Jim Coley

Jim Coley (born February 11, 1951 in Houston, Texas) is an American politician and a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for the 97th district, which encompasses part of Shelby County.

Education and career

Jim Coley was first elected to the 105th Tennessee General Assembly (2007–2008). He is a member of the House Education Committee, the House State and Local Committee, the House State Government Subcommittee, the House Higher Education Subcommittee, and the House Special Initiatives Subcommittee. Rep. Coley currently works as a teacher at Bolton High School. He graduated from Memphis State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors. He obtained his Master of Arts degree in Teaching from the University of Memphis.

Activism

Rep. Coley was instrumental in introducing a number of different bills in 2011 and 2012 regarding the practice of human trafficking. The bills introduced made sentencing against traffickers much more strict as well as providing more outreach to those who survive the practice. His work, along with his co-sponsors and NGO Operation Broken Silence, moved Tennessee to number 2 in the nation in the Polaris Project's annual state-by-state rankings of legislative work being done to stop modern slavery.

Family

Rep. Coley's immediate family consists of his wife, Paula Coley, a CPA, and his son and daughter, Evan and Erin respectively.