Learn more about my background, my family, and my work in the Senate.
MY STORY
Northeast Tennessee is home.
I was raised in Sullivan County and graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School. I studied biology and chemistry at East Tennessee State University, then earned my Doctor of Pharmacy at Mercer University in Atlanta.
Mercer is also where I met my wife, Erin. We returned to Northeast Tennessee to raise our two sons and build our life here. Home is personal to me: it is where our family is growing and where the people I serve are building lives of their own. I carry that connection with me to Nashville.
Being a father to two boys makes the future deeply personal to me. When I consider a decision, I think about the Tennessee our children will grow up in: the opportunities they will have, the responsibilities they will inherit, and whether they can build a good life here. Parenthood reminds me to look beyond the next legislative session and consider the years ahead.
I want for other families what Erin and I want for ours—a safe place to grow, a chance to succeed, and a community that cares. That responsibility shapes how I listen, weigh difficult choices, and approach the work you have entrusted to me.
HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCE
A pharmacist’s perspective.
Pharmacists are often on the front lines of helping patients—answering questions, explaining medications, and helping people work through problems when they may already feel worried or overwhelmed. This profession has deepened my empathy and strengthened my problem-solving skills. It has taught me to listen beyond the first question, explain things clearly, and look for a practical next step.
As a licensed pharmacist and former member of the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy, I bring that perspective to public service. Behind every policy discussion are people who deserve patience, compassion, and thoughtful attention.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Service close to home.
Caring about a community means making time for the people in it. I want my neighbors to know they can share a concern, ask a difficult question, or simply tell me what life looks like for their family. Even when we see an issue differently, every person deserves to be heard and treated with dignity.
My involvement includes past board service with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport and the Kingsport Economic Development Board, along with the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club of Kingsport.
IN THE TENNESSEE SENATE
Bringing that experience to Nashville.
I represent District 4, serving Sullivan and Hawkins counties. In the 114th General Assembly, I serve as second vice chair of the Health and Welfare Committee and as a member of the Judiciary Committee and the Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
You can explore the laws I sponsored, read the key provisions, and check my final Senate floor votes right here.
I may not know everything someone is carrying when we first meet. What I can do is slow down, listen, and take their concerns seriously. Whether a conversation is about a family, a job, or a difficult season of life, I want people to leave knowing they mattered to me. Compassion begins with giving someone your attention.
Email info@bobbyfortn.com with your organization, event date and time zone, location, and requested speaking topics. My team will follow up about availability.
