Representative John Gillespie

John Gillespie was born on January 17, 1987, and is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. He is the son of Elizabeth and Trow Gillespie and has two brothers. He is a longtime member of Saint John's Episcopal Church on Central Avenue.

Gillespie has been active in his community through various civic organizations. He serves on the Memphis-Shelby County Crime Commission Board of Directors and is a member of the Phoenix Club of Memphis, where he has helped raise funds for the Boys and Girls Club. He previously served as Assistant Campaign Manager for former Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell's successful 2010 campaign.

Education

Gillespie graduated from High Point University in North Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Political Experience

Gillespie is a Republican who has represented House District 97 in the Tennessee House of Representatives since January 2021. His district includes most of East Memphis and parts of Cordova.

He won his initial election in 2020 by defeating Democrat Gabby Salinas in the general election with 50.8% of the vote. Prior to his legislative career, he served as Deputy Republican Whip from 2020 to 2022.

Gillespie serves on several House committees, including the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee and the Health Committee. He is known as a mainstream conservative with a focus on public safety issues. He was a sponsor of Tennessee's "Truth in Sentencing" law, which requires violent felons to serve their entire prison sentences. In 2023, he supported a resolution to expel two Democratic lawmakers for violating decorum rules.

Professional Background

Before entering politics, Gillespie worked in the finance industry. He began his career at First Tennessee Bank, where he started as a Financial Service Representative opening new accounts. He later moved to Evolve Bank and Trust, where he worked in the mortgage division reviewing home loans for compliance. Most recently, he worked as Grant Coordinator at Trezevant Episcopal Home, where he wrote and researched grants, planned events, and solicited major gifts.