October 16, 2024
Missy Crutchfield Addresses Hamilton County Commission on Urgent Need for Climate Crisis Readiness Plan for Events Like Hurricane Helene
(Chattanooga, Tenn.) – Tennessee State Senate District 10 Candidate Missy Crutchfield addressed the Hamilton County Commission during Wednesday’s meeting, followed by a press conference, calling for a Climate Crisis Readiness Plan for events like Hurricane Helene which recently ravaged neighboring communities in Western North Carolina and Northeast Tennessee.
Crutchfield said in her remarks, “We have recently witnessed the enormous devastation of Hurricane Helene in our neighboring communities in Western North Carolina and Northeast Tennessee, and we are reminded that Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley region have historically had challenges with flooding.
You can search the newspapers and historical documents and find photographs of boats going up and down Market Street downtown during rescue efforts when the water levels had risen to the second floors of many buildings.
We know that at one time Asheville, North Carolina was deemed ‘climate proof,’ but we now know that nothing is ‘climate proof.’
What about us right here in the Tennessee Valley? Now, we do have a dam, but can it hold up in a catastrophic flood like we’ve just witnessed in the news recently?
We currently have plans in place for the final phase of Chickamauga Dam’s locks to be operational by as late as 2027, but nature doesn’t wait for our timelines and this could have easily happened to us. We narrowly missed it.
Could the current Chickamauga Dam or Watts Bar Dam or other rivers and waterways in our area hold up under these conditions? What about Sequoyah Plant and if it were flooded? Experts say if our region experienced a nuclear emergency, some may only have minutes to evacuate.
How much time would we have with a catastrophic flood? We need to know these things. We need a regional plan in place for our communities. We need to have a readiness plan in place for people and their families.
We need a regional readiness plan in place to address the increase of climate events we are experiencing. We need to know what our sheriff’s department and health department and other local government agencies are going to do.
We need to address the issue of homeowners and business owners insurance not covering flood damage because most policies don’t cover flood damage. People need affordable flood insurance. How can we make it affordable forpeople to have flood insurance so they can have some help rebuilding in the event of a natural disaster like a catastrophic flood?
We need a regional readiness study and plan of action to address these issues now and not after the fact when it may be too late.”
Missy Crutchfield said she is running for Tennessee State Senate District 10 because “we need leaders who care, who have boots on the ground, and who are willing to work keep our communities safe, strong, healthy, and prepared.”
October 7, 2024
United Auto Workers Officially Endorses Tennessee State Senate District 10 Candidate Missy Crutchfield
(Chattanooga, Tenn.) – United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 737 recently announced their official endorsement of Missy Crutchfield forTennessee State Senate District 10 which covers parts of Hamilton County, as well as all of Marion, Sequatchie, and Bledsoe counties.
In a historic moment earlier this year, workers at Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tenn. made national headlines as they voted to become the first Southern auto workers outside of the “Big Three” to win their union.
Current members of the Hamilton County delegation of State Legislators opposed the Volkswagen workers’ vote to unionize.
Following the announcement of the United Auto Workers endorsement of her candidacy, Crutchfield said, “I am honored to receive the endorsement of the United Auto Workers as I pledge to do all I can as your next State Senator to support a thriving economy forall Tennesseeans. We know that working class and middle class Tennesseeans are the backbone of our local, state, and national economy. We need to do all we can to ensure our workers are making a livable wage and that we doing everything we can to lower the cost of living so that all Tennesseans can thrive.”
September 30, 2024
Missy Crutchfield State Senate Campaign Releases “Jingle” in Time for Voter Registration Deadline on October 7
(Chattanooga, Tenn.) – Local artists collaborated on a “Campaign Jingle” for the Missy Crutchfield State Senate Campaign. The jingle entitled, “We’ve Got Work to Do! So, Who’s In?” encourages Tennesseans to become engaged in the political process known as democracy. The project is being released in time for the voter registration deadline on Monday, October 7, 2024 and can be viewed on the campaign’s YouTube and social media channels.
On the release of the “Campaign Jingle,” Crutchfield said, “We have some wonderful friends who have brought their creativity and generosity to this project and I want to thank and recognize Songwriter and Producer Tony R. Smith Sr., Lead Vocalist Karen Collins, Engineer Sam Patton, and background vocalist Tony Lowery for bringing their talents to the creation of our ‘campaign jingle.’ Special thank you to Artist and Arts & Healing Advocate Cam Busch who sponsored the production of the campaign jingle. We just recently concluded the arts focus of our campaign ‘Listening Tour’ which was co-facilitated by Cam Busch along with Frances McDonald, Local Artist, Founder & Executive Director of Mark Making. I am so grateful for the creativity and the collaboration we have experienced together through that process. It’s time for change in Tennessee and it is going to take all of us working together and collaborating like the artists did on the ‘Listening Tour’ and this campaign jingle. This project is truly a metaphor for democracy at its best and I look forward to seeing what we can all do together to build a stronger, safer, healthier Tennessee for all.”
