Editor’s note: Last month we sent the same written questionnaire to every candidate on Blount County ballots for Tennessee House District 8, Tennessee House District 20 and Tennessee’s 2nd Congressional District, nine candidates in all, with a deadline of October 28. Two responded: Hilary Trudell, the Democratic candidate in House District 8, and Jeff Coggin, the independent candidate in House District 20.
We did not receive responses from Jordan Henderson (Republican, House District 8); from Karen Gertz (Democrat) or Rep. Tom Stinnett (Republican) in House District 20; or from any of the four candidates for the U.S. House: Rep. Tim Burchett (Republican), Michaela Barnett (Democrat), Bruce Fine (Independent) and Adam Heimerman (Independent).
As with our governor’s race questionnaire, the questions came from a poll of our readers, who ranked school vouchers, housing and the cost of living (especially for younger adults), data centers, and abortion as the issues that matter most to them this year. Tennessee House candidates received six questions written for the General Assembly; U.S. House candidates received eight, rewritten for Congress. Those eight are printed at the end of this article.
Both responses appear below in full, exactly as submitted. We did not edit, shorten or fact-check them; we corrected only obvious typographical errors and standardized the formatting. We will add any response we receive.
Campaign site: trudellfortennessee.com
Q1. What are the three most important things you intend to accomplish in your first session in the General Assembly, and how will the people of your district be able to measure whether you succeeded?
Building trust with the people of Blount County is my number one priority. Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, Independent, or anywhere in between, your voice matters. My job is to represent ALL of our community, and that starts with listening, being transparent, and following through on my commitments.
During my first legislative session, I would focus on three priorities:
First, repeal the grocery tax. Families in Blount County are getting squeezed financially, and we need immediate relief. I would work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass legislation that eliminates the state grocery tax.
Second, stop the expansion of school vouchers. I would work to scale back voucher spending, prioritizing financial need, and protect our public schools from funding cuts. My ultimate goal is to repeal legislation that sends taxpayer dollars to private schools. I believe the strength of a community is measured by how well it invests in the education of ALL its children.
Third, regulate data center development. I would work with legislative colleagues to establish protections that prevent taxpayers from bearing the costs of these developments while safeguarding our water, natural resources, and environment.
How will you know if I’ve succeeded? I’ll make my work public. I would hold town halls at least twice a year and provide regular updates on legislation, votes, and progress through my website. Residents would also have opportunities to share concerns and make their voices heard.
Success isn’t just about passing bills. It’s also about being accountable to the people I represent. At the very least, I want every constituent to feel heard and to trust that I’m doing my best to represent the interests of ALL the people of Blount County.
Q2. School vouchers. Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship program, which the General Assembly passed in 2025, uses state money for private-school tuition. Would you vote to expand it, keep it as it is, scale it back or repeal it? How would you make sure Blount County’s three public school systems (Blount County, Maryville City and Alcoa City) are not harmed financially, and what results would tell you whether the program is working?
I have heard from enough teachers, principals, parents of kids with special needs, school system directors, and nonprofits supporting public schools to know that vouchers present a serious risk to Blount County’s public schools AND our most vulnerable children. When something is bad for the most vulnerable, marginalized, or at-risk in our community, it’s bad policy. Period.
I would vote to repeal the voucher program. Until that is possible, I would work to scale it back, prioritize financial need, and protect our public schools from losing funding.
I’m also opposed to the false messaging from voucher PACs about “parental choice” being pumped into our county. In reality, private schools can choose whether or not to accept a child—not the parent. When a child’s economic status, learning ability, special needs, or test scores can be used to deny them an education, that’s bad policy.
I believe in the power and value of public education. But even the best teachers and administrators need resources. Instead of directing hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars toward private institutions, our legislature should be investing in the public schools that serve ALL our kids.
Here’s what I would do: First, require the state to compensate Blount County, Maryville City, and Alcoa City schools for any demonstrable funding losses resulting from vouchers. Second, assess the needs of families applying for vouchers and determine whether those needs could be better met within our public school systems. I would also explore allowing state education funds to support transfers between county and city schools without financially harming either system or coming out of a parent’s pocket.
Finally, I would measure the program’s success by asking: Are ALL children—not just voucher recipients—receiving a quality education? Are public schools losing funding? Are students with disabilities being served? Are academic outcomes improving? Are taxpayers getting a meaningful return on their investment?
