Two Wilson County residents have announced they are running for District 46 State House representative.

Menda McCall Holmes and Clark Boyd are both seeking the seat currently held by Mark Pody, who announced following the 2016 election that he would not be running for the position of House representative again.

Pody has since announced he is running for the 17th District State Senate seat which was vacated by Mae Beavers on Sept. 1. Beavers is running for governor in the 2018 election.

A special election to fill the remainder of Beavers' term in the senate is expected to be announced this week by Gov. Bill Haslam. Pody has announced his intention to enter that election.

District 46 encompasses all of Cannon and portions of Wilson and DeKalb counties.

Holmes is a self-employed business owner and the daughter of Albert McCall, Sr. of DT McCall and Sons. Menda has been a resident of Wilson County for the past 28 years. She holds a bachelor's degree from Trevecca University and is the mother of two grown children. Menda lives in the southwestern part of the county with her husband, Howard, and they are both active members at New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro.

Boyd is an Army veteran and small business owner in Lebanon.

"I have had a heart for service since I joined the military when I was 18 years old. That same desire to serve and make a difference is why I am stepping up to this opportunity." Boyd said. "I intend to fight for the conservative values and ideals that our country was founded upon and work to make Tennessee the freest state in the nation"

Boyd is a NRA member and huge advocate for the 2nd Amendment. He is 100 % Pro-Life and a strong protector of the unborn. As a small business owner, Clark is also very aware of the challenges that big government can create for business. Clark will work to reduce red tape and keep taxes low for Tennesseans. Clark will work with other legislators to curtail illegal immigration and opposes the establishment of any sanctuary cities within TN.

"I'm excited about Clark's decision to run," says former Wilson County GOP chairman Kevin Foushee. "He is going to do well in anything that he does. He is a strong leader and people listen to and respect him. He is one of those few people that seem to have a knack for getting people to unite behind his vision. The people of the 46th district will be well represented by someone like Clark."

Boyd is the owner of an insurance agency in Lebanon. He and his wife, Jada, have two children, Wilson (9) and Blair Ellen (6). They are members of Immanuel Baptist Church where they teach Sunday school together and Clark serves as a deacon. Clark is very involved in the community in Wilson County where he has previously served as president of the Rotary Club of Lebanon, Men's ministry chairman at Immanuel Baptist church, Habitat for Humanity President, and Chairman of the Wilson County Republican Party. For more information, please visit our website www.voteclarkboyd.com.

Holmes has served as the Chairman of the Wilson County Tea Party for the past four years. During that time the Tea Party hosted top conservative leaders who spoke on a wide variety of issues that affect Tennesseans. She also worked in the legislature researching bills for Representative Pody and served on the executive board of the Wilson County Republican Party.

Holmes is a strong supporter of the biblical values and constitutional principles that make Tennessee great. As an advocate for State's rights, religious liberty, the right to life and the Second Amendment she will work to continue advancing the conservative principles Representative Pody stood for during his four terms in the House of Representatives.

Her campaign theme, "Keeping the Promise," follows the footsteps of President Trump to fulfill the promises made during the campaign with real action and not cave in to special interests.