September 26, 2024
Missy Crutchfield Makes Statement on Successful “Save Moccasin Bend” Campaign
(Chattanooga, Tenn.) – Tennessee State Senate District 10 Candidate Missy Crutchfield joins local officials and community leaders in celebrating the success of the “Save Moccasin Bend” Campaign, an effort of which she was an early supporter.
Following the news from National Park Partners that the Moccasin Bend state hospital would be relocated and new construction at the site would not move forward, Crutchfield said, “Once again, through public-private partnerships and community engagement, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and the State of Tennessee are showing the way forward in preserving this historic land forgenerations to come. This has been a tireless effort on the part of everyone involved from local and state officials to nonprofit organizations to concerned citizens. I am proud to have been an early supporter of this effort and to support the continued progress forward with Chattanooga becoming recognized as a National Park City. And I will continue to fight for our parks and public lands to be protected and preserved. Our city, county, and state are known for our beautiful outdoors and history, and this moment is an important part of the legacy we leave.”
September 5, 2024
Missy Crutchfield Takes Deeper Look at Tennessee Economy and Workforce Issues as She Expands Listening Tour During the Month of September
(Chattanooga, Tenn.) – Tennessee State Senate District 10 Candidate Missy Crutchfield is taking a deeper look at Tennessee’s economy and workforce issues as she expands her campaign’s “Listening Tour” during the month of September. Crutchfield is meeting with local Chamber of Commerce groups, small businesses, local Unions, and the growing entrepreneurial and start-up community across the district.
Crutchfield said on her campaign Listening Tour so far
she has spoken with farmers who are having to work a second job just so they can get health insurance and veterans who are struggling to re-enter the civilian workplace and need resources to connect with education and jobs. This month she is focusing on a deeper look at economic and workforce issues and bipartisan efforts that could help both Tennessee’s businesses and working class people.
“We have a growing and thriving economy in Tennessee State District 10 from small businesses and the growing entrepreneurial and start-up community to large corporations with national and international reach, and over the coming month I will be meeting with them to listen and learn more about what’s working for Tennessee’s economy, businesses, and workers and what we can do even better,” Crutchfield said. “As we have celebrated Labor Day earlier this week, we want to thank all of the workers who serve our country and our local communities. From our military and first responders to our labor union workers and trades people, you serve and give so much of yourselves to make our communities better places to live and work. As your State Senator, I want to be your public servant and I will work hard for my constituents and my district to better our lives and build stronger, safer, healthier communities across Tennessee.”
August 29, 2024
Missy Crutchfield Makes Statement on Lockdown at Chattanooga State, Need for Addressing School Violence and Gun Violence in Tennessee
(Chattanooga, Tenn.) – Tennessee State Senate District 10 Candidate Missy Crutchfield made a statement following a lockdown incident Thursday morning at Chattanooga State Community College involving a “credible threat”:
“The lockdown situation that took place at Chattanooga State Community College today is all so surreal and very frightening. Recently we spoke with some of the families from the Covenant School in Nashville where there was a shooting in 2023, and now we have learned that right here in our own backyard of Chattanooga that there was a ‘credible threat’ at the college. We are sending our prayers to all students, faculty, and staff at Chattanooga State, and pray that we can find a solution to this epidemic of gun violence. We are grateful for our First Responders who go to work each day not knowing what they are going to face and they literally put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. We trust that our local and state law enforcement will be handling this situation to the best of their ability, and that the college can return soon to some level of normalcy, although these experiences can leave a lasting mark on us all. We are also grateful for the national nonprofit One in Five Foundation For Kids, formerly The Uvalde Foundation For Kids which was formed after the Uvalde, Texas mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in 2022. Today they responded to the Chattanooga State lockdown by deploying their school community safety patrol teams out of Nashville as well as crisis support and counseling resources for students, faculty, and staff at Chattanooga State. It is amazing to see everyone come together in a time of crisis, and I hope to one day soon see everyone crossing aisles and bridging the divide to address the threat of school violence and gun violence once and for all.
“While thankfully today’s ‘credible threat’ at Chattanooga State ended peacefully, we are reminded of the fear and the trauma that these kinds of incidents create for our communities, and especially our schools and young people who want to be free from the fear of gun violence. As a mother, a concerned community member, former Vice President of Chattanooga State, and now candidate for Tennessee State Senate District 10, I promise to work on safe firearms legislation that will identify and prevent those who are mentally unstable and to be temporarily restricted from owning firearms, until the subject can be deemed not a threat to themselves or others. These laws have been consistently voted down by our current GOP Supermajority in the Tennessee General Assembly, and that is unacceptable. Again, my prayers go out to all who are experiencing this frightening situation. No one should ever have to go through this. Period.”
