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Kevin Raper
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
from the 24th district
Assumed office
January 10, 2023
Preceded by Mark Hall
Member of the Bradley County Commission from the 7th district
In office
September 2018 – September 2022
Preceded byMark Hall
Succeeded byJosh Rogers
Personal details
Born (1964-01-17) January 17, 1964 (age 60)
United States
Political party Republican
Children2
Residence Cleveland, Tennessee
Website Official website

Kevin Raper (born January 17, 1964) [1] is an American politician. A Republican, he represents District 24 (encompassing Cleveland and parts of unincorporated Bradley County) in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

Biography

Kevin Raper is a 1982 graduate of McMinn Central High School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics education from the University of Tennessee in 1987, a Master of Education degree from Tusculum University in 1996, and an education specialist degree from Tennessee Tech in 1997. He is a retired educator. [1]

Raper first ran for District 7 Seat A on the Bradley County Commission in 2018, which was being vacated by Mark Hall, who successfully ran for State House District 24. He won the May 1 primary against Republican Josh Rogers with 1,110 votes, or 62.5% of the votes. [2] He went on to win the general election on August 7, defeating Democrat Tammy Davis with 1,699 votes, or 72.2%. [3] In 2019, Raper voted for a controversial property tax increase, as well as to override Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis's veto of the increase. [4] [5] He was also one of the strongest backers of a county-funded study on the feasibility of expanding sewers into unincorporated parts of Bradley County, which critics charged was unnecessary and being undertaken to financially benefit the local homebuilding industry. [6] [7]

Raper announced his intent to run for the 24th District seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives on November 10, 2021, after incumbent Mark Hall announced his intent to run for the Tennessee Senate. [8] He won the August 4, 2022, primary with 2,107 votes, or 38.7% of the vote against three primary opponents. [9] He faced no Democratic opponent in the general election on November 8. [10] In 2023, Raper supported a resolution to expel three Democratic lawmakers from the legislature for violating decorum rules. [11]

Personal life

Raper is married and has two sons. He is a Baptist, and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. [1]

Political views

Raper has stated that he believes that abortion should always be illegal except for when necessary to save the lives of pregnant women. He also described critical race theory as "divisive and racially motivated". [12]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Representative Kevin Raper". capitol.tn.gov. Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  2. ^ Leach, Paul (May 2, 2018). "Bradley County voters toss out two GOP incumbent commissioners". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  3. ^ Denton, Colby (August 3, 2018). "Kevin Raper beats Davis for county seat". Cleveland Daily Banner. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  4. ^ Hughes, Autumn (July 16, 2019). "County approves property tax hike". Cleveland Daily Banner. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  5. ^ Hughes, Autumn (July 26, 2019). "Bradley County Commission overrides mayor's veto of budget and tax increase". Cleveland Daily Banner. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  6. ^ Hughes, Autumn (April 2, 2019). "Sewer Clogged: County refuses go-ahead; backs up study to panel". Cleveland Daily Banner. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  7. ^ Hughes, Autumn (August 10, 2021). "Bradley County residents weigh in on future of sewer-service expansion". Cleveland Daily Banner. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  8. ^ "Kevin Raper Announces Candidacy for TN State Representative District 24". WCLE-FM. Cleveland, Tennessee. November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  9. ^ "State of Tennessee August 4, 2022 Republican Primary" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. September 1, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  10. ^ Siniard, Tim (November 10, 2022). "Howell, Raper secure state House seats". Cleveland Daily Banner. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  11. ^ Andone, Dakin; Young, Ryan; Simonson, Amy; Almasy, Steve. "Tennessee's Republican-led House expels 2 Democratic lawmakers over gun reform protest, fails in bid to oust a third". CNN. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  12. ^ "Bradley Voter Guide 2022 State Edition" (PDF). bradleyvoterguide.com. Advocates For Bradley County. October 5, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
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