Alexander and Jones gather support for TN House District 4 seat

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) – Curt Alexander and Renea Jones are gathering support from voters as they’re both running in the Tennessee 4th District House Republican primary.

Alexander, the current mayor of Elizabethton, said he’s been meeting with constituents and going door-to-door knocking for his campaign efforts.

Jones said she’s been meeting voters in various communities around Unicoi and parts of Carter County.

Both Alexander and Jones said they want to help bring resources to Northeast Tennessee and remind Nashville that the state doesn’t stop in Knoxville.

“Whether it be for schools, whether it be for water, sewer, infrastructure, roads, grant funding, park funding, those types of things are really huge,” Alexander said. “And you’ve got to have a voice in Nashville that will bring that back to this area. If you don’t, we’re not going to receive anything.”

Jones said it’s important that Nashville recognizes this district.

“It runs from Roan Mountain to Rocky Fork State Park in Unicoi County,” Jones said. “And so we have a lot of natural resources that we want to protect and protect our rural way of life.”

For both candidates, education is at the forefront.

“I know the school voucher bill is going to be a big issue in the legislative session when it starts in January, but it’s not just about the school vouchers,” Alexander said. “It’s about funding for higher education as well. You got to have a trained workforce. If we’re going to bring jobs into this area, you’ve got to have the facilities and the educational resources to educate those people with a trade or skill or a degree in order to be productive members of society.”

Jones said her passion is education as she served on the Unicoi School Board for 12 years and also has been the President of the Tennessee School Board Association.

“I really am passionate about our public schools,” Jones said. “And I think that whatever we look at as a state for education policy, we have to ensure that it doesn’t harm our public schools.”

For Alexander, maintaining manufacturing jobs, fighting inflation, homelessness and drug addiction are other issues he’s advocating for Northeast Tennessee.

“Correcting and fixing and reducing the drug problem in this area, because it destroys family and it doesn’t choose socioeconomic levels. It happens at all levels,” Alexander said.

Alexander credits Judge Lisa Rice and Judge Stacy Street for getting the Northeast Tennessee Regional Recovery Center in Road Mountain operating.

“Rather than just having a few days that we cut the sales tax on groceries, let’s do away with sales tax on groceries,” Alexander said.

For Jones, she’s advocated for small businesses, constitutional rights and agriculture and wants to continue to do that for Northeast Tennessee in Nashville. She serves on the state’s small business advisory board, is chair of Unicoi’s Farm Bureau, and owns her own farm.

“So all of the advocacy efforts I have done over the last two decades has really taught me a lot about policy at the state level,” Jones said.

“I have got to meet a lot of people and hear a lot of their different perspectives and what they feel would impact them in their communities. So during that time, I’ve been able to develop policies that I feel would help our communities. And so I’m looking forward to [being] able to vote in those committees and vote on the House floor to make sure that we bring back to East Tennessee, back to northeast Tennessee, specifically things that can make our communities survive, whether it be funding or resources or whatever we might be able to bring back home.”

Alexander said what sets him apart is his track record being the current Elizabethton mayor and having served as a council member as well.

“Anyone can talk about getting things done or hope they can get things done,” Alexander said. “If you look at my track record, serving as city council and as mayor of this town, we have gotten things done. Everything that we set out to do is either accomplished or almost accomplished now.”

Jones said what sets her apart is her diversified skill set.

“I’m very diversified,” Jones said. “I have advocated for small business, for education, for agriculture, for our constitutional rights. I was very active in the Yes On One Amendment for the Right to Work Act.”

Both Alexander and Jones will continue to campaign and gather support for the upcoming election. Whoever wins this Republican primary on Aug. 1 will advance on to the general election in November unopposed. There is no democrat running for the Tennessee 4th District House seat.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.