My name is Alex Pierce, I was born and raised in Columbia, TN which is where I also attended school. I'm running for the Tennessee House of Representatives District 64 to unseat Scott Cepicky. I may have organized a couple of protests in my day but I'm not a politician with a seasoned, fancy resume and political accolades. I'm a regular working class Tennessean who's fed up with politics failing us in the south. The South; where the life expectancy is the lowest in the country due to GOP policies, where the Christian nationalists test out their fascistic ideas such as criminalizing our friends in the Trans and Queer communities before they take those same hateful ideas to Capitol Hill in DC, where there’s also a growing movement of fed up folks like us organizing and mobilizing to turn the tide in a better direction.

Guns- First things first is guns. I believe our state gun laws have gone too far into this wild wild west, gun-sick society which has led to death by gunfire being the leading cause of death for children in Tennessee to this day. Every day within one 24-hour news cycle we see the devastation and trauma that’s a result of this gun-sick culture and it's beyond time to take action. After Covenant, you would've thought that the legislature would change course in just the slightest yet they didn't, even our own State Representative voted against a sensible gun bill, that changes with us. Full disclosure by the way, I'm a gun owner but I emphasize safety, training, and responsibility. I'm a gun sense candidate who's tired of the inaction of the supermajority and it's past time for some sensible gun laws such as safe storage laws and NOT arming teachers because we all know enough to say that more guns in schools isn't the answer.

 

Education- As the legislature adjourned for the year, the $144 million dollar voucher scam went dead in the water. Celebrate it by the way, that bill was expected to pass and fell flat on its face due to yall organizing, emailing, and texting, seriously, I think y’all should give yourselves a round of applause. However, Tennessee still ranks almost dead last for spending per student and teacher pay. For years, the supermajority has allowed our local schools to go on underfunded, leaving teachers and students alike in dire need. An idea that I'm a big fan of is taking the $144 million in the budget which was meant for vouchers and use that to fund local schools instead. We could easily fund universal pre-k, increase wages for teachers, and fund free meals for every child attending school regardless of household income. It's taxpayer money that belongs to local schools anyway.  I don't believe we should  "throw the system in the trash" that's not even a solution that's just outright sabotage.

 

Cannabis Legalization- I'm also a strong advocate for cannabis legalization. It's not that I believe in some sort of inherent right to get stoned, when we look at our current laws against cannabis in Tennessee they’ve disproportionally impacted communities of color such as my own despite consuming at a similar rate to white Americans, black people are arrested at a rate of 4 to 1 compared to whites for possessing or consuming it, 700,000 arrests per year and most of those arrests are of black Americans, the current laws also cost the state more money than it's worth the trouble for, people are consuming and distributing it regardless of the current laws anyway, untested Delta 8 is already sold in gas stations and vapor shops so it’s not like prohibition was ever working in the first place. I also like to consider the people with chronic ailments and illnesses that would be best treated with cannabis who can't access it here, legally due to these same laws. Tax revenues generated from legal and regulated sales could be used to further fund the local school systems as well as infrastructure. Columbia and Spring Hill have experienced a great deal of growth which is fabulous, development and growth are things to celebrate but there are some burdens that just shouldn't fall on locals. City and county governments could see an easier time funding local infrastructure improvements with tax revenues being distributed to localities. Take Columbia and Spring Hill for two examples, both towns have experienced population booms and growth yet the roads still aren't wide enough, there are barely any bike lanes for cyclists or sidewalks for pedestrians. You're bumper to bumper through town whether it’s on Main St or S Garden St. But hey atleast they passed largest corporate tax break in Tennessee state history am I right? Says a lot about our current leadership’s priorities.

 

 

Medicaid Expansion- Now as for the issue that hits close to home for me, I wanna start by asking by show of hands how many of you know someone or you’ve met someone who avoids seeking medical care due to lack of access or affordability? Well, while Columbia is fortunate enough to have Maury Regional, but there are neighboring towns where there aren't any hospitals so imagine this if you will, an individual in Hohenwald has a stroke or a heart attack, there are no hospitals in Hohenwald, their closest options are Lawrenceburg or Columbia. A helicopter has to fly from Vanderbilt to Hohenwald then to Columbia. Keep in mind every second counts in either of these situations so if we pile some stormy weather on top of that, the chance of this stroke or heart attack victim's survival drops even further. This is a story that's been the unfortunate reality of many rural Tennesseans, it hits home for me because it was my dad's unfortunate reality that led to the end of his life at 49. Expanding Medicaid is a morally just decision to be made, because without it we'll continue having people die younger from treatable conditions, we'll continue having high crime rates and deaths of despair. It’s a morally just policy that our current leadership refuses to pass, believe me if they wanted to they would’ve. It may sound pessimistic but they’ve proven that time and time again especially this year.

 

In summary though, when I think about the future of Tennessee and even the United States as a whole I think about my son and his generation. I think about real solutions for real problems currently impacting people every single day in Tennessee. It's conversations about these issues that should be taking place on the house floor not about vaccinated lettuce. Tennesseans want higher wages, not corporate tax cuts, we want an end to grocery tax, not draconian abortion laws, we want our kids to get a quality education they deserve free from the threat of gun violence. I'm a candidate with a long term plan for Tennessee and the generations that come after me and I'm willing to fight for that even if it means I get the Justin Jones treatment, hell, bring it on. Standing up to bullies is nothing new to me. Lastly; I’m all ears, you’ve heard my platform but I’m also here to listen to how I can help, what are some grievances or issues that you feel are being unheard? Even if you have to take some time to think about it just know that I’m here and I’m listening.