Brent Taylor officially announced his campaign today for the Tennessee State Senate in District 31. Taylor, a well-known area funeral director for three decades, is a former Memphis City Councilman and Shelby County Commissioner. He served as Chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission until resigning last week to be a Senate candidate.
“Mid-South families trust me to help them at one of the worst times in their lives. People of East Memphis, Cordova, and Germantown put their trust in me to represent them on the City Council and County Commission,” Taylor stated. “Now, I’m asking people in East Memphis and East Shelby County to trust me as their State Senator. My focus will be on fighting violent crime, reducing inflation, helping small businesses, and supporting schools. I’ll provide the conservative leadership we need in Nashville,” remarked Taylor.
Taylor supports law enforcement and will work with other conservatives to find solutions to the growing problem of violent crime. He said he would work to reduce inflation by restraining spending. Taylor opposes burdensome mandates on small businesses. He wants to empower parents to have a greater voice in their child’s education.
Taylor was born and raised in rural North Mississippi. He moved to Memphis to work as a funeral director after earning his mortuary science degree. In 1995, he became the youngest person ever elected to the Memphis City Council at age 27. Taylor, who never voted for a tax increase, was viewed as the leading conservative voice on the Council. He chose to retire from the City Council after 12 years to focus on his business interests.
In 2004, Taylor and his wife, Kimberly, purchased their first funeral home. They bought other area funeral homes and built their business into the largest family-owned funeral operation in the Mid-South. Taylor remained involved in public service, filling a vacancy on the Shelby County Commission on an interim basis and serving as Chairman of the Election Commission. Throughout his career in the funeral business and as a public official, Taylor has been recognized as a trusted conservative leader.
The Taylors have been married 27 years and are the parents of two adult children. Their son, Gage, graduates from Southern Methodist University law school in May and their daughter, Molly, graduates from Mississippi State University in May. The Taylors reside in Eads and are active members of Trinity Baptist Church.
Senate District 31 includes Collierville, Eads, Germantown, Lakeland, and parts of Arlington, Cordova, and East Memphis. Taylor is running in the August 4 Republican Primary. More information is available at BrentTaylorForSenate.com.