Page Blakeslee Walley (born March 2, 1957) is a psychologist, businessman, Baptist minister and Republican politician from Bolivar, Tennessee.[1][2]

Page Walley
Member of the Tennessee Senate
from the 26th district
Assumed office
January 12, 2021
Preceded byDolores Gresham
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
from the 80th district
In office
January 8, 1991 – January 9, 2001
Preceded byRobert S. Stallings
Succeeded byJohnny Shaw
Personal details
Born
Page Blakeslee Walley

(1957-03-02) March 2, 1957 (age 67)
Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Terry McVay
(m. 1985)
Children3
Residence(s)Bolivar, Tennessee, U.S.
EducationDavidson College
University of Georgia
OccupationPsychologist

Background

edit

Walley was born March 2, 1957, in Chattanooga and grew up in La Grange. He received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Davidson College and his master's and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Georgia. He married the former Teresa Anne McVay in Miami on June 21, 1985.[3]

Public life

edit

Walley served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1991 to 2000 (the 97th, 98th, 99th, 100th and 101st General Assemblies).[4] He began his term in the House by defeating incumbent Democrat Robert S. Stallings by 220 votes. He left the House in 2000, becoming Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (which he had helped create), and was succeeded by Democrat Johnny Shaw (also a psychologist, businessman, and Baptist minister).[5] He later left Tennessee, heading the Alabama Department of Children’s Affairs and their Department of Human Services.

Back to Tennessee

edit

Returning to Tennessee, he settled in Bolivar (near La Grange) and went back into practice as a clinical psychologist and public speaker. He also served on the city council and as Vice Mayor of Bolivar.[6] He was elected in 2020 to represent the 26th District of the Tennessee State Senate, succeeding fellow Republican Dolores Gresham (who did not seek re-election). Walley defeated Jai Templeton in the Republican primary for District 26 on August 6, 2020, with 13,076 votes to 11,543 for Templeton. In the November general election, he won with 62,701 votes to 19,918 for Democratic nominee Civil Miller-Watkins.[7]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Senators - TN General Assembly".
  2. ^ "Page Walley".
  3. ^ "Walley-McVay". Montgomery Advertiser. July 17, 1985. p. 2C. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Tennessee House Representative: 101st General Assembly: PAGE WALLEY" Tennessee House Archives
  5. ^ " Tennessee House Representative: JOHNNY SHAW" Tennessee House Archives
  6. ^ Morris, Kevin. "Dr. Page Walley to seek State Senate seat" Chester County Independent March 11, 2020
  7. ^ "Page Walley" ballotpedia.org