I value the lives and futures of all our children, and I will fight to ensure every one of them has access to a safe, quality education.
Q3. Housing. Blount County is one of the fastest-growing counties in East Tennessee, and many younger adults who grew up here can no longer afford to buy, or even rent, a home in the county. What specific legislation would you sponsor or vote for to increase the supply of homes that young workers and families can afford? Should the legislature give local governments more authority, or less, over zoning, impact fees and short-term rentals?
I can confidently say that many of us in Blount County are concerned about the pace of development and the rising cost of housing. Our teachers, first responders, young workers, and families should not be priced out of the communities they call home.
First, I believe the legislature should give local governments MORE control over their growth—not less. People living in our communities have a better understanding of what we need than politicians holding court in Nashville. I would support ending state restrictions that prevent local governments from requiring a portion of new developments to include affordable housing. I would also support giving local governments more authority over impact fees and short-term rentals so that communities can manage growth and protect residents.
Second, let’s build inward, not just outward. We can protect our farms and open spaces by encouraging housing on vacant or underused land where roads, water, and sewer already exist. I would support incentives for affordable starter homes, townhomes, and accessory dwelling units, such as backyard cottages or garage apartments, where local zoning and infrastructure allow. This could include appropriate suburban-zoned areas with access to sewer.
Third, let’s invest in organizations already doing the work. Foothills Community Development Corporation (FCDC) is helping families access affordable homeownership right here in our community. I would support increasing state investment in organizations like FCDC that build affordable homes and help working families keep their housing costs manageable.
Finally, we need to continue protecting long time homeowners, especially older residents on fixed incomes, through property tax relief and freeze programs.
I believe we can grow our economy without sacrificing our farmland, natural resources, or the people who have built this community. Growth should benefit the people of Blount County—not price them out of their own hometowns.
Q4. Cost of living. Beyond housing, younger Tennesseans point to groceries, child care, utilities and insurance as the costs squeezing them hardest. Name the two or three bills you would sponsor or vote for first to bring those costs down, including whether you would vote to cut the state sales tax on groceries, and explain how the state would pay for them.
Repeal the Grocery Tax: Tennessee is one of a handful of states that still taxes groceries. Because we don’t have a state income tax, families with the least financial resources carry a disproportionate tax burden. I would vote to repeal the state’s 4% grocery tax and work to replace that revenue by closing corporate tax loopholes. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy has estimated that corporate tax reforms could generate nearly $900 million annually. Currently, about 60% of multinational corporations pay zero excise tax in TN. These corporations split into dozens of shell companies to dodge taxes. I believe we should hold large corporations accountable for paying their fair share while alleviating the burden on hardworking families in Blount County.
Make Childcare Affordable: My family spent over two years on daycare waitlists before finding a spot for our son. We now pay about $850 a month for childcare. That’s simply too much for many working families. I would support a bill to use up to $50 million in available federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to help families pay for childcare, while following federal rules. I would also push to establish a committee to identify and address the barriers preventing childcare facilities from opening and staying open—and explore how we can fix those problems. Finally, I would vote to accept the federal dollars Tennessee is currently leaving on the table for universal pre-k. This is something that could help immensely with childcare needs and early education – assisting our parents financially and setting our kiddos up for greater learning potential in the future. We need serious and thoughtful solutions that support childcare workers, keep our kids safe, and make sure parents don’t have to choose between giving up their income to stay home or spending too much of their paycheck on childcare.
Expand Access to Affordable Healthcare: Tennessee has left significant federal Medicaid funding untapped by refusing to expand TennCare. I would support legislation to accept these federal dollars and expand healthcare coverage for working Tennesseans. The federal government would cover 90% of qualifying expansion costs, and I would work to identify a sustainable funding source for the state’s remaining share. No family in Blount County should have to choose between paying their bills and getting the healthcare they need.
Q5. Data centers. Data centers are being proposed across Tennessee. Supporters point to investment and tax revenue; opponents point to electricity and water demand, noise, and the cost of new power generation. Should the state offer incentives to attract them? What rules, if any, would you vote to set on their power and water use and on who pays for the generation and transmission they require, and should the legislature protect local governments’ authority to approve or reject them?
