Yusuf Hakeem
{{Short description|American politician}}{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Yusuf Hakeem
| district = 28th
| predecessor = Joanne Favors
| state_house = Tennessee
| termstart = January 8, 2019
| office1 = Member of the Chattanooga City Council from the 9th district
| termstart1 = 1990
| termend1 = 2006
| termstart2 = 2013
| termend2 = 2017
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|12|5}}
| birth_place = Chattanooga, Tennessee
| birth_name = Yusuf Hakeem
| party = Democratic
}}
Yusuf Hakeem is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he serves in the Tennessee House of Representatives and is a former member of the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole.
Early life
Hakeem was born December 5, 1948. He graduated from Howard High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1966. He then graduated from Chattanooga State Community College, where he majored in electronics, and attended University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he majored in economics. He married Baseemah, and they have four children. He is a member and deacon of Second Missionary Baptist Church in Chattanooga.
Career
He served on the Hamilton County School Board from 1981 to 1990. He is a retiree from General Electric Corporation and served as a member of the State of Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole from 2006 to 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/160425/yusuf-hakeem#.XTP5XuhKg2w|title=Yusuf Hakeem Biography|website=Vote Smart|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-07-21}}
Hakeem served on the Chattanooga City Council for District 9 from 1990 to 2006, and again from 2013 to 2017 where he founded the Chattanooga Youth Council, now called the Mayor's Youth Council. Sixteen area schools participate in this outreach program.{{Cite web|url=https://connect.chattanooga.gov/myc/|title=Mayor's Youth Council – Connect with Chattanooga|access-date=2019-07-21}}
= Community involvement =
- Chairman, Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 2016–{{Cite web|url=http://www.bessiesmithcc.org/about/board-of-directors/|title=Board of Directors {{!}} Bessie Smith Cultural Center|access-date=2019-07-21}}
- Chattanooga NAACP Life Member and Board Member{{Cite web|url=http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h28.html|title=Representatives - TN General Assembly|website=www.capitol.tn.gov|access-date=2019-07-21}}
- Board Member, Chattanooga/Hamilton County Railroad Authority
- Chairman, Chattanooga-Hamilton County North Georgia Transportation Planning Organization
- Former Board member of the Challenger Space Center Chattanooga (NASA)
- Former Board member of the Chattanooga Community Impact Fund
- Former Board member of the Fortwood Center
= Politics =
In 2018, he ran for the Tennessee House of Representatives District 28. He was endorsed by the retiring representative JoAnne Favors, who said, "Yusuf Hakeem is the right person for the job... He has years of experience in public service, and would not face a learning curve as a first time elected official. He is prepared for the work now" in a public release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/breakingnews/story/2018/mar/12/favors-endorses/465722/|title=Retiring state Rep. JoAnne Favors endorses Yusuf Hakeem in District 28|date=2018-03-12|website=timesfreepress.com|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312211947/https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/breakingnews/story/2018/mar/12/favors-endorses/465722/|archive-date=2018-03-12|url-status=live}} He won the contested Democratic primary on August 2, 2018,{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/breakingnews/story/2018/aug/02/yusuf-hakeem-takes-early-lead/476278/|title=Yusuf Hakeem wins contested state House primary|date=2018-08-02|website=timesfreepress.com|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721070318/https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/breakingnews/story/2018/aug/02/yusuf-hakeem-takes-early-lead/476278/|archive-date=2019-07-21|url-status=live}} and won the office on November 6, 2018, defeating Lemon Williams, Jr.{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Yusuf_Hakeem|title=Yusuf Hakeem|website=Ballotpedia|access-date=2019-07-21}}
Positions
= Gun Rights =
In 2017, the NRA Political Victory Fund rated Hakeem 13% on his position on gun control and gun rights.{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/interest-group/1034/rating/10252#.XTQEJ-hKg2w|title=National Rifle Association|website=Vote Smart|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-07-21}} In 2019, he voted "no" on HB 1264/SB 0705, which created an "enhanced" conceal carry permit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2019/may/28/lawmakers-firearms-instructors-gun-law/495510/|title=Lawmakers and Chattanooga area firearms instructors voice opinions on new Tennessee gun permit law|date=2019-05-28|website=timesfreepress.com|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721070318/https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2019/may/28/lawmakers-firearms-instructors-gun-law/495510|archive-date=2019-07-21|url-status=live}}
= Healthcare =
