About Brian « Brian Kelsey for State Senate

About Brian

Brian Kelsey was elected to the Tennessee State Senate in a special election held on December 1, 2009. He represents District 31, which includes parts of Bartlett, Cordova, East Memphis, Germantown, and Hickory Hill. During his first legislative session, Senator Kelsey immediately made his presence known by passing a constitutional amendment through the Senate for the first time in Tennessee history to permanently ban a state income tax and a payroll tax. He also passed through the Senate a bill to prohibit legislators from flying to and from session in Nashville on taxpayer dollars. In addition, he introduced legislation to reduce wasteful government spending, allow Tennesseans to purchase health insurance across state lines, abolish parole, and give Equal Opportunity Scholarships for low-income children to attend schools of their choice. Senator Kelsey serves on the Judiciary Committee, the Government Operations Committee, the Fiscal Review Committee, the Corrections Oversight Committee, the Information Systems Council, and the Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission.

Prior to being elected to the Senate, Brian Kelsey served from 2004 to 2009 as a State Representative, representing portions of East Memphis and Germantown. In the House, Senator Kelsey served as the Republican Floor Leader, having been elected by his colleagues for the 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions. In 2009 Senator Kelsey was appointed Chairman of the Civil Practice and Procedure Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. While serving in the House, Senator Kelsey focused his efforts on reducing pork spending, reforming ethics, fighting crime, protecting life, and improving education.

In the private sector, Senator Kelsey is a local attorney and small business owner of the Kelsey Firm, practicing law in the areas of civil litigation, probate and estate, contracts, real estate, and criminal defense. His office is located on the Collierville town square in a building where his great grandfather once ran a shoe store. Senator Kelsey also finds time to teach a course on constitutional law to undergraduate students at the University of Memphis. Senator Kelsey received his law degree from Georgetown University and his undergraduate degree, with honors, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also studied abroad one semester at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

Prior to his legislative service, Senator Kelsey worked as a legal intern for President George W. Bush in the Office of the Counsel to the President. He also served as a legal intern for U.S. Senator Bill Frist and U.S. Congressman Ed Bryant. He interned, as well, for the U.S. Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Fred Thompson.

In addition to his legislative and legal work, Senator Kelsey attends Fellowship Memphis church, where he serves as a greeter and former 1st grade Sunday School teacher. He currently teaches a 10th grade Bible study. He is a member of the Republican National Lawyers Association, the Christian Legal Society, the Federalist Society, and the Tennessee Bar Association. He has tutored children at Lester Community Center and served on the Shelby County Republican Party Steering Committee and the Shelby County Young Republicans Executive Board.

Senator Kelsey was selected to the Memphis Business Journal “Top 40 Under 40” in 2004 and the Business Tennessee Magazine “30 Under 30” in 2005. He received recognition in 2008 from Memphis Area Legal Services for his pro bono service to indigent clients.

In his free time Senator Kelsey enjoys playing “Rock Band” with his niece and nephews, watching basketball, reading, playing softball, practicing his Spanish, and traveling. He’s visited twenty-three countries on five continents.

Senator Kelsey currently resides in Germantown, Tennessee and is a seventh-generation Shelby County resident.

Biographical Information

Christian – attends Fellowship Memphis Church
Attorney – solo practitioner at the Kelsey Firm, PLLC
Adjunct Professor of Political Science – University of Memphis
B.A. with honors, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
J.D., Georgetown University

Public Office

Tennessee Senate

Member, 2009-present

Tennessee House of Representatives

Chairman, Civil Practice and Procedure Subcommittee, 2009
Republican Floor Leader, 2007-2008
Member, 2004-2006

Government Experience

George W. Bush, Office of the Counsel to the President – Legal Intern
Bill Frist, U. S. Senatorial Office – Legal Intern
Fred Thompson, U. S. Senate Committee Office – Intern
Ed Bryant, U. S. Congressional Office – Legal Intern

Community Involvement

10th grade Bible study teacher
Republican National Lawyers Association
Christian Legal Society
Lester Community Center, former volunteer children’s reader
Federalist Society, Memphis Lawyers Chapter board member
Shelby County Republican Party, former Steering Committee member
Shelby County Young Republicans, former Executive Board member
Tennessee Bar Association
Fellowship Memphis Church, greeter and former 1st grade Sunday School teacher
7th generation Shelby County resident

Honors and Awards

Memphis Business Journal “Top 40 under 40″ (2004)
Business Tennessee Magazine’s “30 Under 30” (2005)
Memphis Area Legal Services pro bono service award (2008)

