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Grills, Cobb respond to Q&A on key topics as early voting kicks off
State Gazette
With early voting kicking off Friday, July 12, the State Gazette reached out to District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills (Rep.) and candidate James T. “Bubba” Cobb (Rep.) to participate in a Q&A. Questions were presented by State Gazette and members of the Dyer County Republican Party. The incumbent and challenger were each presented with the same questions and deadline to submit, July 12 at 10 a.m. Both parties were asked to provide 75-150-word responses.
The Republican supermajority passed a bill allowing teachers to bring handguns to schools [HB1202]. The bill was strongly opposed by many of the family members of Covenant School and activist group, Moms Demand Action. Those seeking to carry a firearm are required to go through a vetting process where they would be evaluated for mental health issues. Individuals would also be required to adhere to 40 hours of training in school policing through local law enforcement. Many believe the bill will prevent school shootings, while others advocate against allowing weapons in schools. Each school district will be allowed to rule in its respective interests. What is your position on allowing guns into schools and why?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
“There are many misconceptions about this law. It does not allow teachers to carry handguns. It gives districts the option to allow approved employees to participate in a carefully vetted, voluntary training program.
“Private schools and distressed counties in Tennessee already have this ability, which has been in statute since 2016. It has greatly benefited rural communities that have the funding, but not the workforce to fill SRO positions.
“Prior to carrying a concealed handgun, a faculty or staff member would need to obtain an enhanced carry permit, undergo 40 hours of law enforcement training annually, undergo a mental health evaluation, and a background and fingerprint check. The district superintendent, principal, and highest-ranking law enforcement official must also sign off.
“The most important thing this law does is create a deterrent against an evil person wanting to do harm.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
“I feel the security and safety of our students and our schools is of the utmost importance. We have already trained law enforcement officers in our schools who are prepared to confront danger.
“School systems have to take numerous measures to add security so threats can be neutralized. Film on doors and windows to prevent glass from shattering to prevent entry has been installed. Video surveillance is available to monitor for threats.
“All doors with an outside entrance use are kept locked to prevent unwanted entry. Our local directors of schools do not favor armed teachers in our schools, or to have the number of teachers limited with much more training required. [They would] prefer for [this to apply to] teachers with military or law enforcement experience.
A bill passed in 2024 criminalizing those who would take pregnant minors out of Tennessee for abortions. The act was labeled “abortion trafficking”. Bills that would have allowed children ages 13 and under access to abortion due to pregnancy that was the result of incest or rape [HB2603] were voted down, as well as a bill that protected access to contraception and family planning [HB1943]. What are your thoughts on Tennessee’s pro-life stance when confronted with children who have become pregnant due to rape or incest? How do you feel this bill will impact the lives of victims?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
"Rape and incest are truly horrific crimes that violate someone’s dignity and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. While these cases are extremely distributing and reprehensible, I do not believe they justify killing an innocent child with an abortion. Tennesseans value life and our state has made great progress to increase the support that is available to new and expecting mothers while also making adoptions easier in our state. There are many families who would love to adopt a child and provide them with the care and affection they deserve.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
“An unwanted pregnancy is always a difficult situation. When it occurs with a minor child, it is an earth-shattering event. Proper mental health care has to be provided. If the State does not provide this care and local government has to, this would be another unfunded mandate for local governments from the State.
There are currently 6,000 children in foster homes across the state and over 600,000 foster children across the nation. How would you address the volume of displaced children while also confronting restricted access to contraception?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
“Tennessee does not limit access to contraception. I believe paramount to any civilized society is how well it respects the rights of children to be safe and protected. Being pro-life is about more than just protecting the unborn, it’s about caring for them during childhood as well. I was proud to support numerous pieces of legislation that streamlined our adoption process in Tennessee and made significant changes to our foster care system.
“I am proud of the steps we have taken to make adoptions easier and more affordable for families in our state. Solving a problem as complex as child abuse and neglect at its root cause requires a generational and multifaceted approach that aggressively confronts addiction and mental health within the family unit.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
“We know as Christians we need to take care of widows and orphans. Children in foster care are essentially orphans. We are overwhelming our child care protective services. Providing parenting classes could alleviate some of these problems. Foster families need to have the resources to properly care for these children. We need to be careful not to create unfunded mandates for our local governments.”
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s failed school voucher program [Education Freedom Scholarship] aimed to empower parents with school choice, which would allow families access to taxpayer funding for privatized education, regardless of income. The voucher program was shot down following Republican infighting as well as pushback from teachers. Concerns expressed regarding vouchers included the reduction of federal income allocated to public school systems, which could potentially weaken programming currently available to students. What is your stance on school vouchers and their potential impact on public school systems?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
“I support parents and giving families the power to choose the best educational path that meets the needs of their child. I am not in favor of passing out checks to parents to use how they want. Unfortunately, there are communities in this state where the public schools are not doing a good job.
“In Dyer County, we are fortunate to have wonderful schools. But in some in places, I believe children should have access to scholarships that would allow them a way out. Why would anyone force a child to stay in a place that is not meeting their needs?
