Candidate Name: Matthew Park
Candidate’s Preferred Pronouns
he/him/his
What office are you running for?
Tennessee State House – District 15
With which party are you running for office?
Democratic Party
Election Date
August 6, 2020
Why are you running for office?
I am tired of seeing Tennesseans, including my own family, be forced to work for below living wages, without healthcare, only to be further harmed by our unjust criminal justice system. I am running to raise the level of public compassion and empathy in Tennessee.
What is the biggest issue facing your community and how do you propose helping?
It is more expensive to be poor than wealthy. In Tennessee, we have regressive sales taxes, poverty incomes, long commutes using public transportation, a lack of healthcare coverage and access, burdensome criminal justice systems, and more. The greatest issue for my community is breaking the cycle of poverty. This cycle is fueled by institutions and policies that keep low-income people from building wealth. We can begin to undo this by providing nanocapital to help people build businesses, and by implementing programs to help more families use the Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) to buy homes.
How do we fix the partisan divide in our country and start working together again?
When we foster an environment and culture of public compassion, the divide between us is closed. By promoting compassion for every person and group, we can move forward and progress together.
Who is your hero?
Alan Turing
What are your hobbies?
Skydiving, Speed Riding, Paragliding, Hiking, Mountain Biking
What is the most recent book you read?
On Grand Strategy by John Lewis Gattis
Do you have any kids/pets/talking houseplants?
A puppy named Nyx
How can our readers get involved in your campaign?
Visit matthewpark.com. Because we are not accepting corporate money, we need as many donations as possible, no matter how small. We also need help with phone banking and other volunteer efforts, sign up at matthewpark.com.
Candidate Social Media:
Website| Facebook | Twitter
Post created from answers submitted by candidate to our Meet the Candidate survey.
