Everything you need to know about ranked-choice voting in one spot. Click to learn more!

Mezianne Vale Payne

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
BP-Initials-UPDATED.png
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Mezianne Vale Payne
Image of Mezianne Vale Payne
Elections and appointments
Last election

August 2, 2018

Contact

Mezianne Vale Payne (Democratic Party) ran for election for Governor of Tennessee. She lost in the Democratic primary on August 2, 2018.

Vale Payne completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.

Elections

2018

See also: Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2018

General election

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Tennessee on November 6, 2018.

General election

General election for Governor of Tennessee

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bill Lee
Bill Lee (R)
 
59.6
 
1,336,106
Image of Karl Dean
Karl Dean (D)
 
38.6
 
864,863
Sherry Clark (Independent)
 
0.2
 
5,198
Mark Wright (Independent)
 
0.2
 
4,687
Patrick Whitlock (Independent)
 
0.2
 
3,631
Yvonne Neubert (Independent)
 
0.1
 
3,070
Image of Heather Scott
Heather Scott (Independent)
 
0.1
 
2,969
Mark Brown (Independent)
 
0.1
 
2,841
Joe Wilmoth (Independent)
 
0.1
 
2,444
George Blackwell Smith IV (Independent)
 
0.1
 
1,550
Cory King (Independent)
 
0.1
 
1,502
Tracy Yaste Tisdale (Independent)
 
0.1
 
1,396
Justin Cornett (Independent)
 
0.1
 
1,217
Image of Chad Riden
Chad Riden (Independent)
 
0.0
 
1,096
Robert Sawyers Sr. (Independent)
 
0.0
 
1,059
Image of Vinnie Vineyard
Vinnie Vineyard (Independent) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
1,012
Image of Rick Tyler
Rick Tyler (Independent)
 
0.0
 
981
Image of Gabriel Fancher
Gabriel Fancher (Independent)
 
0.0
 
869
Sean Fleming (Independent)
 
0.0
 
814
Alfred Rapoza (Independent)
 
0.0
 
800
Jessie McDonald (Independent)
 
0.0
 
755
Toney Mitchell (Independent)
 
0.0
 
739
Mike Toews (Independent)
 
0.0
 
726
Matthew Koch (Independent)
 
0.0
 
652
Jeremy Allen Stephenson (Independent)
 
0.0
 
613
Tommy McAnally (Independent)
 
0.0
 
609
Jaron Weidner (Independent)
 
0.0
 
588
William Helmstetter (Independent)
 
0.0
 
496
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
11

Total votes: 2,243,294
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Karl Dean defeated Craig Fitzhugh and Mezianne Vale Payne in the Democratic primary for Governor of Tennessee on August 2, 2018.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Tennessee

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Karl Dean
Karl Dean
 
75.1
 
279,324
Image of Craig Fitzhugh
Craig Fitzhugh
 
19.4
 
72,263
Image of Mezianne Vale Payne
Mezianne Vale Payne Candidate Connection
 
5.4
 
20,253

Total votes: 371,840
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Tennessee on August 2, 2018.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Tennessee

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bill Lee
Bill Lee
 
36.7
 
289,699
Image of Randy Boyd
Randy Boyd
 
24.3
 
191,940
Image of Diane Black
Diane Black
 
23.0
 
181,719
Image of Beth Harwell
Beth Harwell
 
15.3
 
120,910
Image of Kay White
Kay White
 
0.4
 
3,181
Basil Marceaux
 
0.2
 
1,270

Total votes: 788,719
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2018

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Candidate Connection

Mezianne Vale Payne participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on July 24, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Mezianne Vale Payne's responses follow below.[1]

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Medical Cannabis, Single Payer, and College Tuition, programs[2][3]

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

Health Care. As a Critical Care RN, I have saved many lives in Tennessee. I know from personal experience that not having medical insurance, access to good healthcare, and education, will cause generational poverty. I have the latter of success for every family suffering from the lack medical insurance, and living in poverty. I did it myself.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[3]

Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Mezianne Vale Payne answered the following:

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow and why?

