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Draft:Demetrus Coonrod

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Demetrus Coonrod
Member of the Chattanooga City Council from the 9th district
Assumed office
April 24, 2021
Preceded byYusuf Hakeem
In office
2018–2021
Personal details
Born (1974-12-30) December 30, 1974 (age 49)
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Political partyTennessee Democratic Party

Demetrus Coonrod is among the first in Tennessee, and the U.S., to earn her voting rights back after a felony conviction.[1][2] A formerly incarcerated Black woman, Coonrod successfully restored her voting rights in December 2016.[3] Her achievement is notable especially in Tennessee, where voting rights restoration is more difficult than in other states, and where few citizens regain voting rights after serving time for a felony conviction.[4][5] In Tennessee, nearly 10% of the state can't vote in elections per felony convictions.[6] 21% of Black Tennesseans are disenfranchised.[7] That's more than in any other state.[8] Having restored her own voting rights, Coonrod is an advocate for the formerly convicted reentering society, fighting for the reinstatement of their civil rights, especially their voting rights, to ensure that those who have paid their debt can fully participate in civil life again.[9] In 2022, Coonrod published a memoir, From Prison To Purpose: A Past That Shaped My Future, in which she recounts her rise from the traumas and desperations of poverty to dedicated civil servant.[10]

Coonrod is the only convicted felon to be elected to office in Chattanooga, Tennessee.[11] She is is a Democratic politician and currently Council Woman for District 9, voted in for her second term on April 24, 2021. She sits as chair member of the Council's Economic Development Committee.[12] She recently announced she is running for a seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives, District 28 in November of 2024.[13]

She is a mother, grandmother, author, and graduate of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga where she received a bachelor's degree in Sociology in 2022.[14]

Early life[edit]

Coonrod was born in Chattanooga, TN on December 30, 1974, the oldest of 4 siblings. Because her parents struggled with drug addiction, she took care for herself along with her siblings and was raised by her grandmother, who she calls her "shero."[15] At 12 years old, Coonrod became a mother. Growing up in oppressed conditions and forced to endure a life of abuse, violence, and hardships, she endured hardships traumas she now uses as a drive to accomplish positive change.[16]

She graduated from Chattanooga High School for Paideia and Performing Arts Phoenix 3 in 1993. She earned an associates degree from Chattanooga State Community College. She earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.[14][17]

In 2001 and 2002, Coonrod pleaded guilty to being involved in holdups at Popeye's and a plasma center, as well as to conspiracy to commit armed robbery. She did not herself commit crimes, but allowed others to use her vehicle to do so.[18] She was convicted of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, was sentenced to an 84-month sentence, and was sent to prison in Tallahassee, Florida.[19] She was released early due to cooperating with police during investigation that involved corrections officers smuggling drugs in exchange for money and sex. [20][21]

Politics[edit]

After being released from prison, Coonrod decided to pursue politics. To do so, Coonrod had to break a cycle: "I had to exclude a lot of people from my life. That included family and friends. Understanding that my environment was a breeding ground for criminal activity, I went to the streets to change that narrative for others, showing them a better path."[22] The Hamilton County Election Commission acknowledged Coonrod as eligible and qualified to run for office, as her voting rights and citizen rights were restored in November 2016. In April 2017, Coonrod defeated long-serving Republican Yusuf Hakeem. [23]

Coonrod recently announced her candidacy for Tennessee's House District 28 seat and setting up a Democratic primary race with three-term incumbent Rep. Yusuf Hakeem, of Chattanooga. Coonrod is focused on the issues impacting Chattanoogans and all Tennesseans, and on bettering the lives of all.[24] The state and federal primary elections will be held in Tennessee on August 1, 2024. The general election will be on November 5, 2024.[25]

Positions[edit]

In 2021, Coonrod supported Tennessee Governer Bill Lee's criminal justice reform bills, the Alternative to Incarceration Act and the Re-Entry Success Act.[26][27]

Community involvement[edit]

