Kip Capley announced on Wednesday that he’s running for state representative from Tennessee’s 71st District.
Former U.S. Senate candidate Manny Sethi has already endorsed Capley’s candidacy, according to an emailed statement.
Capley’s platform calls for less intrusive government, more freedom, and more opportunity to succeed. Less government, Capley said in a statement, is better government.
“My vision for the 71st is continued economic growth through supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, more efficient government, lower inflation and taxes, reduced healthcare costs and increased access,” Capley said in the statement.
“I am pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-law enforcement and first responders and I strongly support our teachers and students in their quest for better education.”
Tennessee’s 71st District comprises Wayne, Hardin, Maury, and Lawrence counties.
“Our recent campaign launch event was a tremendous success. Not only did 100-plus attend, but our campaign also received the endorsement of Dr. Manny Sethi, former U.S. Senate candidate and Vanderbilt surgeon,” Capley said. “Dr. Sethi and I have become great friends over the past few years, and his endorsement is both humbling and very motivating because, like Dr. Sethi, we represent the new generation of constitutionally conservative Republicans.”
Capley, who works as a consultant, graduated from Middle Tennessee State University and earned an MBA from Trevecca Nazarene University.
State Representative David Byrd (R-Waynesboro) currently represents the 71st District in the Tennessee General Assembly.
People have accused Byrd of inappropriate sexual conduct with underage female student athletes more than 30 years ago when he coached high school basketball.
Sethi, an orthopedic trauma surgeon and former candidate for U.S. Senate, last year urged state legislators to support congressional term limits.
In 2020, Sethi and current U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty competed against one another to replace the then-retiring U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN). Tennessee Republicans elected Hagerty their nominee in the 2020 GOP primary to compete against a Democrat in that year’s general election.
Sethi, in his concession speech, told supporters three separate times to continue fighting.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star and The Georgia Star News. Follow Chris on Facebook, Twitter, Parler, and GETTR. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Kip Capley” by Kip Capley. Photo “Manny Sethi” by Manny Sethi.
