My Representative

Joe Armstrong
District 15 - Part of Knoxville

Biography

State Representative Joe Armstrong is a life-long resident of the Fifteenth Legislative District.  At present he resides in Knox County with his wife, LeTonia. Committed to the area in which he was raised, Representative Armstrong is very active in the local community and church; he’s a life-time member of the NAACP, as well as, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated and serves as Usher and Trustee for the First A.M.E. Zion Church.

Representative Armstrong is a graduate of the University of Tennessee having earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.  He is a businessman who serves on the Board of Directors for several public and private companies; specializing in Oil and Gas, Banking, and Insurance.

Representative Armstrong began his political career in 1982 as a Knox County Commissioner and was elected Vice-Chairman of the Commission in 1986. In 1988, he sought and won election to the Tennessee General Assembly.  Now serving in his 10th Legislative term, Representative Armstrong has served as Chair of the House Consumer and Employee Affairs Committee and the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators.  Currently, Representative Armstrong is Chair of the House Health and Human Resources Committee, as well as, the Tennessee Black Health Care Commission (which he helped establish in 1995). Representative Armstrong is also serving in his 9th term as Vice-Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. Throughout his tenure, Representative Armstrong has authored key Legislation to improve the quality of life for all citizens of the state of Tennessee, including the Meharry Wellness program and the Tennessee Health Safety Net program.

Representative Armstrong has received recognition for his commitment on both the local and national level, including the Tom Joyner Foundation Volunteer Award, Legislator of the Year Awards from the Tennessee Medical Association and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, and Leadership Awards from the American Diabetes Association, the National Black and Hispanic Caucuses of State Legislators and the Knoxville Area Project Access Health Partnership, to name a few.

Representative Armstrong stresses political participation on all levels of Government, believing it is the one true way to improve the quality of life and assure freedom and equality for all. He is often quoted as saying “Voting is our choice of hope”.