treasurer (1 candidate):
Dorinda Coleman, Candidate for Treasurer, Davidson County Chapter
Fellow TSEA members, I am seeking re-election as Treasurer of the Davidson County Chapter of TSEA and am asking for your support. I have served the chapter in this capacity since 2010 and embrace the challenges of continued service as we grow and move forward. I have been an employee of the state of Tennessee for 26+ years and currently work for the Department of Finance and Administration. As a member of TSEA for over 25 years I have served on a number of Committees including the Legislative, Program and TSEA Election Committee. It has been my pleasure to be a delegate for the Davidson County Chapter at Representative Assemblies, to attend Lobby Days, legislative hearings and State of the State addresses representing our chapter. I have completed Leadership University and attended many Worksite Representative training sessions. I remain dedicated to the task of helping our organization to better serve the employees of the state and I would greatly appreciate your Vote.
District 2 (No candidates):
DIDD Homes, DIDD Regional, Middle Tennessee Mental Health, School for the Blind, Harold Jordan Rehab Center, Forensic Science Program
District 4 (No candidates):
Health Services Lab, TBI Driver Testing Center, Environment and Conservation Field Office, Mid-Cumberland Regional Health Office, Ellington Agricultural Center
District 6 (1 candidate):
Andrew Jackson, Citizens’ Plaza, Legislative Plaza/Cordell Hull, Capitol, UBS
Brian J. Anthis is a Program Coordinator for DHS with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP): Nutrition Programs. Anthis has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration with a minor in Business Administration from UT Chattanooga. He also has a Master’s degree in Strategic Leadership from Tennessee State University. He is also working on becoming proficient and maybe even fluent one day in Spanish by sometimes studying at the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute. Anthis has worked for the Department since 2011. During his tenure in the Department he has served in many roles: as an Eligibility Counselor: Case Worker interviewing the public at large for benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid and also as a Client Representative more intensely assisting Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) clients. Prior to his employment with the Department, Anthis worked for an organization that contracted with the Department focused on TANF case management and has a unique, novel and innovative perspective on how many of the Department’s various stakeholders view many situations. Anthis believes that Education is the silver bullet that most effectively fights poverty, because he has seen its value in his own life. At a young age, Anthis was a foster child destined for failure who overcame many challenges with the help of many inspirational individuals that took the time to really care. As a child, Anthis wanted to be a Commercial Airline Pilot and eventually ambitiously also a millionaire. In addition to public service, Anthis loves to read, travel internationally, volunteer and listen to NPR. Anthis is working on many side projects and ambitiously still hopes to be a millionaire one day.
T.S.E.A. – Tennessee State Employee Association Member: 2011 – Present.
T.S.E.A. – Tennessee State Employee Association: Davidson County Chapter Board Member: 2014 – Present.
District 8 (1 candidate):
TN Tower, Library and Archives, TN Prison for Women, TSU- Avon Williams Campus, Rachel Jackson
Alice Caruthers. I am a compliance manager in the Department of Corrections. I have worked for the state and been a TSEA member since 1976. My first job was in management information systems at the Tennessee Wildlife Agency; I also worked in an infant follow-up program for at-risk mothers. I have attended many TSEA activities throughout the years. Recently I served as chapter secretary, then board member, and in 2015-6 chair of the chapter communications committee. TSEA is an very important organization that has helped many state employees, enhanced their jobs, helped them maintain their jobs, and is the only organization that gives state employees a voice. More employees need to join and learn what TSEA does.
District 10 (1 candidate):
TennCare 227 French Landing; TennCare 310 Great Circle; Health-related Boards (665 Mainstream)
Trish Farmer. I am running for a board of directors’ position of the Davidson chapter of TSEA. I have been a member of TSEA for 21 ½ years. Currently I am the State Business Services Program Manager of Vocational Rehabilitation Services within the Department of Human Services. I have worked in the private sector and returned to state government to make a difference in persons’ lives. Currently I have 31 years as a state employee.
This is a critical time for state employees. We must support each other. When we cooperate with our co-workers and share a common vision, purpose or goal, we all benefit. We obtain synergy from the efforts of others. Many state employees have worked tirelessly for the benefits we now possess. I feel that we all must continue to work for our benefits in order to give in return as much as we have received.
