Murfreesboro native and MTSU graduate Ashley Benkarski announced her run to represent Rutherford County’s District 21 as county commissioner last September. 

Benkarski’s campaign is largely focused on “working-class issues,” defined in three words: affordability, accessibility and accountability. She promises to fight for affordable housing, lower grocery prices, expanded rural healthcare county services, develop viable public transit and “give working people a voice.”

“I think that we need people in office at all levels that understand the lived experience of working-class families,” Benkarski said.

Benkarski, a democratic socialist, was raised in a union family, and said this “radicalized” her at a very early age. She attributed learning about community to working at Pizza Hut for twelve years. As a delivery driver and shift manager, she said she delivered to every area in the county and got to know people of all kinds. 

“That’s the key to understanding the American experience,” Benkarski said. “If you can understand the working class, you can understand anybody.” 

Time at MTSU

During her time at MTSU, Benkarski began with an interest in English but later shifted to Journalism. In high school, she was heavily affected by how the media portrayed 9/11, and this pushed her to pursue journalism. 

Benkarski had her daughter in 2009 and struggled between school and working 40 hours a week, but she eventually graduated with a degree in sociology. She was pushed to the field by the injustices she saw around her, mentioning the shooting of Michael Brown in 2014 and when white nationalists marched on Shelbyville in 2017.

“I truly believe that Murfreesboro loves,” Benkarski said. “But that love comes with a price, and that means constant vigilance. We have to protect it. We can’t just turn our heads, and I think that’s what history is teaching us now.”

Career in journalism

Benkarski began her career as a freelance journalist in 2018 with the Tennessee Tribune, when she wrote about an incident that occured at Walnut Grove Missionary Baptist Church. A group of teenagers vandalized the predominantly Black church, defacing the building with racist messages and KKK imagery. This was Benkarski’s first story.

Benkarski said that working as a journalist taught her more about Tennessee.

“I learned so much about [Tennessee] history,” Benkarski said. “[And] all these areas around us that are really rich with histories and untold stories that have just been pushed to the side.”

At the Tennessee Tribune, Benkarski covered renters’ issues, local politics and community issues across Tennessee. She wrote for the Tribune until 2024.

Decision to run

Benkarski now works as a community organizer with TN Renters United, a statewide organization that educates on and fights for tenants’ rights. There, she knocks on doors to inform tenants of their rights and advocate for them.

“Tenant relationships are a microcosm of how people can come together and work,” Benkarski said.

She is frustrated with the way local legislators handle working-class issues like the renting and homelessness crises. At the county commission, she saw people being interrupted during public comment, and it angered her.

“That’s just unfair, that’s not democracy, and we’ve got to change it,” Benkarski said.

Benkarski initially wanted to run on the Independent ticket, but thought that would “shut” her out by party-line voters. However, she seeks to understand the issues of every voter in Rutherford County, beyond party lines. 

“I do not believe in one party or another,” Benkarski said. “That is why we are in such a bad shape right now.”

6,000 doors

Bednarski’s goal now is to knock all 6,000 doors in District 21 by May and “create a movement.” Her campaign started with nine volunteers and is now at 23. So far, they have knocked 1,600 doors in Rutherford County.

“I believe that we will meet the moment here,” Benkarksi said. “We have a strong community. And we have a unique time here as people who label themselves as progressives to listen and take the working class’ concerns to heart, and really champion those first.”

She hopes to understand the needs of District 21 and serve everyone through cogovernance, Benkarski said. Solidarity gives her hope, and she wants the working class to know that they have power, and there is power in community.

Benkarski’s ultimate role as District County Commissioner would be to oversee the county’s budget. She feels that she would “be a better watchdog for how that money gets spent.”

“We can win,” Benkarski said. “We can make these changes that we have been wanting for so long. We can do it.”

The deadline to register for the Democratic Primary Election is April 6. Early voting will take place April 15 through 30, with the Primary Election on May 5.

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