JANIS BAIRD SONTANY

---

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

State Representative Janis Baird Sontany (D-Nashville) is serving her fourth term in the TN General Assembly.  She previously served 2 - four year terms in the Metro Council.  Sontany retired from DuPont Company in 2004 with 21 years of service in both government affairs and customer service roles.

She currently serves as chair of the TN Economic Council on Women and is a past president of the Nashville Women’s Political Caucus.  She is a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee; YMCA Camp Widjiwagan, Progress, Inc.; and a member of Women in Numbers (WIN); and the Democratic Women of Davidson County (DWDC).

She was awarded the 2009 TN Conservation Voters Legislative Friends Award; 2009 Leadership Award from the AFL-CIO; 2009 ACAT Outstanding Animal Welfare Advocate; 2008 Humane Society of United States (HSUS) Humane Legislator Award; 2008 Legislative Award from TN Recreation and Parks Association; 2007 TN Association Alcohol, Drug and Addiction Services (TAADAS) Voice on the Hill Award; 2006 TN Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (TCADSV) Outstanding Legislator Award; 2006 Nashville Coalition Against Domestic Violence  (NCADV) Sherry Jones Award; 2006 Nashville Humane Society Award of Outstanding Legislative Service; 1998 CMRA Public Leader of the Year and 2000 Davidson County Drug Court women’s residential hall named in her honor.

Sontany is the mother of two adult daughters and grandmother of one 19 month old granddaughter.

---

PUBLIC OFFICE

• House Member of 103rd and 104th General Assembly
• Secretary, House Judiciary Committee
• Member, House Finance, Ways and Means Committee
• Chair, House Constitutional Protections Subcommittee
• Member Metro Council, Nashville, 1995-2003

---

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Board Member – Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee
• Board Member – YMCA – Joe C. Davis Camp Widjiwagan
• Vice Chair – TN Economic Council on Women
• Board Member – Victims of Crime State Coordinating Council
• Board Member – Flatrock Heritage Foundation
• Board Member – Progress, Inc
• Member – Nashville Women’s Political Caucus
• Member – WIN (Women in Numbers)
• Member – Davidson County Democratic Women
• Member – Caldwell Abbay Hall Neighborhood Association
• Member – Castlegate Neighborhood Association
• Member – Crieve Hall Neighborhood Association
• Member – Edge-O-Lake Neighborhood Association
• Member – Glencliff Neighborhood Association
• Member – Glengarry Park Neighborhood Watch
• Member – Hill N. Dale Neighborhood Association
• Member – Nolensville Road Community Partnership
• Member – Percy Priest Meadows Neighborhood Association
• Member – Piccadilly Square Homeowners Association
• Member – Priest Lake Business Association
• Member – Priest Lake Park Neighborhood Watch
• Member – Radnor Neighborhood Association
• Member – TMAG (Thompson Lane Murfreesboro Road Action Group)
• Member – Woodbine Neighborhood Association
• Member – Una Neighborhood Association

---

HONORS

• 1998 Community Rehabilitation Agencies of TN Public Leader of the Year
• 2002 Nashville Women’s Political Caucus Athena Award Nominee
• 2006 TN Economic Council of Women Athena Award Nominee
• 2006 Nashville Humane Association Award for Outstanding Legislative Service
• 2006 Government Official of Year – Nashville Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• 2006 Outstanding Legislator of Year – TN Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
• TNCO TN Community Organization – 2007 Legislator of the Year
• 2007 Voice on Hill Award – TAADAS