  • Vice Chair of Hamilton County Democratic Party[12]
  •       Hamilton County School Leadership Program[28]
  •       Chattanooga-Hamilton county NAACP[29]
  •       National Black Caucus[29]
  •       Order of Eastern Star Zia 31081[29]
  •       Tennessee Municipal League[29]
  •       A Step Ahead Contraceptive Access Advisory committee[29]
  •       Human Development Committee[29]
  •       Creator and President of Eastdale Neighborhood Association[30]
  •       Board member of The Sports Barn, Community Development Block Grant, and Causeway
  •       Advocate for restoring voting rights for convicted felons as part of the Ban the Box Movement[31]
  •       Member of Race, Equity, and Leadership Council by the National League of Cities[32]
  •       Board member of Criminal Justice Reform Task Force[29]
  •       Leadership Tennessee 2023-2024 Signature Program Class X[33]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Demetrus Coonrod rises from convict to councilwoman | Chattanooga Times Free Press". www.timesfreepress.com. 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  2. ^ "Demetrus Coonrod rises from convict to councilwoman | Chattanooga Times Free Press". www.timesfreepress.com. 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  3. ^ "Council supports newly elected councilwoman with criminal past". Local3News.com. 2017-04-12. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  4. ^ "Restoring Voting Rights for Tennessee Felons Is Discouraging". Governing. 2023-03-27. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  5. ^ Levine, Sam; Lerner, Kira (2023-07-22). "Tennessee toughens voting rules for people with felony convictions". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  6. ^ "Restoring Voting Rights for Tennessee Felons Is Discouraging". Governing. 2023-03-27. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  7. ^ "Tennessee Enacts New Policies to Further Disenfranchise Black Voters". Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  8. ^ Fortis, Bianca (2022-11-08). "Why 21% of Tennessee's Black Citizens Can't Vote". ProPublica. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  9. ^ "Restoring Voting Rights for Tennessee Felons Is Discouraging". Governing. 2023-03-27. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  10. ^ "Book Review: Demetrus Coonrod's Inspiring "From Prison to Purpose"". www.chattanoogan.com. 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  11. ^ Paris, Nea (2021-05-27). "Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod 'excited' about Gov. Lee's Criminal Justice Reform Act - Chattanooga News Chronicle". Chattanooga News Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  12. ^ a b "Demetrus Coonrod, District 9". chattanooga.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  13. ^ Staff, Local 3 News (2023-11-15). "Chattanooga City Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod announces run for Tennessee House of Representatives". Local3News.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ a b Ryan, Shawn (2022-05-09). "City Councilwoman Coonrod earns UTC degree". UTC News. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  15. ^ "In Her Own Words: Demetrus Coonrod On "Prison To Purpose"". WUTC. 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  16. ^ "Demetrus Coonrod rises from convict to councilwoman | Chattanooga Times Free Press". www.timesfreepress.com. 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  17. ^ WTVC (2022-05-06). "Former felon, current Chattanooga city councilwoman now a college graduate". WTVC. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  18. ^ "Book Review: Demetrus Coonrod's Inspiring "From Prison to Purpose"". www.chattanoogan.com. 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  19. ^ "The Transformation from Convict to Councilwoman". Governing. 2017-06-13. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  20. ^ "The Transformation from Convict to Councilwoman". 13 June 2017.
  21. ^ "New Chattanooga City Councilwoman Has Criminal Past". 17 April 2017.
  22. ^ sidreddy (2022-02-16). "Meet Demetrus Coonrod | City Councilwoman & Social Influencer". SHOUTOUT ATLANTA. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  23. ^ "Council supports newly elected councilwoman with criminal past". 12 April 2017.
  24. ^ "Demetrus Coonrod". Demetrus Coonrod. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  25. ^ "Chattanooga Council Member Coonrod makes 2024 challenge to Rep. Hakeem official | Chattanooga Times Free Press". www.timesfreepress.com. 2023-11-15. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  26. ^ Cooper, Eryn (2021-05-25). "Chattanooga councilwoman shares personal ties to new TN criminal, police reform laws". WTVC. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  27. ^ Staff, Temple Ricke, FOX 17 News Digital (2021-05-24). "Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signs criminal justice reform bills". WTVC. Retrieved 2024-06-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ "Demetrus Coonrod, District 9". chattanooga.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g "Demetrus Coonrod, District 9". chattanooga.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  30. ^ "Eastdale looks to Highland Park for answers | Chattanooga Times Free Press". www.timesfreepress.com. 2016-09-14. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  31. ^ Ashford, Camm (2022-08-04). "'Revitalize Eastdale' Community Meeting Set for Aug. 8". Chattanooga News Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  32. ^ Murphey, Bailey (2019-02-12). "Chattanooga Councilwoman Coonrod appointed to National Equity Council". WTVC. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  33. ^ "Leadership Tennessee Names Councilwoman Coonrod To Class X". www.chattanoogan.com. 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
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