Campaign Website:
www.terristodd4congress.com

Campaign POC:

Phone Number: 269-209-9018

Campaign Email:
terris@terristodd4congress.com

Vetting Panel Selected: Pending

Structured Interview Completed: Pending

Biography: Terris E. Todd was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan.  He earned his B.S. in Elementary Education and M.A. in Educational Leadership both from Western Michigan University. He worked as a public school teacher, administrator, and college instructor along with serving on various boards.

He recently served as the Advisor of Coalitions Engagement at the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC.

In 2020, Terris was appointed by The White House serving as the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans in the U.S. Department of Education in Washington D.C.

He focused on working with educational professionals in the public and private sectors to elevate and bring awareness to the challenges faced by African American students in the country and leveraging resources to help ensure students are prepared for college and productive careers that contribute to the well-being of society.

Prior to his appointment, Terris served as a Civil Service Commissioner, County Commissioner, and Vice Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party where he provided leadership and outreach efforts to the expansion of conservative thought and values throughout the state from 2017 to 2020.

In 2015, he served as Director of District Relations in the Michigan House of Representatives (District 62) and, later in the same year, Director of Education and Children Services for Community Action of South Central Michigan until May 2020.

He continues to provide leadership throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, serving on the Norfolk State University Foundation Board, Frederick Douglass Foundation, Douglass Leadership Institute, Project 21, and the Fatherhood Initiative Advisory Board.

He is an ordained minister and the author of Just Being There: A Parents Guide To Raising Children.

He currently resides in Woodbridge, Virginia.

Terris and his wife Karen have three daughters.

Why you?  I believe my extensive background of serving the public of diverse populations, for over 25 years, has prepared me for this opportunity to serve as the next Congressman of the 7th Congressional District of Virginia. My experience of serving in the public school system, on every level of education, has afforded me the opportunity as a teacher, Asst. Principal, and Adjunct Instructor to meet the needs of all students and families, regardless of who they are or where they live. I also had the honor of being the advisor to Hispanic families during my tenure in public education as well for several years.

My extensive experience in government, via appointed or elected, provides a great deal of merit as well. I answered the call of an Army Sergeant to serve as a Civil Service Commissioner for the fire department. I answered the call of the Chairman of the County Board of Commissioners to serve as an elected County Commissioner (5 Terms). I answered the call of a retired Lt. Colonel (US Air Force) to serve as a District Director in the state legislature. I answered the call from the Office of the U.S. President to serve as a White House Appointee to the US Department of Education, which led me to serving as Advisor of Coalitions Engagement in the public policy industry.

Most importantly, I answered the call of God to the ministry of public service, which has given me a clear understanding of what’s at stake for our nation. Very few people acknowledge the fact that many of our founders were people of faith. They built a foundation for a nation on something that was sure to last, if we have the right leadership to stand firm on it. I believe my experience of bringing people together, for the common good of all, is a gift and a skill most necessary in congress and the times in which we live today.

Experience matters. I have an extensive background of experience and the will to serve the people as their next Congressman of the 7th Congressional District of Virginia.

What are your priorities? 
Securing the Border & Reducing Crime
Protecting Parental Rights
Restoring Excellence in Education
Fostering the Growth and Development of American Entrepreneurship (Fiscal accountability & Budget restraints)
Supporting Our Veterans and Military Families
Unleashing American Energy and Protecting our Lands
Defending Our Freedoms of Expression (Religion & Speech)

Endorsements: 
The Future PAC
Kelly Mitchell – Former White House Appointee, Department of Energy
Dr. Hugh Daniel Smith – President, The Justice Network
Dr. Eric Wallace – President & Co-founder, Freedoms Journal Institute (Host-Black Conservative Summit)
Apostle Tommy Quick – President & Founder, Christian Families Against Destructive Decisions

Education: 
Masters Degree in Educational Leadership – Western Michigan University 2002 (Elementary & Secondary)
Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education – Western Michigan University 1998
 

Relevant Employment History: 
The Heritage Foundation, Advisor of Coalitions Engagement
White House Appointee, US Department of Education (Executive Director on Educational Excellence for African American students)
Michigan State House of Representatives, Director of District Relations (District 62)
Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, Calhoun County, MI (5 Terms, District 2)
Professional Educator ( Director of Head Start Programs); (Elementary & Secondary Teaching and Asst. Principal); Adjunct Professor (Post-Secondary)

Military Experience / Branch / Years of Service / Rank / Type of Discharge: None.

