For Immediate Release

Rep. Harry Brooks announces candidacy for Tennessee House Speaker post

August 10, 2010

(KNOXVILLE) -- Citing Tennesseans’ need for House of Representatives leadership that crafts
solutions to the state’s serious challenges, State Rep. Harry Brooks (R-Knoxville) has announced
that he is seeking the post of Speaker of the House.
“I am reaching out to Republican House members and candidates because we have an
opportunity to set a new agenda, create a new atmosphere, and accomplish much for the people
of Tennessee.
“I anticipate that we are going to have a Republican governor and Republican majorities
in both the House and the Senate,” Brooks added. “This is an opportunity for us to vastly
improve education, and serve Tennesseans in ways that will benefit them for generations.”
Brooks represents House District 19, which covers primarily the most northern and
eastern areas of Knox County, including Powell, Gibbs, Ritta, Corryton, Carter, and other areas
south of the river.
A House member since 2002, Brooks, 63, is chairman of the House Education
Committee. He also served with former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist on the SCORE (State Collaborative
on Reforming Education) initiative, and is now on the statewide committee for teacher and
principal evaluations.
Among other legislative committee assignments, Brooks serves on Finance Committee,
Joint Fiscal Review, Joint Education Oversight, Calendar & Rules, and Higher Education
Subcommittee.
“Throughout my professional career my work dealt with finance and education,” Brooks
said. “These are the two critical issues for Tennessee’s future. As goes education, so goes the
economy.”
Brooks was finance administrator of the Knox County Sheriff’s Department from 1977 –
2000. He served on the Knox County School Board from 1992 – 1996. Early in his career he was
a teacher for Grainger County schools, after which he served as an adjunct professor in
communications and as a counselor at Carson-Newman College (where he earned his Bachelor
of Arts in speech and communications in 1969).
He and his wife, Mary, live in the Ritta Community of Knox County. Their two sons are
Benjamin, 37, and Adam, who is deceased.
Representatives will choose the next House speaker at the opening session of the General
Assembly in January.
For information about Rep. Brooks, visit the Tennessee General Assembly website at
www.legislature.state.tn.us.

END

For more information, please contact: Rep. Harry Brooks

(615) 741-6879
rep.harry.brooks@capitol.tn.gov.