I believe data centers should be regulated, and local governments should absolutely have the authority to approve or reject them. But these decisions shouldn’t be made by elected officials behind closed doors. The people of Blount County deserve a seat at the table when decisions are being made that could affect our community for generations to come.
Here’s what I would do: First, I would support legislation requiring strict limits on water use, independent environmental studies, and public reporting on electricity and water consumption before any development is approved. We need to know what these centers will cost our communities—not just financially, but environmentally.
Second, I would require developers to pay the full cost of any new power generation, transmission lines, or other infrastructure their facilities need. Blount County families should not be stuck paying higher utility bills so that large corporations can turn a profit.
Third, I would only consider state tax incentives if a project could show clear benefits to our community and meet strict standards for protecting taxpayers and our natural resources.
Finally, I would protect the right of local governments to approve or reject these projects, with public hearings so residents have a real voice in the process.
I believe we can grow our economy without sacrificing the things that make Blount County such a special place to call home. Economic growth and protecting our quality of life should not be competing priorities. We can create policies that protect our taxpayers, our natural resources, and our environment while still allowing for responsible and thoughtful development.
Q6. Abortion. Tennessee bans nearly all abortions. Would you vote to change the current law, whether by adding exceptions or further restrictions, or would you vote to keep it as it is? Please state your position plainly.
I value human life, and that includes the lives of women, children, and babies. Tennessee is one of the most dangerous states in the nation to give birth, as we have the highest maternal mortality rate nationwide. Yet we’re not talking enough about the risks our mamas face during pregnancy and childbirth. We’re also not talking enough about the children who can be forced to carry pregnancies under our current law, even after rape or incest. It’s terrifying that there are candidates out there who would ban abortion regardless of whether it would save a woman’s life or if the pregnant person is a 12 year-old child. It’s heartbreaking to me that protecting the lives and health of women and girls isn’t a greater priority.
I believe we must trust patients and their doctors to make decisions about their healthcare, and we must protect children. I do not believe politicians and lawyers should be writing laws that affect medical care. I would vote to change Tennessee’s current abortion law to center maternal safety and lower the risk of maternal death. I would work with healthcare professionals, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and doctors who have treated complicated pregnancies, to help shape laws that protect the health and lives of women and girls.
We should be working to reduce maternal and infant deaths, protect children, and make pregnancy and childbirth safer. No child should be forced to give birth. No family should have to lose a mother because she couldn’t get the medical care she needed.
Again, I value life, and that includes the lives of babies, children, and women.
Campaign page: Jeff Cog Coggin on Facebook. Mr. Coggin submitted his answers under the name Dr. Jeff “Cog” Coggin.
Q1. What are the three most important things you intend to accomplish in your first session in the General Assembly, and how will the people of your district be able to measure whether you succeeded?
1. Put People Before Parties:
I will work across party lines to advance policies that benefit Blount County families, workers, seniors, and small businesses. I will listen to constituents with differing viewpoints, evaluate legislation on its merits, and make decisions based on what best serves our district rather than what is politically convenient. I will support greater transparency in government and hold myself accountable for my votes and decisions.
How citizens can measure my success:
2. Reduce the Financial Burden on Taxpayers and Working Families
My goal is to make everyday life more affordable. Families should be able to pay for gasoline, groceries, electricity, water, housing, and child care without being overwhelmed by rising costs. I will pursue responsible tax relief, eliminate wasteful spending, improve government efficiency, and insist that public investments deliver measurable value.
I will also work to ensure that taxpayers and utility customers are not unfairly burdened by infrastructure costs associated with large commercial developments, including data centers. Tax relief must be supported by a credible funding plan that protects essential public services and avoids shifting costs to local governments or future generations.
How citizens can measure my success:
3. Protect Our Children from Physical and Cyber Threats
Every child deserves to learn and grow in a safe environment. I will support practical measures to strengthen school safety, improve emergency preparedness, address bullying and threats of violence, and expand age-appropriate education about online safety, cyberbullying, identity theft, and digital exploitation.
I will work with educators, parents, law enforcement, cybersecurity professionals, and local communities to identify risks and develop solutions that protect children without unnecessarily compromising their privacy or access to education. I will also support responsible oversight of school safety funding so resources reach the schools and programs that need them.
