Ken Yager
Ken Yager | |
|---|---|
 Yager in 2024 | |
| Member of the Tennessee Senate from the 12th district | |
| Assumed office January 13, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Tommy Kilby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 5, 1947 |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Malinda Raby |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Tennessee at Martin (BA, MS) University of Memphis (JD) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Kenneth E. Yager (born January 5, 1947) is an American politician currently serving as a Republican state senator in the Tennessee General Assembly.[1] He represents Tennessee's 12th Senate district, which is made up of the counties of Campbell, Clay, Fentress, Macon, Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Roane, and Scott.[1] Yager is chairman of the Tennessee Senate Republican Caucus.[1]
Early life and education
Yager was born on January 5, 1947.[1] He received a B.A. from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1969, a M.S. from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1972, and a J.D. from the University of Memphis in 1977.[1]
Yager worked as a teacher in Harriman, as the Roane County attorney, and as the Roane County executive.[2]
Political career
Yager defeated Becky Ruppe and Christopher Fenner to become the Tennessee state senator for District 12. He is currently serving his fifth term.[3]
Yager has served on multiple committees throughout his tenure in the Senate. He is a current member of the Commerce and Labor Committee; the Finance, Ways and Means Committee; and the Fiscal Review Committee.[1] He is also chair of the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.[1]
Yager has been endorsed by both the Faith and Freedom Coalition, and the Tennessee State Employees Association.[4]
Personal life
Yager is married to the former Malinda Raby of Oliver Springs; together they have two adult children. Yager and his wife currently reside in Kingston and attend the First Baptist Church in Kingston, Tennessee.[5]
In 2019, Roane State Community College named a building on their campus after Yager.[6]
Yager was named 2023 "Man of the Year" by the Tennessee Men's Health Network. In 2024, he was photographed skydiving to both "celebrate [his] one year of being cancer-free and to raise awareness for prostate cancer".[7]
On December 3, 2024, Yager was arrested on Jekyll Island in Glynn County, Georgia, for driving under the influence, hit and run, and failing to stop at a stop sign.[8] He pleaded no contest in August 2025, resulting in the dismissal of several charges, including hit and run, duty of a driver to stop at or return to scene of accident, and failure to yield.[9]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Senator Ken Yager".
- ↑ https://tennesseelookout.com/race-details/state-senate-district-12/
- ↑ "Ken Yager". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
- ↑ https://www.indherald.com/2024/07/10/yager-defends-record-calls-for-border-wall-during-scott-county-campaign-stop/
- ↑ "Senators - TN General Assembly". wapp.capitol.tn.gov. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
- ↑ https://www.oakridger.com/story/news/2019/10/21/roane-state-building-renamed-for/2481622007/
- ↑ https://pro.stateaffairs.com/tn/healthcare/yager-skydive-cancer "Tennessee senator leaps from plane to celebrate being cancer-free - State Affairs Pro".
- ↑ https://tennesseelookout.com/2024/12/04/sen-ken-yager-faces-dui-hit-and-run-charges-after-georgia-arrest/
- ↑ https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2025/08/11/tennessee-sen-ken-yager-pleads-georgia-dui-hit-and-run-dropped/85612675007/