About Me

Accountability, Transparency, Authenticity
What Motivates Me
I believe elected officials have the responsibility to listen to the residents of Tullahoma. My goal through this campaign is to talk with as many citizens as possible on their doorsteps, at meetings, wherever they are—so that I may hear their hopes and dreams for our community and be able to best serve them when re-elected.
Personally, I want what every parent wants: a good school system, great amenities, and good jobs and industry. While this might sound trite to some, to me it is a tangible list of goals. I want to expand our pedestrian and bike infrastructure so that our children can easily and safely get to our fantastic schools. I want good roads that allow for everyone in the community to access the many parks, our greenway, and our robust art and athletic scene. And of course, business recruitment that makes sense for our community: those that offer good pay, benefits and a pathway into management. My reason for wanting these things is simple: I want my children to come back here to raise their families one day. Just as I did.
Why I Serve
I serve my community because I believe each of us has a vital role to play in making our community better. To me, that means service. I have spent the last 15 years working in fundraising and large-scale event production for nonprofits. This has allowed me to use what I am best at – logic, problem-solving and relationship building – to help underserved communities across the country. Since moving back to my hometown, my family and I have thrown ourselves into our community. From serving on non-profits boards to utilizing my role as an elected official to partner with our community members to best serve our city’s needs, I have found pro-active solutions to help our community. I have served on the city’s planning commission, as the city’s liaison to the Board of Education, on the Tourism Council and as the Downtown Liaison.
I believe my service should not end in the board room. Since being elected, I have utilized my role as an Alderman to best serve my community through a series of INITIATIVES. https://rupablackwell.com/initiatives/
When I serve, I aim to be transparent and authentic and ask that our citizens hold me accountable for every decision made.