Tennessee Senate District 3 Republican Primary Candidate: Rusty Crowe

Candidate Rusty Crowe is running in his 10th race for the Tennessee Senate District 3 Republican primary against Dan Pohlgeers. The Johnson City Press asked a series of questions, and this was Crowe's response: The following answers have been edited for clarity. Q: What policies are most important to you? What are some key points of your campaign? A: As we are a constitutional republic, a representative form of government, the most important responsibility I have is to listen, educate, inform and carry the will of the people I represent to Nashville when making the laws of our state. I will keep one foot firmly planted in the constitution and in the "good book" and the other right here at home with you, the people I serve; and I will always do what is right no matter what, while focusing on lower taxes, less government, personal responsibility, faith, family, freedom and just plain good old common sense. Q: What do you see as the most pressing issue facing Carter, Washington and Johnson counties? What would you do as a state legislator to address this? A: I have a very close working relationship with my city and county mayors and the people I serve, and as such, I have a good feel for the needs of my district. All three counties are still in need of help in terms of flood recovery assistance; rebuilding damaged roads and bridges, restoring public infrastructure and repairing and replacing homes. Our delegation brought help that has served them well and continues to provide for them as they recover. Economic development and good-paying jobs comes next, through working to attract new employers, supporting existing manufacturers, expanding higher-paying job opportunities and trying to retain young professionals and healthcare graduates so they don't leave our area. We also need affordable housing and childcare for young families so we can keep them in our communities. I will continue to work with Tennessee housing development and others to provide solutions. Q: What do you bring to the table that your opponent does not? A: Having not only worked extensively at the federal and state levels and in the private sector, as well, and Lord willing, being the senior senator on the floor of the senate this next session, if fortunate enough to be reelected, I hope to bring a level of knowledge, background and experience that will, no doubt, give the people I serve a logistical and political advantage and will give my district priority when addressing the needs of Washington, Carter and Johnson counties. Q: How has the Tennessee General Assembly succeeded in recent years? How has it fallen short? A: Lately, the legislature has had great success passing conservative, balanced budgets with no new debt. We have cut $5.2 billion in taxes while becoming the top state for fiscal responsibility. We have invested heavily in education, with over $9 billion appropriated for schools, and increased our beginning teacher salaries this year to the highest levels in state history, providing a full continuum of opportunity from public schools to charter, home schools, virtual schools and now private schools as well. We brought back competition in healthcare and successfully took on liberal issues like DEI, ESG, critical race theory, boys running in girls' races and other divisive issues. We are now No. 1 in election integrity and financial management, have the lowest taxes per capita, and are top 20 nationally in 4th and 8th grade subjects. We do need improvement in rural and behavioral health and properly managing our economic growth and infrastructure. But looking at other states, we are so lucky to live in Tennessee. Q: Say a bill comes up next year that a majority of your constituency supports, but you personally believe it would be detrimental to the public. How would you vote on that legislation? A: There are some issues that are very hard to deal with in terms of voting for what the people I serve may want versus what I feel could be hurtful to the public or the rest of Tennessee. But when that happens, I always make sure to first listen closely to what my constituents want. I try to inform them as best as I can, laying out the pros and cons, the effect the legislation in question may have on those I serve versus the rest of the state or even the potential danger to them or others as well. Then I make my decision with the best interests and will of those who elected me as a priority, remembering that we are a constitutional republic and a representative form of government.