Knoxville native Janet Testerman, currently serving as an at-large member of the Knoxville City Council, has picked up a petition to seek the Republican nomination for District 18 in the Tennessee General Assembly.

Testerman, a lifelong Republican and CEO of Young-Williams Animal Center, said she is optimistic about the future of the state and wants to provide a strong voice in Nashville in the House of Representatives for residents in District 18, which largely consists of neighborhoods in West and South Knoxville.

“I believe in being a good steward of your tax dollars, keeping parents and students at the forefront of education and preserving Tennessee’s pro-business environment,” Testerman said. “Prior to and during my time on City Council, I have become increasingly aware of the impact of state policy and legislation on our city and county. What happens in Nashville matters in Knoxville.”

The District 18 seat will become vacant because incumbent state Rep. Eddie Mannis announced this week that he does not plan to seek re-election. Testerman earned an at-large seat on City Council in 2019 and serves as chair of both the Beer Board and the City of Knoxville Animal Control Board.

Prior to being named CEO of Young-Williams Animal Center in 2016, Testerman spent nearly a decade in communications as manager of internal communication for Scripps Networks Interactive and earlier as executive editor of E.W. Scripps’ custom publications, Knoxville Magazine and skirt! magazine. Before returning to her communications background, she owned and operated Testerman Cooperative Catering, a full-service, off-premise catering company for nearly eight years.

Currently a board member for the Metro Drug Coalition, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and Truist Bank Community Advisory Board, Testerman has served on numerous other boards in the past, including Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation (now Visit Knoxville), Bijou Theatre, Leadership Knoxville and Young-Williams Animal Center for five years prior to joining the organization full time. She also was president of the Dogwood Arts board.
Testerman earned a Bachelor of Arts in communication from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Master of Arts in strategic communication from American University in Washington, D.C. She is married to Joey Creswell and has two stepdaughters.
She is the daughter of the late Kyle Testerman, a two-term Knoxville mayor.

“My father taught me that one committed person, through ability and action, can make a difference,” Testerman said. “Because of that encouragement and my personal dedication to this community, I truly understand what it takes to create a better future.”