{"county":null,"description":"The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the state legislature, with 99 members elected from single-member districts to two-year terms. Representatives pass state laws, originate revenue bills, approve the state budget, and \u2014 together with the Senate \u2014 confirm gubernatorial appointments and propose constitutional amendments. Candidates must be at least 21 years old, U.S. citizens, Tennessee residents for at least three years, and district residents for at least one year.","district":"030","districtgroup":"state_house","id":258,"key":"state_house_030","lastchangeby":null,"name":null,"next_election":null,"notes":null,"officegroup":"tn_house","partisan":1,"party":null,"qualities":"- **Integrity** \u2014 Acts in the interest of constituents and the public good rather than for personal gain, and remains independent of undue influence from donors, lobbyists, and party leadership.\n- **Understanding of the constituency** \u2014 Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents \u2014 safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.\n- **Persuasion** \u2014 Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.\n- **Legislative craft** \u2014 Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.\n- **Coalition-building** \u2014 Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.","quantity":1,"source":null,"state":"tn","term_end":null,"term_start":null,"term_years":2,"terms":[{"current":0,"description":"","electiondate":"2022-11-08","name":"Esther Helton-Haynes","person":{"biography":"# Biography of Representative Esther Helton-Haynes\nEsther Helton-Haynes is a dynamic and dedicated public servant representing the people of District 30 in East Ridge, Tennessee. As a Republican Party member, her commitment to her constituents and her background in nursing offer a unique perspective in the Tennessee General Assembly.\n\n## Education\n- East Ridge High School, 1980\n- Chattanooga School of Practical Nursing, 1981\n\n## Family\nMarried to Marty, Esther is a proud mother of three children. Her family roots and experiences significantly influence her legislative priorities and community involvement.\n\n## Career\nBefore her political career, Esther dedicated herself to healthcare as a semi-retired nurse. Her medical background has been instrumental in shaping her approach to health policy and community welfare.\n\n## Community Involvement\n- House member of the 111th through 113th General Assemblies\n- 917 Society Member\n- Board Member, Healthy Parks Healthy Persons\n- East Ridge Optimist Club\n- East Ridge High School Alumni Association\n- Hamilton County Republican Women\n- Hamilton County Pachyderm Club\n- Member, Elks Lodge 91\n- Board Member, Construction Career Center Board\n- Trust Federal Credit Union Advisory Board\n- Council Member, City of East Ridge, 2016-Present\n\n## Honors & Awards\n- 111th G.A. Legislator of the Year by Association of Assessing Officers\n- TN Oncology Practice Society Champion for Cancer Patients\n- TN Primary Care Association Charles E. Darling Organization of Excellence Award\n- The American Conservative Union Foundation Award of Conservative Excellence\n- Hamilton County Republican Party Bobby Wood Public Service Award 2023\n- Kidney Foundation Greater Chattanooga Area, People's Choice Award 2021 Dare to Dance\n- Kidney Foundation Greater Chattanooga Area, Kidney Hero 2021 Dare to Dance\n- Kidney Foundation Greater Chattanooga Area, Dr. Jackson Millie Yium Award 2021 Dare to Dance\n\n## External Links\n[Legislator Information - District H30](https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H30)","firstname":"Esther","lastname":"Helton-Haynes","token":"7OcBH6TGDR"},"term_end":"2024-12-31","term_start":"2023-01-01"}],"title":"State Representative District 30","type":"legislative","url":"https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H30","whenchanged":"2026-06-19 17:40:13"}