Eddie Mannis A Tennessee Education Hero
Eddie Mannis is committed to ensuring every student in Tennessee has access to great public education and opportunities for a bright future. Eddie Mannis will be a leader in helping Tennessee build on our historic gains in education by supporting school choice, ensuring accountability in our schools, supporting innovation in education, and securing economic freedom for all.
Eddie Mannis will:
- Put the Future of Tennessee Kids First
- Promote Vocational Education for Technical Careers and Skilled Jobs
- Hold Schools and Teachers Accountable for Student Success
About Eddie Mannis
Eddie Mannis admits Knoxville has given him incredible opportunities. He has spent his lifetime giving back to Knoxville and is ready to take those efforts to the State Capitol. While at Maryville College, working overtime at a local laundry service, he purchased used dry cleaning equipment and started his own business with 3 employees. Since then, he has grown that business to create more than 150 jobs in Knoxville and earned recognition as a top employer in East Tennessee. Placing servant leadership first, Mannis served as Knoxville’s Deputy Mayor and first Chief Operating Officer. He has also served as Chairman of Zoo Knoxville, on the Knox Heritage board, and founded HonorAir Knoxville – a organization that has flown more than 3,500 WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam war veterans to see the memorials built in Washington, DC in their honor. Growing up in a middle-class home in Knoxville, Mannis wants to ensure every Knox County student has the same opportunities he had and more. He knows that starts with access to a high-quality education that invests in career-training, and that Tennessee continues to create jobs so every student can gain full and prosperous employment.