John Gillespie (Tennessee)

John Gillespie is an American politician. A Republican, he has represented the 97th District in the Tennessee House of Representatives since November 2020. Gillespie was re-elected on November 8, 2022.

Career
Gillespie's professional career began in the world of finance. After working for two local banks in Tennessee, he transitioned into a position where he writes and researches grants for Trezevant Manor, a senior living facility in Memphis where his father is a member of the Board.

In 2023, Gillespie supported a resolution to expel two of three Democratic lawmakers from the legislature for violating decorum rules. The expulsion was widely characterized as unprecedented.

Tennessee House of Representatives
Running in a contested primary election on August 6, 2020, Gillespie received the Republican Nomination for Representative of the 97th House District when he defeated Brandon Weise 78.3% (3,626 votes) to 21.7% (1,007 votes). Gillespie then faced Gabby Salinas in the General Election on November 3, 2020 which Gillespie won 50.8% (14,712 votes) to 49.2% (14,246 votes).

Legislation sponsored by Gillespie includes:


 * House Bill 22 – Increases the penalty for drag racing from a Class B to a Class A misdemeanor.
 * House Bill 549 – Allows families of deputy jailers who are killed in the line of duty to receive compensation.
 * House Bill 628 – Funds services for victims of abuse, neglect, financial or sexual exploitation of elderly or vulnerable persons as well as educational programs to prevent such abuse, neglect or exploitation.
 * House Bill 629 – Requires persons reporting known or suspected cases of abuse, neglect or exploitation of an adult to also notify the district attorney general in all such cases.
 * House Bill 630 – Modifies the reporting requirements for the vulnerable adult protective investigative team’s annual report to the chairs of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees
 * House Bill 718 – Enacts the “Safe Seniors Act of 2021,” taking dangerous individuals who abuse elderly and vulnerable populations off the streets.

Activity as member of the 112th General Assembly
As a member of the 112th General Assembly, Gillespie is serving on the following committees:
 * Member, Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee
 * Member, Civil Justice Committee
 * Member, Education Administration Committee
 * Member, Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
 * Member, Higher Education Subcommittee

Personal life
Gillespie, the son of Elizabeth and Trow Gillespie, is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. His father is on the Board of Trezevant Manor in Memphis where Gillespie was working at the time of his election to the Tennessee House of Representatives. A graduate of High Point University in North Carolina, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He is a longtime parishioner of Saint John's Episcopal Church.