“We allow TDOT to contract with private companies to build roads where the department can’t meet the need. A child’s education is more important than a road to me. Education policy has been evolving for many years now, as we realize that the one-size-fits-all approach is allowing students to slip through the cracks."
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
“We have excellent schools in District 77. Are their schools perfect? No. Do we need to make them better? Yes. Are our school systems working daily to make them better? Yes. I am for school choice. If parents want to properly homeschool their children, so be it. If parents want to send their child to a private school, I support that.
“Public schools are financed to educate all students for the common good. Private schools are allowed to pick and choose which students are allowed to attend. I oppose the voucher program in our area. If other areas of our state want these vouchers, allow those areas to have them.
“I don’t agree with using state funds to subsidize private schools. No one can predict how much this program will cost in the future. We need to continue to work to make our public schools the best they can possibly be, not work to dismantle them."
Dyer County residents welcomed relief from millions of tax dollars in 2024 that were designated for the resurfacing of Bunge Rd., public libraries, and the expansion of local broadband infrastructure, to name a few. If re/elected, what major bills would you sponsor to help continue Dyer County’s advancement and future economic success?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
"As chairman of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee, I remain committed to supporting the agriculture industry and those who work in it. One example of that is legislation I was proud to co-sponsor that cut taxes on certain items and services for agriculture production.
I also remain in regular communication with House leadership, Senator [Ed] Jackson, and Governor [Bill] Lee regarding bringing additional economic and community development opportunities to Dyer County. Additionally, I am pursuing multiple state and federal grant funding opportunities for our area.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
“We need to continue to make this area a transportation hub. We have [the Port of] Cates Landing being developed to allow goods to be imported and exported by river transportation. We need to support this effort by connecting our area to Cates Landing by rail [to Dyer County].
“I-69 has been developed to Union City. Now we need to have I-69 completed to Dyer County to allow access to the Mississippi River Bridge, located in Dyer County. We need to continue to develop our industrial parks to allow more industries to move here. The state can continue to support local government to acquire and develop these areas.”
What does being the State Representative of District 77 mean to you? What motivates you to serve in office?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
“I am a lifelong, 9th-generation resident of Dyer County. I am fully invested in making our region of the state a thriving place where my children and your children will stay and raise their families.
“Nothing is more important to me in Nashville than ensuring the voices of the hardworking people of Northwest Tennessee are well represented. I want to help better the lives of every constituent in District 77 and across our state. I will continue to be a strong advocate who will work with the governor and other lawmakers to fix the longstanding issues in our district. I remain committed to doing just that and am proud of the great progress we have made so far.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
“Being the representative from District 77 would be a great honor. My faith and my parents have taught me that doing for others is very rewarding. This has motivated me to volunteer with various organizations in my lifetime. As a state representative, I feel I can continue to serve others."
What is your stance on abortion?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
“I am a proud supporter of the pro-life movement. The sanctity of human life is extremely important to me and I will always fight to protect defenseless, unborn children. There are some difficult situations that expectant mothers can be faced with, but taking an innocent life is never the answer. I will continue to support pro-life legislation while in office.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
“Abortion is a touchy subject with most people. People have strong views on this issue. Many women think ‘my body, my decision’. I am opposed to late-term abortion unless there is a concern for the mother’s life.”
Have you always been a Republican? If not, what policies made you change your affiliation?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
“I have been a member of the Republican Party since I was a young man and will continue to support Republican values and policies. Tennessee has become a destination for new businesses and residents because of our thriving economy, sound fiscal governance and commitment to upholding conservative values.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
“When I was growing up in the Solid South, almost everyone in West Tennessee voted Democratic. I always considered myself voting for the best person for the office, regardless of party. I’ve never been a registered member of any political party. As the Democratic Party evolved and became more liberal and the Republican Party became more conservative, I have voted in the Republican Party primary for the last nine elections."
Should male athletes who identify as female be allowed to compete in women’s sports?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
“A male should never be allowed to compete in women’s sports. As a father of two daughters, I was proud to co-sponsor legislation in 2021 requiring student-athletes in Tennessee public schools to play on teams that correspond to their biological sex.
“Allowing males to compete in female athletics would undo all of the progress that has been made since the passage of Title IX. It would also unfairly take opportunities away from female athletes to receive an athletic scholarship to further their careers and education.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
“No! If male athletes identify as female, let them compete against each other. As a coach of female teams, I feel this behavior should never be allowed for numerous reasons. I would never allow a male, regardless of how they identify themselves, to use the same facilities as my female athletes. Some males would have an unfair advantage. The rules of sports are there to ensure that no one has an unfair advantage.”
How many times have you voted to raise taxes? If so, why?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
“I have never voted to raise taxes either as a county commissioner or as a state representative. While serving in the General Assembly I have voted for record tax cuts that have returned hundreds of millions of dollars back to hardworking Tennesseans.
