Anne Ferrell Quillen

Current office and 2026 campaign

Anne Ferrell Quillen is a member of the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee and serves as the Chairperson of the party's Rural Caucus⁴⁸. She resides in Crossville, Tennessee, where she works as a partner at Villa del Funk and Firefly Art Studios and as an employee at The Quill and Art².

Quillen is running for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 25 in the upcoming 2026 general election¹. This bid follows her previous campaign for the same seat in 2022, where she lost the general election to incumbent Republican Cameron Sexton on November 8, 2022¹.

In recent years, Quillen has focused on rural policy issues, advocating for expanded Medicaid funding for rural hospitals, support for public schools, and economic development for Tennessee's rural communities³. She is a member of the DNC Rural Council Steering Committee and has expressed long-standing interest in Democratic national conventions, having previously served as a delegate⁵⁸.

Background and education

Anne Ferrell Quillen was born in Greensboro, North Carolina ². She self-describes as Christian ². Her interest in politics began in childhood, when she watched national conventions on television and expressed a desire to participate in the process ⁵.

Quillen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and French from Appalachian State University between 1972 and 1976 ²⁴. She subsequently obtained a Master of Public Administration from the University of South Carolina at Columbia from 1976 to 1977 ²⁴. Quillen received her Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, completing her studies there between 1982 and 1985 ²⁴.

Career

Anne Quillen holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, earned between 1982 and 1985, as well as a Master of Public Administration from the University of South Carolina at Columbia (1976–1977) and a Bachelor’s degree in History and French from Appalachian State University (1972–1976)²⁴. She is a licensed attorney who previously worked at the Tennessee Valley Authority and directed the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program for the Tennessee Valley Coalition to End Homelessness⁴⁸.

Following her retirement from government service and non-profit management, Quillen entered the creative sector. Since 2012, she has served as a partner at Villa del Funk and Firefly Art Studios, and she is an employee of The Quill and Art². She also maintains a partnership with Firefly Art Studios/Red Toad Pott².

Quillen remains active in civic leadership through her role as Chairperson of the Tennessee Democratic Party Rural Caucus and as a member of the party’s Executive Committee⁴⁸. She previously served as Chairperson of the Cumberland County Democratic Party⁴⁸.

Office history

Anne Quillen served as a member of the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee for District 15 ⁸. She also held the position of Chairperson for the Tennessee Democratic Party Rural Caucus ⁴⁸. Additionally, she served as Chairperson of the Cumberland County Democratic Party ⁸.

Quillen ran for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 25 in the 2022 general election ¹. She lost that race to incumbent Cameron Sexton on November 8, 2022 ¹.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Anne Quillen served as a candidate for the Tennessee House of Representatives District 25 in 2022, where she lost to incumbent Cameron Sexton in the general election ¹. Her legislative advocacy has centered on rural issues, leading her to serve as President of the Tennessee Democratic Party’s Rural Caucus ³. In this capacity, she has highlighted policy priorities such as expanding Medicaid for rural hospitals, increasing funding for public schools and infrastructure, and developing economic opportunities for rural businesses and communities ³.

Quillen has criticized Tennessee’s tax structure as regressive, arguing that it disadvantages the poor while benefiting the wealthy, and has pointed to the state having the worst tax system in the country ⁶⁷. She has also advocated for voting access improvements, supporting federal legislation like HR-1 to facilitate participation for rural voters ⁶. Her professional background includes work as an attorney at the Tennessee Valley Authority and directing the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) at the Tennessee Valley Coalition to End Homelessness ⁴⁸.

Currently, Quillen holds leadership roles within the party structure, serving as Chairperson of the Tennessee Democratic Party Rural Caucus and the Cumberland County Democratic Party ⁴⁸. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Democratic Party and the DNC Rural Council Steering Committee ⁸. Her long-term political engagement includes a history as a Democratic National Convention delegate, a role she described as fulfilling a childhood dream inspired by watching national conventions on television ⁵.

Business interests and wealth source

Anne Quillen is a partner at Villa del Funk and Firefly Art Studios, a role she has held since 2012 ². She also works as an employee at The Quill and Art and is a partner at Firefly Art Studios/Red Toad Pott ². Her professional background includes service as an attorney at the Tennessee Valley Authority and directing the HPRP Program at the Tennessee Valley Coalition to End Homelessness ^{4 8}.

Quillen retired from government service and non-profit management prior to her recent political activities ⁸. She serves as the Chairperson of the Tennessee Democratic Party Rural Caucus and the Cumberland County Democratic Party ^{4 8}. In 2022, she ran for the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 25 but lost the general election to incumbent Cameron Sexton on November 8, 2022 ¹.

Specific details regarding her personal wealth source, family inheritance, or significant financial disclosures are not provided in the available sources.

Family

Anne Quillen is married to Bill and has four children ². She was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, and resides in Crossville, Tennessee ². Her political interest was sparked in childhood by watching Democratic and Republican national conventions on television ⁵.

Sources