Paid for by VoteKelsey.com, William H. Watkins, III, Treasurer

VoteKelsey.com PO Box 382354 Germantown, TN 38183-2354 (901) 235-2031


	Home About Brian District 31 Issues News About Brian Brian Kelsey was elected to the Tennessee State Senate in a special election held on December 1, 2009. He represents District 31, which includes parts of Bartlett, Cordova, East Memphis, Germantown, and Hickory Hill. During his first legislative session, Senator Kelsey immediately made his presence known by passing a constitutional amendment through the Senate for the first time in Tennessee history to permanently ban a state income tax and a payroll tax. He also passed through the Senate a bill to prohibit legislators from flying to and from session in Nashville on taxpayer dollars. In addition, he introduced legislation to reduce wasteful government spending, allow Tennesseans to purchase health insurance across state lines, abolish parole, and give Equal Opportunity Scholarships for low-income children to attend schools of their choice. Senator Kelsey serves on the Judiciary Committee, the Government Operations Committee, the Fiscal Review Committee, the Corrections Oversight Committee, the Information Systems Council, and the Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission. Prior to being elected to the Senate, Brian Kelsey served from 2004 to 2009 as a State Representative, representing portions of East Memphis and Germantown. In the House, Senator Kelsey served as the Republican Floor Leader, having been elected by his colleagues for the 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions. In 2009 Senator Kelsey was appointed Chairman of the Civil Practice and Procedure Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. While serving in the House, Senator Kelsey focused his efforts on reducing pork spending, reforming ethics, fighting crime, protecting life, and improving education. In the private sector, Senator Kelsey is a local attorney and small business owner of the Kelsey Firm, practicing law in the areas of civil litigation, probate and estate, contracts, real estate, and criminal defense. His office is located on the Collierville town square in a building where his great grandfather once ran a shoe store. Senator Kelsey also finds time to teach a course on constitutional law to undergraduate students at the University of Memphis. Senator Kelsey received his law degree from Georgetown University and his undergraduate degree, with honors, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also studied abroad one semester at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Prior to his legislative service, Senator Kelsey worked as a legal intern for President George W. Bush in the Office of the Counsel to the President. He also served as a legal intern for U.S. Senator Bill Frist and U.S. Congressman Ed Bryant. He interned, as well, for the U.S. Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Fred Thompson. In addition to his legislative and legal work, Senator Kelsey attends Fellowship Memphis church, where he serves as a greeter and former 1st grade Sunday School teacher. He currently teaches a 10th grade Bible study. He is a member of the Republican National Lawyers Association, the Christian Legal Society, the Federalist Society, and the Tennessee Bar Association. He has tutored children at Lester Community Center and served on the Shelby County Republican Party Steering Committee and the Shelby County Young Republicans Executive Board. Senator Kelsey was selected to the Memphis Business Journal “Top 40 Under 40” in 2004 and the Business Tennessee Magazine “30 Under 30” in 2005. He received recognition in 2008 from Memphis Area Legal Services for his pro bono service to indigent clients. In his free time Senator Kelsey enjoys playing “Rock Band” with his niece and nephews, watching basketball, reading, playing softball, practicing his Spanish, and traveling. He’s visited twenty-three countries on five continents. Senator Kelsey currently resides in Germantown, Tennessee and is a seventh-generation Shelby County resident. Biographical Information Christian – attends Fellowship Memphis Church Attorney – solo practitioner at the Kelsey Firm, PLLC Adjunct Professor of Political Science – University of Memphis B.A. with honors, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill J.D., Georgetown University Public Office Tennessee Senate Member, 2009-present Tennessee House of Representatives Chairman, Civil Practice and Procedure Subcommittee, 2009 Republican Floor Leader, 2007-2008 Member, 2004-2006 Government Experience George W. Bush, Office of the Counsel to the President – Legal Intern Bill Frist, U. S. Senatorial Office – Legal Intern Fred Thompson, U. S. Senate Committee Office – Intern Ed Bryant, U. S. Congressional Office – Legal Intern Community Involvement 10th grade Bible study teacher Republican National Lawyers Association Christian Legal Society Lester Community Center, former volunteer children’s reader Federalist Society, Memphis Lawyers Chapter board member Shelby County Republican Party, former Steering Committee member Shelby County Young Republicans, former Executive Board member Tennessee Bar Association Fellowship Memphis Church, greeter and former 1st grade Sunday School teacher 7th generation Shelby County resident Honors and Awards Memphis Business Journal “Top 40 under 40″ (2004) Business Tennessee Magazine’s “30 Under 30” (2005) Memphis Area Legal Services pro bono service award (2008) Paid for by VoteKelsey.com, William H. Watkins, III, Treasurer VoteKelsey.com PO Box 382354 Germantown, TN 38183-2354 (901) 235-2031