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Contributed commentary by Erinne Hester, Montgomery County Assessor of Property, endorsing Tommy Vallejos:

I am proud to give my full endorsement of Tommy Vallejos for state representative in House District 67. Following his retirement from Army service, Tommy’s activity as a pastor, involved citizen and elected official, spanning over more than 20 years, has left an extremely positive mark on our community. I am excited that voters in House District 67 have the opportunity to elect him as their representative in the General Assembly. These are dynamic times here in Clarksville and Montgomery County, but amidst the growth and change, there is extraordinary potential. We need Tommy Vallejos working for House District 67 in the state legislature so that we can maximize it.

In his capacity as a state legislator, Tommy Vallejos will collaborate with the state government to support local businesses and attract additional employers offering good pay and career opportunities to our community. This will grow our economy and broaden our tax base, which in turn will generate the revenue needed for improved roads, new schools and other enhancements to our local infrastructure.

Tommy Vallejos will prioritize building up our local work force so that Clarksville and Montgomery County can compete for new employers. He will be a strong advocate for continued expansion of APSU and other post-secondary options, especially vocational and technical education, in our area. Furthermore, he will ensure that these opportunities are fully accessible to active-duty soldiers, veterans and their families. We need to have strong educational and economic offerings here locally, especially for our young people and veterans, so that we can retain our top talent, and Tommy is the person we need to help make them happen.

Please go out and vote for Tommy Vallejos for state representative in House District 67! Election Day is Nov. 3 at your local precinct.

Erinne Hester