Former District 30 State Reps. Vince Dean and Marc Gravitt Friday announced they are supporting Republican nominee Esther Helton in the Tennessee State House 30th District race. Former State Rep. Dean served District 30 in Nashville from 2006-2014, while former State Rep. Gravitt served District 30 in Nashville from 2014-2018.
“In the race, District 30 has an important choice that will affect our community for years to come," said current Register of Deeds Gravitt.
"Esther is the Republican nominee and has a proven record of empowering job creators – small businesses – and working with them to grow our local economy and create jobs. On the other hand, the Democrat opponent in this race has tried to portray himself as someone who will reach across the aisle, but rest assured, when it comes to the issues that matter most to District 30 voters – he will toe the Democrat Party line.
“Every year in Nashville, State Democrats bring forward a flurry of bills that don’t represent Tennessee values, including attempts to handcuff the Second Amendment that will restrict your rights to protect you and your family to eliminating important protections for the unborn and by granting rights for illegal immigrants.”
Both Mr. Dean and Mr. Gravitt said they "strongly encourage the voters to look at the big picture in this race. District 30 is the fastest growing district in Hamilton County, driven primarily from job growth and the economic expansion of existing businesses and new ones moving into the District. "
“The Democratic nominee continues to say areas other than East Ridge have been neglected over the years,” said Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk Dean. “Apparently, he has not seen the widening of Apison Pike or East Brainerd Road and several other critical projects that represent more than $200 million of infrastructure improvements for this area, many of which remained on the drawing board for years under Democrat leadership in Nashville.
“After all the hooplah with VW, we argued for Little Debbie’s route to be widened and were successful. None of this could have ever happened with the Democrats in charge, but it was fought for and funded from the Republican State Representative from District 30, who happened to live in East Ridge.”
Mr. Gravitt said, “To support this massive growth, we have worked with the Republican governor and Republican Leadership in the State House and Senate to bring needed funding to District 30, especially in terms of infrastructure improvements in the area. To date, more than $200 million project in road improvements alone have been scheduled in District 30. I only ask this one question – how effective will a Democrat be in a Super Majority Republican House be in continuing to help District 30 citizens? The answer is, he won’t.”
Ms. Helton said, “I am incredibly honored and humbled to receive the endorsement of my friends, Vince Dean and Marc Gravitt, as I seek election to represent the citizens of District 30 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Our community needs someone who truly understands what it takes to drive job growth and economic prosperity as well as address needed healthcare reforms so our state remains one of the best places to live, work and raise a family. I believe I am that candidate, which is why I humbly ask for your support and vote.”
District 30 for the Tennessee House includes East Brainerd, East Ridge, parts of Collegedale, Apison, East Lake, Missionary Ridge and the area on the southern side of Brainerd Road. Early voting for the General Election is underway now and will continue through Thursday, Nov. 1. Election Day will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 6.