How citizens can measure my success:
Q2. School vouchers. Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship program, which the General Assembly passed in 2025, uses state money for private-school tuition. Would you vote to expand it, keep it as it is, scale it back or repeal it? How would you make sure Blount County’s three public school systems (Blount County, Maryville City and Alcoa City) are not harmed financially, and what results would tell you whether the program is working?
My position is to keep the Education Freedom Scholarship program at its current level and not expand it further until we have reliable, independently verified evidence of its educational outcomes, fiscal impact, and effects on public schools.
Parents should have meaningful choices in their children’s education, but taxpayers deserve accountability, and our public schools must have the resources necessary to educate the students who depend on them.
Before approving additional expansion, I want to evaluate whether the program is improving student achievement, providing meaningful opportunities for families who need them, and delivering value for taxpayer dollars.
How I would protect Blount County’s three public school systems?
Blount County Schools, Maryville City Schools, and Alcoa City Schools serve students with different needs and operate with ongoing obligations for teachers, facilities, transportation, special education, and other essential services. We must not make assumptions about the financial effects of school choice without examining the actual data for each district.
Q3. Housing. Blount County is one of the fastest-growing counties in East Tennessee, and many younger adults who grew up here can no longer afford to buy, or even rent, a home in the county. What specific legislation would you sponsor or vote for to increase the supply of homes that young workers and families can afford? Should the legislature give local governments more authority, or less, over zoning, impact fees and short-term rentals?
What specific legislation would you sponsor or vote for to increase the supply of homes that young workers and families can afford?
Should the legislature give local governments more authority, or less, over zoning, impact fees and short-term rentals?
I support giving local governments more practical flexibility, paired with clear accountability, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all zoning mandate from Nashville.
Blount County, Maryville, and Alcoa have different infrastructure capacities and development needs. I would support a state framework that encourages communities to adopt locally appropriate zoning options, including smaller lots, mixed-use development, accessory dwelling units, and appropriately located higher-density housing.
Q4. Cost of living. Beyond housing, younger Tennesseans point to groceries, child care, utilities and insurance as the costs squeezing them hardest. Name the two or three bills you would sponsor or vote for first to bring those costs down, including whether you would vote to cut the state sales tax on groceries, and explain how the state would pay for them.
To fund these proposals, we would need to identify recurring revenue to replace the lost collections, review low-priority spending and ineffective tax incentives, and publish an independent fiscal analysis. I would favor a phased reduction tied to verified recurring revenue rather than borrowing money, relying on one-time surpluses, or shifting the burden to local taxpayers. I would also require transparent reporting on program costs and customer savings before proposing significant new state spending.
Q5. Data centers. Data centers are being proposed across Tennessee. Supporters point to investment and tax revenue; opponents point to electricity and water demand, noise, and the cost of new power generation. Should the state offer incentives to attract them? What rules, if any, would you vote to set on their power and water use and on who pays for the generation and transmission they require, and should the legislature protect local governments’ authority to approve or reject them?
Should the state offer incentives to attract them?
I believe Tennessee can attract responsible investment without asking families and small businesses to subsidize the infrastructure that large data centers require. For Blount County, my priority would be protecting residents’ electricity bills, water resources, property rights, and quality of life while allowing projects that demonstrate a genuine public benefit.
What rules, if any, would you vote to set on their power and water use and on who pays for the generation and transmission they require, and should the legislature protect local governments’ authority to approve or reject them?
I would vote for strong, enforceable safeguards on data center electricity and water use, and I would protect local governments’ authority to approve or reject projects through their zoning and land-use processes.
Q6. Abortion. Tennessee bans nearly all abortions. Would you vote to change the current law, whether by adding exceptions or further restrictions, or would you vote to keep it as it is? Please state your position plainly.
I would vote to keep Tennessee’s current abortion law as it stands. I would not support additional restrictions or expansions of exceptions. I believe the existing law reflects the state’s policy, and I would focus on ensuring it is clearly understood and consistently applied. I would support legislative research to clearly identify possible exceptions such as serious pregnancy complications, including threats to a patient’s health, and for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.
None of the four candidates for Tennessee’s 2nd Congressional District responded. For the record, these are the eight questions each campaign received, rewritten for Congress from the same reader-poll topics.
Early voting has ended. Polls are open across Blount County on Tuesday, November 3. Find your polling place and view a sample ballot at GoVoteTN.gov, and read the governor’s candidates’ answers to the same reader questions here.