Crutchfield worked at Chattanooga State as a Vice President during the time when Chattanooga Police Officer Julie Jacks was murdered by a Chattanooga State Community College student. “I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was so disturbing. I was in my office on campus when a student who was taking an exam had a mental breakdown and started yelling and stormed out and left campus. We learned he shot and killed Officer Julie Jacks downtown later that day. Today we reflect once again on how we need to address mental health, gun violence, and public education. When we have the right mental health resources and support in our public education system we might be able to avert these kinds of tragedies. Today we are lucky, but do we want to keep chancing these kinds of incidents? Gun violence in Tennessee needs to be addressed at a much more serious level. It’s time.”
August 24, 2024
Missy Crutchfield Makes Statement on Gun Violence in Tennessee
(Chattanooga, Tenn.) – On Saturday, August 24, Tennessee State Senate District 10 Candidate Missy Crutchfield joined other local political candidates in walking with gun violence survivor and activist Satedra Smith, Jordan’s Light Foundation, and Moms Demand Action to help raise awareness about gun violence in Tennessee.
Following the event, Crutchfield said, “We know that gunshot wounds are now the leading cause of death for children in the United States. This is heartbreaking and we deserve better. Over the past year, since the Covenant School mass shooting took place in Nashville, Tennessee, our current leadership is not addressing the gun violence issue in Tennessee, and this is not acceptable. We don’t have time to sit back and wait for leaders who aren’t responding, who aren’t prioritizing sensible gun safety laws that save lives. It’s time for new leadership in Tennessee. I will work to keep our schools, streets, and communities stronger, safer, and healthier. It’s time for all Tennesseans to work together and do something.”
July 30, 2024
Missy Crutchfield Expands “Listening Tour” Across Tennessee State Senate District 10, Leading Up to General Election on November 5
(Chattanooga, Tenn.) – On Tuesday, July 30, Missy Crutchfield announced that she plans to expand the “Listening Tour” she and her campaign team have been leading across Tennessee State Senate District 10 this summer during their Primary campaign.
Crutchfield is running unopposed in the Primary Election on August 1 and says she plans to hit the ground running as her campaign expands their “Listening Tour,” which she says has been well-received among community stakeholders and constituents.
“During our ‘Listening Tour’ over the summer, we have learned that people want elected officials who are public servants first and foremost and who listen to the people they serve,” Crutchfield said. “I want to be that elected official who is a public servant and who listens to the people. I want to be proactive as I serve the needs of the people, and work on legislation that betters people’s lives.”
While Crutchfield’s campaign team will be actively planning meet-ups for the “Listening Tour,” they are also encouraging interested community stakeholders, organizations, and constituents to reach out to the campaign directly to schedule a meet-up with Crutchfield now through Election Day on November 5, 2024.
May 1, 2024
Missy Crutchfield Announces Run for Tennessee State Senate District 10
(Chattanooga, Tenn.) – On Wednesday, May 1, Missy Crutchfield announced that she is running for Tennessee State Senate District 10. Crutchfield will begin a “listening tour” throughout the district over the course of the summer to hear from constituents on how they want to be represented at the State level.
Crutchfield will be running for the seat her father, the late Tennessee State Senator Ward Crutchfield, held as a long-time Tennessee politician and State Senate Majority Leader. She looks forward to continuing his legacy of working across aisles to find common goals and build cooperative efforts that move beyond partisan politics to get important work done for the people of Tennessee State Senate District 10. She says she also looks forward to bringing her own strengths, experience, and commitment to working for solutions to today’s most pressing issues, as well as her passion for helping people and building community.
In addition to the key role her family has played in both local and state politics dating back to Civil War times, Crutchfield has a long history in education and government, having served as Vice President at Chattanooga State Community College and Assistant to the Chancellor at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), and having been appointed by Mayor Ron Littlefield as Administrator of the Department of Education, Arts & Culture (EAC) for two terms during which she and her team managed Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium and Tivoli Theatre, and led and completed the renovation of Walker Community Theatre. Crutchfield and her team also coordinated in-school and afterschool programming and partnerships with Hamilton County Schools, City of Chattanooga Parks and Recreation centers, community centers, neighborhood groups, churches, and nonprofits.
Highlights of some of the work created and completed under the umbrella of the Department of Education, Arts & Culture included the Gandhi Visits Chattanooga tour in 2012 with Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Arun Gandhi visiting and speaking about nonviolence with young people in schools and community centers across the city; and she later went on to co-found the Gandhi Global Center for Peace with Arun Gandhi to continue the work of peace and nonviolence in schools and communities, locally and around the world.
In addition to her leadership experience working in education and government, Crutchfield has a Bachelors in Criminal Justice from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and a Masters in Mass Communications from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). She also has experience working in property management and she is Co-Founder and Co-Editor of Be Magazine. Crutchfield’s personal interests range from traveling to hiking trails in her home state. She is a mother and she also enjoys caring for her two beloved rescue dogs.
Crutchfield will be on the ballot for Tennessee State Senate District 10 in the August 1, 2024 Primary Election and the November 5, 2024 General Election.
