DeAngelo Jelks / Photo contributed by DeAngelo JelksNASHVILLE – The special election for Tennessee’s House District 29 seat has its first formally announced candidate, Democrat DeAngelo Jelks, while Republicans Greg Vital and Hoyt Samples have picked up nominating petitions signaling their intent to run in the contest to succeed the late state Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah.
Jelks, an Iraq War veteran, U.S. Army Reserve captain and former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga police officer, is employed as a human resources recruiter for a local firm. He has picked up his qualifying petition, which is due Thursday.
“I’ve dedicated my life to serving our country. Now I can see no better way to serve Tennesseans and our communities than as the representative of the 29th District of Tennessee,” Jelks said.
Jelks said in an interview that “I see I can make a difference, and I think that anyone who can make a difference should make a difference. I’ve served in the military since I was 17, I spent some time as a cop. So I’ve always had a service heart.”
Vital is chairman, president and co-founder of Morning Pointe Senior Living and Independent HealthCare properties. He serves on the First Horizon Bank Board and is board chairman for The Land Trust for Tennessee.