Past Offices Held and Tenure:
White House Appointee, US Department of Education (Executive Director on Educational Excellence for African American students)
Michigan Republican Party, Vice Chairman
Board of Commissioners, Calhoun County, MI (5-Terms)

Community Service:
Norfolk State University Foundation, Board of Directors
Lions Club International
American Legion Post 364
Christian Families Against Destructive Decisions, Board of Directors
Frederick Douglass Foundation
Douglass Leadership Institute
Fatherhood Initiative Advisory Board

Leadership Experience: 
Norfolk State University Foundation Board – Co-Chair, Committee on Directors
The Heritage Foundation – Co-Chair, African American Advisory Council to the President
Michigan Republican Party – Vice Chairman
White House Appointee – US Department of Education, Executive Director 

Personal Strengths: 
Loyalty, Commitment, Willingness to serve, Good Communicator, Good Listener, Goal-Oriented, Optimistic, Disciplined

What is the most important thing Virginians need to know about you? The most important thing Virginians need to know about me is that I am a husband, father, and a man of faith with the call and extensive experience to serve their families as the next Congressman of the 7th Congressional District of Virginia.
 

How would your friends and family describe you? A natural born leader, Determined, Self-driven, Focused, Family man with traditional values

What are your thoughts on the Constitution as the Law of the Land?  The Constitution is foundational to our existence as a nation and must not be changed to serve global ideologies that go against it. Our individual rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are granted as citizens along with a limited government enshrined in the Bill of Rights as intended by our Founding Fathers.
 

What are your thoughts on religious liberty? Religious liberty must always be protected as an inalienable, human right for all. Our Constitution was built upon it and what makes us great as a nation.   
 

What are your thoughts on the preservation of our history? The preservation of our history is vital because it serves as an ancient landmark for our journey as a nation. It also reminds us of our shared struggles or sacrifices as a people and sends a warning to generations to come.
 

What are your thought on government transparency?  Government transparency is essential to the building of trust and faith with the people. Anytime there is a lack of transparency, it causes the people to sense betrayal and may rebel as a result.
 

What are your thoughts on national defense? A strong national defense preserves our peace. Unfortunately, our current status of an open border has caused the American people unrest and must be resolved immediately.
 

What are your thoughts on the free enterprise system? The free enterprise system is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice. However, government must exercise fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraint on all levels in order to enjoy the benefits of the system.

What are your thoughts on the protection of the unborn? All life must be protected. The priority of any government is to protect its people. I believe we can accomplish this in many ways, starting with the formation of families and creating the environment conducive to their success.
 

What are your thoughts on the role the family plays in America? The family is the cornerstone of any civil society and most empowering for generations to come. I believe God designed for the family to be his model in the earth in providing all of our needs in life, with his guidance. Most of our nation’s ills can be traced back to a family that has been disrupted and not treated as a sacred entity. We must restore the beauty and importance of family as God intended in this nation. 
 

What are your thoughts on equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity, as opposed to equal outcomes? Equal rights, equal justice, and equal opportunity are foundational traits of America’s promise to its citizens. Equal outcomes are solely dependent upon individual effort and are not guaranteed to be the same.
 

What are your thoughts on the 2nd Amendment? The 2nd Amendment represents true freedom for the American people to protect themselves from all foreign or domestic threats of oppression. It must also be protected as an inalienable human right that shall NOT be infringed upon. I believe our Founders, being men of faith, knew that we could face these threats someday and would need the means to protecting ourselves from what they fled in the beginning.

Additional sources of information on this candidate: 

@TerrisTodd62
@Terris.Todd
https://youtu.be/x2MUquvZts8
https://youtu.be/KOcst2jrdZw
https://vimeo.com/725344497/d41b4d3c27
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk6uUuRiOMY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5dPN_MXlZ