Our Mailbox Doesn’t Need Representation

Senator Dawn White,

One might assume, due to your track record, that you have a hard time finding addresses, yet today you somehow made it to our mailbox.
Tonight, our son received your voter registration letter.
Oddly enough, tonight I attended yet another candidate forum hoping to ask you questions.

Your chair was empty.
Again.

The closest my family has gotten to you is our mailbox.
As your constituent, that says plenty.

Since I couldn’t tell you in person this evening, let’s take a deep dive into my family’s thoughts about you as our state senator. My family believes PUBLIC DOLLARS belong in PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

We believe every child deserves an excellent education, regardless of race, gender, family income, or ZIP code.

We believe teachers deserve better pay and the resources to do their jobs.
As a former teacher, one would think you did too.

We believe politicians should not be bought.
Your donation and voting records deserve scrutiny.

I wanted to ask you directly whose interests you’re putting first.
But, again, your chair was empty.

So let’s keep going.

My family believes in:

• Community - and showing up for it.

• Nonprofits and the people doing the work.

• Meaningful reform.

• Ending 287(g) agreements.

• Abortion rights and reproductive freedom.

• Libraries free from government censorship.

• Religious freedom for everyone.

• LGBTQ rights.

• Billionaires paying their fair share in taxes.

• Corporations investing in the communities they profit from.

• Racial equality.

• Accessible maternal healthcare.

• Blocking Flock surveillance.

• Enforceable regulations and restrictions on AI.

• Public transportation that serves people instead of more toll-based “choice lanes.”

• A TN we can all afford.

Most relevant to tonight: we believe elected officials owe their constituents answers, time, and attention—including the people who disagree with them.

These are our values. They shape our lives, our questions, and our votes.

Your 4’×4’ signs take up plenty of space.
Your empty chair leaves plenty of questions.

So while our son is preparing to cast his first vote, please know we have educated him in knowing that public office is a job, and the public deserves to interview the person asking to keep it.

You don’t earn his trust with postage.

You earn it by showing up, answering questions, and standing behind your record.

Keep your stamp next time.

Our mailbox doesn’t need representation.
Your constituents do.

And before you send a survey asking who we’re voting for, let me save you some time:

We are voting for Angela Wynn for Senate—and we are telling our friends to do the same.

~Ashley Payne,
Mom, Rutherford County resident, and Creative and Communications Director for Angela Wynn