Young Courage In County Politics
From Benchmark Happenings by Jonathan Tipton, Steve Reed & Christine Reed
March 18, 2026 · 24 min
About this episode
The episode features Lakie Derrick, a young candidate for county commission, discussing her journey and views on local governance.
A burst of courage can change a county. We sit down with Lakie Derrick, a 23-year-old Sullivan County Commission candidate who connects every stance to a biblical worldview, and trace how a sixth-grade conviction grew into campus leadership, a winning ground game, and a clear plan for transparent local government. From starting a Turning Point USA chapter at ETSU during COVID to hosting high-heat events and handling protests with poise, Lakie shows how students can defend free speech, shape c...
People in this episode
Hosts: Jonathan Tipton, Steve Reed, Christine Reed
Guest: Lakie Derrick
Topics covered
- county politics
- youth leadership
- free speech
- local government
- biblical worldview
Keywords
- Sullivan County
- Lakie Derrick
- Turning Point USA
- free speech
- local government
- youth leadership
- biblical worldview
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Turning Point USA
Places: Sullivan County, ETSU
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