Mae Beavers
Mae Beavers | |
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Born |
Millport, Alabama, U.S. | December 11, 1947
Residence | Mount Juliet, Tennessee, U.S. |
Alma mater | Trevecca Nazarene University |
Occupation | Politician |
Spouse(s) | Jerry Beavers |
Mae Beavers (born December 11, 1947 in Millport, Alabama) is a Tennessee Republican politician and a member of the Tennessee Senate for the 17th district, which is composed of Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, and Wilson counties. She has served as a state senator since the 103rd General Assembly, and as a state representative in the 99th through the 102nd General Assemblies.
Early life
Mae Beavers was born on December 11, 1947 in Millport, Alabama. She graduated from Trevecca Nazarene University, where she received a bachelor of science degree.[1] She also attended the Nashville School of Law.[1]
Career
Beavers has represented the Wilson County Commission (1990–1994), in the State House of Representatives (1994–2002), and in the State Senate (2002–present). Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the Senate Ron Ramsey credited her first election to the State Senate as the beginning of the conversion of the suburbs of Nashville from Democratic allegiance to Republican allegiance.[2] Former Democratic State Senator Bob Rochelle attempted to re-claim his seat and ran against Beavers in the 2006 general election, yet Beavers prevailed with approximately 58% of the vote. In 2010, Beavers defeated her long-time political rival, State Representative Susan Lynn, in the 2010 Republican primary, and defeated Democrat George McDonald with approximately 63% of the vote in the general election.[3][4]
Beavers is pro-life, a pro-Second Amendment activist, a supporter of lower government spending and the abolition of state income taxation, and a proponent of tougher laws and measures against illegal immigrants.[5] Beavers as well as current congressmen and former state legislators Marsha Blackburn and Diane Black were known as the "Angry B's" during the Tennessee income tax debate, and were credited with helping stop the passage of a state income tax. Beavers also strongly opposed the 2010 health care reform legislation proposals, sponsoring instead the Tennessee Health Freedom Act in order to protect "a citizen’s right to participate, or not participate, in any healthcare system".[6][7]
In 2014, Beavers was rated by the Sunlight Foundation as the second-most conservative state senator in Tennessee, and the sixth-most effective state senator in terms of successfully sponsoring and passing legislation.[8] She also leads the Wilson County Conservatives.[9] Beavers is a member of the National Rifle Association and a lifetime member of the Tennessee Firearms Association.[1]
In September 2015, Beavers proposed bill SB1437, known as the Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act, to ban same-sex marriage in Tennessee despite the Supreme Court's decision to legalize it.[10] She drew a parallel with the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.[10] Her colleague in the House, Mark Pody, proposed a similar bill.[10]
In December 2015, Mae said she agreed with presidential candidate Donald Trump about the need to ban Muslims from entering the United States as immigrants or refugees.[11]
Personal life
Beavers is married to Jerry Beavers, with whom she has children.[1] They attend Trevecca Community Church.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "About Mae". Mae Beavers State Senate. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
- ↑ Campbell, Sandy (2010-03-29). "Ramsey says Republican revolution in Middle Tenn. started in Wilson County". The Lebanon Democrat. Retrieved 2011-07-18. External link in
|work=
(help) - ↑ http://www.tn.gov/sos/election/results.htm
- ↑ http://www.mtjulietnews.com/article/mjnnews/135891
- ↑ "Issues". official website. Mae Beavers. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- ↑ "Senator Beavers Applauds Federal Court Ruling Declaring New Healthcare Law Unconstitutional". official website. Mae Beavers. 2011-01-31. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
- ↑ Swann, Lesley. "Tennessee Health Freedom Act Passes Senate". Tennessee Tenth Amendment Center. Retrieved 2011-07-19. External link in
|publisher=
(help) - ↑ http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2014/06/11/how-partisan-are-your-states-legislators/
- ↑ Lind, JR (2010-11-18). "Wasn't us". Nashville Post. SouthComm. Retrieved 2011-07-18. External link in
|work=
(help) - 1 2 3 Brant, Joseph (September 17, 2015). "State Republicans file bill to end marriage equality: Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act proposed". Out & About Newspaper (Nashville, Tennessee). Retrieved September 25, 2015.
- ↑ Boucher, Dave (December 8, 2015). "TN Sen. Beavers agrees with Trump's Muslim ban". The Tennesean. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
External links
Tennessee Senate | ||
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Preceded by Robert Rochelle |
Member of the Tennessee Senate from District 17 2002–present |
Incumbent |
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