Helton picks up endorsements
Esther Helton, Republican candidate for the state House District 30 seat, picked up endorsements last week from an early education advocacy group as well as the two previous District 30 representatives.
Tennesseans for Quality Early Education political action committee (TQEE-PAC) said it endorsed Helton for” toughness, perseverance and grace ” during a hard-fought Republican primary campaign.
“We look forward to having Esther put those qualities to work for young children in Tennessee who need a high-quality early education,” TQEE Executive Director Mike Carpenter said in a news release.
He said Helton, a grandmother of five and a product of East Ridge public schools, supports investing in training and professional development for early grades teachers and work to ensure children can read on grade level by third grade.
Because of her nursing background, “she understands the impact of childhood trauma, like opioid addiction and domestic violence, on the brain development of young children,” the release state.
Former Republican seat holders Vince Dean, now Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk, and Marc Gravitt, now the county’s register of deeds, also announced support for Helton.
Gravitt said Helton, an East Ridge City Council member, “has a proven record of empowering job creators — small businesses — and working with them to grow our local economy and create jobs.”
Dean said Democratic opponent Joda Thongnopnua “continues to say areas other than East Ridge have been neglected over the years” but cited the widening of Apison Pike and East Brainerd Road among the more than $200 million of infrastructure improvements in the area.
“None of this could have ever happened with the Democrats in charge, but it was fought for and funded from the Republican State Representative from District 30, who happened to live in East Ridge,” Dean said.
District 30 includes East Brainerd, East Ridge, parts of Collegedale, Apison, East Lake, Missionary Ridge and the area on the southern side of Brainerd Road.
Early voting continues through Nov. 1 and Election Day is Nov. 6.