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.  Senator Kelsey immediately made his presence known in the Senate by introducing a constitutional amendment to permanently ban a state income tax and a payroll tax.  In addition, Senator Kelsey has introduced legislation to reduce wasteful government spending, allow Tennesseans to purchase health insurance across state lines, and give Parental Choice 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, and the Informations Systems Committee.

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 works as an attorney at the Kelsey Firm, practicing in the areas of civil litigation, criminal defense, and contracts. He 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 9th grade Bible study.  He is a member of the Republican National Lawyers Association, the Christian Legal Society, the Federalist Society, the Tennessee Bar Association, and the Memphis 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-two countries on five continents.

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

Biographical Information

Christian

Attorney – the Kelsey Firm, PLLC

B.A. with honors, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

J.D., Georgetown University

Public Office

Tennessee Senate

Member, 2009-

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 – Legal Intern

Ed Bryant, U. S. Congressional Office – Legal Intern

Community Involvement

9th 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

Memphis 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)