Hakeem supports expanding public healthcare, lowering prescription drug costs, and increasing funding for primary care and community health centers. He is for increased women's health funding, specifically preventative care and contraception.{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/public-statement/1283307/issue-position-healthcare#.XTQFWehKg2w|title=Yusuf Hakeem - Healthcare|website=Vote Smart|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-07-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.yusufhakeem.com/healthcare|title=Healthcare Position|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} He voted "nay" on HB 77, which would prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detectable.{{Cite web|url=https://static.votesmart.org/static/billtext/66502.pdf|title=Tennessee HB 77 Full Text|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/bill/26149/66502/160425/yusuf-hakeem-voted-nay-passage-hb-77-prohibits-abortion-after-a-fetal-heartbeat-is-detected#66502|title=How Your Politicians Voted - HB 77|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} He voted "nay" on HB 1280, to amend state Medicaid funding.{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/bill/26283/66863/160425/yusuf-hakeem-voted-nay-passage-hb-1280-amends-state-medicaid-funding#66863|title=How Your Politicians Voted - HB 1280|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}{{Cite web|url=http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1280|title=Tennessee General Assembly Legislation|website=wapp.capitol.tn.gov|access-date=2019-07-21}}
= Education =
Hakeem supports full funding of the Basic Education Program. He stated, "It’s something I’ve been interested in for many years, and hopefully, our county can take advantage and have some assistance out of that. Because I think it is something that’s been overdue."{{Cite web|url=https://wdef.com/2019/01/25/mayor-coppinger-talks-local-issues-lawmakers/|title=Mayor Coppinger talks local issues with lawmakers|last=Parker|first=Collins|date=2019-01-25|website=WDEF|access-date=2019-07-21}} He said that he wants to fix Tennessee's "broken testing system," giving more control to teachers.{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/public-statement/1283302/issue-positioneducation#.XTQG7OhKg2w|title=Education Position|website=Vote Smart|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-07-21}}
= Criminal Justice Reform =
Hakeem is for reducing recidivism, abolition of mass incarceration, and "alternatives to incarceration, crisis intervention, and officer safety and wellness."{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/public-statement/1283296/issue-position-criminal-justice-reform#.XTQKrehKg2w|title=Criminal Justice Position|website=Vote Smart|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-07-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.yusufhakeem.com/criminal-justice-reform|title=Yusuf Hakeem - Criminal Justice Reform|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}
= Affordability and Poverty Alleviation =
Hakeem's website states, "Nearly 40 percent of the District 28 will experience a year of poverty at some point during their lives. Communities of color face disproportionate economic challenges and barriers to opportunity. Hakeem will fight for a state and local economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top-ensuring that those who work hard do not have to live in or raise their kids in poverty."{{Cite web|url=https://www.yusufhakeem.com/affordability|title=Yusuf Hakeem - Affordability|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}
= Families =
Hakeem voted "nay" on HB 836, which would allow religious discrimination towards potential adoptive parents.{{Cite web|url=http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0836|title=Tennessee General Assembly Legislation|website=wapp.capitol.tn.gov|access-date=2019-07-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/bill/26262/66800/160425/yusuf-hakeem-voted-nay-passage-hb-836-authorizes-adoption-agencies-to-deny-potential-parents-based-on-religious-exemption#66800|title=How Your Politicians Voted HB 836|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} He voted "nay" on HB 1151, to expand the offence of public indecency to public bathrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, or showers for multi occupancy single sex use.{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/bill/26291/66881/160425/yusuf-hakeem-voted-nay-passage-hb-1151-prohibits-indecent-exposure-to-include-restrooms-locker-rooms-dressing-rooms-and-showers#66881|title=How Your Politicians Voted - HB 1151|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Tennessee House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hakeem, Yusuf}}
Category:21st-century members of the Tennessee General Assembly
Category:Democratic Party members of the Tennessee House of Representatives
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:University of Tennessee at Chattanooga alumni
Category:Politicians from Chattanooga, Tennessee
Category:African-American state legislators in Tennessee
Category:School board members in Tennessee
Category:Tennessee city council members
Category:General Electric people