Democrat Ryan Scofield is challenging incumbent state Rep. Greg Vital, R-Harrison, for his District 29 seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
Scofield, 33, is a first-generation Tennessean. He went to Boyd Buchanan School and then studied history at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He lives in Ooltewah and works as a legal assistant at Warren & Griffin, specializing in Social Security disability.
Scofield is the secretary of the Tennessee Democratic Party, executive committeeman for the state party in District 11 and an executive committeeman for the Hamilton County Democratic Party’s District 10.
(READ MORE: Read about more local candidates on the Nov. 5 ballot at timesfreepress.com/vote-2024)
Scofield will face Vital as voters cast ballots in the general election on Nov. 5. Early voting in Tennessee begins on Oct. 16. For more information, visit elect.hamiltontn.gov.
OFFICE DETAILS
Duties: Representatives introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments, serve on committees, vote on legislation and perform constituent services.
Area represented: Apison, Birchwood, Bonny Oaks, Brainerd Hills, Collegedale, Concord, East Brainerd, Harrison Bay, Hunter, Meadowview, Ooltewah, Savannah Bay, Silverdale, Summit, Tyner, Wolftever
Population: 75,700
Staff: Each representative has one staffer, two if the representative is a committee chair
Member salary: $28,000
Health benefits: Yes
Start date: Jan. 14
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury
POLICY Q&A
Scofield said one of the main issues for the people in his district is taxpayer-funded school vouchers for private schools.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press asked all state legislative candidates for their stances on abortion, guns and education legislation. The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Q: Where do you stand on abortion? Are you satisfied with the current legislation in Tennessee regarding women’s reproductive rights, or would you look to make changes?
A: I’d definitely like to make changes. I don’t believe it is the government’s place to govern people’s bodies. That is a slippery slope that leads to other things I don’t think that people who are supportive of bodily autonomy would be in favor of. My opinion personally might be different, but I believe it is not the government’s place to be in that business at all.
Q: Where do you stand on school vouchers? Do you agree with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s recent push to make education spending accounts available statewide?
A: Our schools are already in dire need. Draining money from them and focusing it on private entities is not going to help the quality of education. We’re losing teachers to other states that pay better. We need to be looking at increasing funding, not only to help the quality of education but also to retain quality educators. We are missing out by undercutting public schools. We are hurting the next generation.
CAMPAIGN MONEY
Raised in 2024: $4,900
Spent in 2024: $2,800
Source: Tennessee Online Campaign Finance
Q: Where do you stand on gun legislation? What changes if any would you make to Tennessee’s gun laws?
A: Well, I can also tie this into education. Allowing our teachers to carry guns in school really is dangerous. They always say we need a good guy with a gun to stand up against the bad guy, but if police were to get into a room where a good guy and a bad guy with a gun are, how are they able to tell who’s the good guy and who’s the bad guy? What if teachers get into a shootout with the assailant? We have all these young bodies that could be in the way, and that could end up leading to a larger loss in life.
(READ MORE: Hamilton County Schools won’t endorse armed teachers after bill passes)
I support the Second Amendment but also believe that there should be some common sense gun legislation like red flag laws to make sure that people who have violent pasts don’t get these guns and possibly go out and hurt people who have restraining orders. Restraining orders can only do so much. I believe that we can do more on gun laws. It’s not just thoughts and prayers, it’s action.
Contact Sarah Dolgin at sdolgin@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6556.