By: Mickaela Sandlin
Rutherford County is only impacted by one Tennessee Senate seat this year. Tennessee Senate seat 14 is up for re-election.
The District 14 seat encompasses more than just Rutherford County, it also covers parts of Bedford, Cannon and Moore counties.
Shane Reeves has held the seat for the last six years. This year, E.R. Smith is opposing Reeves.
Reeves is the Republican candidate for this year’s election, having won the Republican primary unopposed with over 7,000 votes in his favor. Smith is running as the Democratic candidate, winning the Democratic primary unopposed with almost 3,000 votes.
Reeves started his first term in March 2018 and has been reelected every term since then. Reeves serves on the Tennessee Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, the Tennessee State Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the Tennessee Senate Health and Welfare Committee.
Reeves's website describes him as a healthcare leader and a seventh-generation Tennessean. His campaign focuses on strengthening families, rethinking healthcare, and growing businesses to form an “Unstoppable Tennessee.”
Reeves’s slogan “Faith. Family. Freedom. Future.” breaks down his campaign into four words. Reeves focuses his campaign on conservative values regarding the four points.
Under “Faith,” he lists his stance on the topics of religious freedom, pro-life, human trafficking, abuse and racial reconciliation. Reeves gives his stance on the topics from a conservative point of view. Reeves is pro-life, stands against human trafficking and child abuse, and believes that Tennessee is stronger together than it is apart.
His “Family,” section covers the topics of education, marriage, the opiate crisis and quality healthcare. Reeves prioritizes quality education and supporting current educators. He sees marriage as a union between one man and one woman but plans to make adoption easier. Senator Reeves is concerned about Tennessee’s current healthcare crisis, focusing on solutions for the opiate crisis and providing adequate healthcare for the state.
Reeves’ “Freedom,” beliefs concern the Second Amendment, immigration, low taxes and excessive regulations and mandates. Reeves believes in the defense of Tennessee’s Second Amendment rights. He focuses on fighting illegal immigration in Tennessee and supporting law enforcement. He aims for a tax reduction, advocating for small businesses. Reeves stands against unnecessary spending and expresses that he understands how excessive regulations and mandates can hinder the growth of small businesses.
Reeves’ “Future,” outlooking section focuses on what he hopes to achieve going through his next term. Reeves prioritizes jobs, strong agriculture, regional transit solutions and the effect that media has had on society. Reeves supports legislation that helps farmers and agriculture resources. He believes that the solution for the current transportation issue will come through a regional solution.
Reeves is facing opposition going into this election, facing off against E.R. Smith.
Smith has been known for her community involvement leading up to the election. From owning a small business to her time as a public school teacher, Smith is known to combine all of this into her empathetic approach to politics.
Smith’s campaign focuses on three main points, highlighting public education, healthcare and gun control as her main campaign.
Smith uses her background as a school teacher to speak personally about her passion for public education.
“Public education support is crucial for fostering a fair and enriching learning environment where every child receives the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.” Smith said.
Smith advocates for increased funding for school resources, supporting teachers and advocating for better pay. Smith also finds importance in creating access to quality education, regardless of where you live in Tennessee. She believes that investing in public education will strengthen communities and enable future generations.
Smith’s stance on healthcare is based on accessibility in rural communities. Smith wants to prioritize Medicaid expansion and keeping rural hospitals open and commits to seeing improvement regarding equitable healthcare for all Tennesseeans.
Gun control was another topic that Smith capitalized on. Smith specifically mentions the Tennessee Covenant School Shooting in her discussion on gun control. She advocated for regulations on firearms that would ensure they are responsibly owned while respecting Second Amendment rights. Smith hopes to promote legislation on public safety without infringing on the rights of gun owners.
For more information on how to cast a vote in this year’s election, visit govotetennessee.gov or visit the County Election Commission Office.
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