“Raising taxes should only be done as a last resort. Instead, lawmakers should always look at ways to improve efficiency and eliminate wasteful spending in government. Tennessee has been ranked as having one of the lowest tax burdens in the nation and I want that to continue.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
"Raising taxes is always a tough decision to make and it’s never taken lightly. Sometimes it has to be done. It’s extremely easy to criticize and not be involved in the process. The price and cost of goods and services continue to go up. Everyone has seen that in their daily lives, groceries, fuel, etc. The Dyer County Commissioners have voted to raise property taxes three times in the past 10 years, but the property tax rate in Dyer County has actually been lowered from $2.50 [per $100 accessed property] in 2014 to $2.46 in 2025.
“I voted for the wheel tax increase to fund our ambulance service. The state legislature passed a law that identified ambulance services as an essential service, requiring counties to fund ambulance services. This law allowed our current ambulance service provider to threaten to stop service unless we paid them for the service. This law created an unfunded mandate from the state.
Should parents have input into their children’s school curriculum?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
“Absolutely. Parents are the most important part of a child’s life. We know that when a parent is involved children are more successful. This is also why local school board elections are so important. The school board serves a vital part in public education. Parents should be welcomed at school board meetings and allowed to give input into curriculum and policies. They need to do their part and be a line defense against nonproductive policies and practices.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
“Parents have an opportunity to discuss with school board members the school’s curriculum. When new textbooks are adopted, parents are allowed to review this method.”
What is your position on open carry legislation?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
“I fully support open carry legislation and the Second Amendment, which our constitution says shall not be infringed. One of my main legislative focuses continues to be fighting back against the constant assault on our right to keep and bear arms.
“Earlier this year, I partnered with the NRA and local Second Amendment advocacy groups to pass legislation that will prevent banking and financial institutions from tracking or denying lawful firearms and ammunition purchases in Tennessee. I am committed to defending all of our constitutional rights from government overreach.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
“I support the 2nd Amendment Right to Bear Arms. I also support responsible gun ownership.”
According to the think tank Economic Policy Institute, in Tennessee, the unemployment rate for whites is 2.8%, for African Americans 5.0%, and for Hispanics 4.3%. Wages for African-Americans and Hispanics total around $10,000 less than for whites. What would you do about economic disparities between whites and minorities?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
“It is essential that every Tennessean has multiple options for a quality, well-paying job that will allow them to provide for their family. While statewide unemployment reached a record low of 3% in May, Dyer County is slightly higher.
“We must continue to attract new employers to our region while also supporting existing businesses and expanding access to workforce development programs for residents to develop the skills necessary to pursue the careers they want. Everyone should have the same opportunities to be successful and prosperous.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
“More knowledge, whether through technical training, college, apprenticeships, or self-help is a must. Making small business loans more readily available could also help.”
How can you help this area attract dollars related to BlueOval City?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
“BlueOval City represents a massive multi-billion-dollar investment in West Tennessee that will create thousands of new jobs in our region. This will benefit us all by bringing additional businesses and residents to the area. We must ensure our economic development efforts capitalize on this opportunity to not only bring more jobs to District 77 but also promote local tourism opportunities for new residents. I remain committed to strengthening our economy and keeping taxes low for Tennesseans.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
“Improving our state roads would be a good start. Create affordable housing. We have taken a huge step by approving a spec building to be built in Dyer County."
24 States have fully legalized recreational marijuana with many states allowing some form for medicinal uses. Nearly all States outside of the deep South have legalized recreational use. Several states close to West Tennessee have legalized it—Missouri and Illinois allow it. What is your position on the legalization of medical marijuana/THC in Tennessee?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
“I have done some research on medical marijuana/THC, but at this time I am not in support of these initiatives. While there can be some medicinal value to it, I am concerned allowing it in Tennessee would eventually lead to full legalization and that is not something I can support.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
“I approve of the legalization of medical marijuana/THC. I do not approve of the legalization of marijuana for recreational use.”
What would you do to increase tourism in our area? How will you work with our cities and state government to attract tourist dollars?
District 77 State Representative Rusty Grills:
“Northwest Tennessee is a remarkable region that is incredibly blessed with natural beauty and places to explore. We must continue to invest in our parks like Reelfoot Lake, fairgrounds, and preserving outdoor recreational opportunities like hunting, fishing, camping, golfing, and water sports. State and local collaboration is vital in these efforts. Promoting these activities, along with the rich history and variety of restaurant and retail establishments in our area, will bring more tourists here. The money they spend will help support local schools, infrastructure projects, and the overall economy.”
James T. “Bubba” Cobb:
"Our Chamber of Commerce in the area is working daily to increase our tourism dollars. We have tourism boards in the area we need to strongly support. Tourism is tremendously important to Tennessee and rural West Tennessee needs to get more involved. We have great opportunities available here. Discovery Park, Reelfoot Lake, camping, fishing, hunting, Native American culture, antique stores, the numerous parks, and businesses are just some of the areas where we can increase our tourism dollars.”