Former First Lady Michelle Obama. She is a strong woman, who knows her mind. She was an amazing first lady, and held herself with grace, and dignity.[3]
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else that best describes your political philosophy?
RFK: His Words For Our Time[3]
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
honor, good character, transparency, truthfulness, and an advocate for their constituents, not campaign donors.[3]
What qualities do you possess that would make you a successful officeholder?
Critical Care RN's have to be solution oriented, and adaptable to rapid changes. We are also very inventive, and tenacious. These are a few qualities I will bring to the Governor's seat.[3]
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To get the peoples work done everyday. Tennessee should work for her people. Right now the people work for Tennessee. To actually do the job, not kick the can down the road. Put in term limits on day one to rid us of career politicians.[3]
What legacy would you like to leave?
One First Nations People Communities (formerly known as Native American Indian Reservations) in each section of the state. My legacy will be righting Andrew Jackson's biggest wrong, and bringing our Lakota brothers, and sisters, home. See my platform for this on my web page.[3]
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at that time?
I was in ten years old, and home from school with strep throat, on the day of Ronald Reagan's first inauguration. We only had four channels back then, and he was on all of them. Totally changed my life. I am a democrat that Loves Ronald Reagan, JFK, RFK, FDR, and Abraham Lincoln.[3]
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
In an ice cream store on the south side of Birmingham. I had it for six months.[3]
What happened on your most awkward date?
A young man went in for the kiss and got my nose. You ever have a tongue go in your nose? It was most awkward.[3]
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
I am a messianic jew. That means I am a jew that believes Jesus Christ is the messiah. My favorite holiday is Christmas. I do not celebrate with decorations, and presents. I celebrate the birth of Christ. The meal we share as a family, and good times with loved ones. Shopping can happen anytime of the year. Family gatherings can not.[3]
What is your favorite book? Why?
Dune. The prequels, and the original set from the 1960's. They are about planets, and space, post earth. Amazing stories![3]
If you could be any fictional character, who would you be?
Wrath, son of Wrath. From the Blackdagger Brotherhood series.[3]
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My bed. Its a temper-pedic.[3]
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
I'm in love with the coco. I heard it riding in the car with my son. It will not leave my brain all these years later.[3]
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
My husband passed away from leukemia in 1990. He had no medical insurance because he was diagnosed one day before it went into effect. I am ashamed that in the year 2018- we still have people uninsured, and stuck in generational poverty because our politicians are to afraid to do their jobs.[3]
A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean do you?
That means instead of having 3 critical care patients whose life depends on my skills, there will be 6.7 million (plus) lives in my hand. I know that my job will affect their lives everyday, and I want to make sure those lives are healthy, and happy. I will not let you down fellow Tennesseans.[3]
Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?
Reforming our prison system. The headquarters for America's private prison system is in Nashville. They will not like me. Private prisons need people in cells, to make money. This encourages longer, unfair, prison sentences for our minorities. When the state pays the bill- community service, and probation are used more. It is time to reunite families of non-violent cannabis offenders, pardon them, and get them out of the system.[3]
Different states require governors to have different degrees of responsibility for the state budgeting process. If it were your choice, what do you believe is the appropriate degree of gubernatorial involvement with this process in your state?
The governor cannot implement new programs if they are not involved in the budgeting process. I take this seriously. I will give Tennesseans a balance budget every year.[3]
In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?
Only use it in the most dire circumstances, and never abuse it. Getting involved with budgeting, and working with both parties, can remove the need for that veto. My plan is to be as sparing as I can with veto's, and compromise on bills with the house, and senate, in Nashville.[3]
If the governor's office in your state does not have the line-item veto power, do you believe it should? Why or why not?
I do believe it should. The Governor is the executive of the state, and needs every tool possible to effectively govern.[3]
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?
Friendship is the word I would like to use. Compromising, friendly, and honest. If I am elected I will have both parties to the governors mansion for lunch once a week. We are going to be working long, hard hours together. Compromise will be another aspect of the relationship. Just remember the buck stops at my desk. I will be a strong leader for Tennessee.[3]
What do you love most about your state?
The beauty of the land. No state income tax, and the volunteer spirit of her people. I have saved many lives in Tennessee, and formed wonderful friendships here. The people don't get any better than Tennesseans. I went to college in ROLL TIDE Tuscaloosa, with my UT tag on my car, and my big orange UT jacket in the winter. Never missed an opportunity to ROCKY TOP in Tuscaloosa. I love this state so much, I chose it out of all 50 to move too.[3]
What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?
If I am not elected, I worry what will happen to out state. We have infrastructure needs in every section of the state. When I moved here the roads in Tennessee were number one in the nation, & I think Phil Bredesen was governor. Now we are last in the nation for roads. I worry the patients will go to jail over the medicine they need. I am a Jewish woman- we worry - a lot! My worries for Tennessee are to numerous to list here.[3]

See also

Tennessee State Executive Elections News and Analysis
Seal of Tennessee.png
StateExecLogo.png
Ballotpedia RSS.jpg
Tennessee State Executive Offices
Tennessee State Legislature
Tennessee Courts
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Tennessee elections: 2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Party control of state government
State government trifectas
State of the state addresses
Partisan composition of governors

External links

Footnotes

  1. Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
  2. Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Mezianne Vale Payne's responses," July 24, 2018
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.