FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ASHLAND CITY, TN — Perry Keenan, former Mayor of the Town of Pleasant View, Tennessee, and business entrepreneur, has officially announced his candidacy in the Republican primary for Tennessee State House District 78, representing Cheatham County and eastern Dickson County. Following the retirement of Representative Mary Littleton, Keenan is running to ensure the district remains a stronghold for conservative values and common-sense leadership.
“District 78 is at a crossroads,” said Keenan. “As our community grows, we need a representative who will continue to fight to keep our taxes low, protect our schools from radical agendas, and work with state leaders to improve the infrastructure that is choking our daily commutes. I’m not going to Nashville to be a politician; I’m going there to be a voice for families like ours who want to keep Tennessee the best place in America to live, work, and raise a family.”
Keenan’s campaign will focus on several core pillars:
Lowering the Cost of Living: Permanently banning a state property tax.
Parental Rights in Education: As a parent of two children- one in public school and one in private school- Keenan emphasizes the importance of fully funding local schools while also supporting working-class, dual-income families’ access to school choice.
Infrastructure First: Advocating for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to prioritize the widening of Highway 49 and implement safety improvements on I-24 and I-40.
Standing with Law Enforcement: Ensuring local law enforcement agencies have the resources and funding needed to keep communities safe.
Reducing “Red Tape” for Small Businesses: Drawing on his experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur to keep unnecessary government interference out of business operations.
Child Advocacy: Continuing to support and advocate for children across the State of Tennessee and within the 23rd Judicial District to ensure they are kept safe.
Born and raised in Cheatham County, Keenan is a 1989 graduate of Cheatham County Central High School. He resides in Ashland City with his wife, Misty, and their children, Madison and Liam. Keenan previously served on the Pleasant View City Council from 2004 to 2008, as Mayor from 2012 to 2020, and as Chairman of the Cheatham County Republican Party from April 2023 to December 2025. He is also a former member of the Cheatham County Planning Commission, a former member of the Board of Directors for NorthCrest Hospital in Springfield, Tennessee, and currently serves as a Board Member and Treasurer for the Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky.