As part of WUTC’s coverage of the November 8 elections, we are speaking to many major candidates on the Hamilton County ballot. This is our interview with Marc Gravitt, a Republican who is running for re-election as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, District 30.
JACQUI HELBERT: If you would, introduce yourself? What is your name, where you are from, and what is your background?
MARC GRAVITT: My name is Marc Gravitt. I currently serve as the state representative for District 30, for the south east portion of Hamilton County. Which includes part of East Lake, Missionary Ridge, East Ridge, Brainerd, Apison, East Brainerd, and half of Collegedale.
HELBERT: Okay and are you from Chattanooga originally?
GRAVITT: I was, yeah I was raised in Red Bank.
HELBERT: What was your background before public service?
MARC GRAVITT: Well prior to being elected to the State House of Representatives, I currently serve for 2 more months as vice mayor for the city of East Ridge. And prior to that, I have been a small business owner for 26 years. I own and operate my own business, Gravitt Auctions and Appraisals. And then prior to that I served 6 years in the US Army.
HELBERT: What made you decide to go into public service? To leave the private sector?
GRAVITT: Well I currently, I am still in the private sector. Both positions, which I am not running for re-election in the city of East Ridge. Simply because doing both jobs is extremely difficult. But whenever I was elected to the city of East Ridge, I view that as a contract with the people. And whenever I was approached two years into...into my four year term in East Ridge- to run for state...the state House of Representatives- I made a commitment to the people in East Ridge that I would fulfill that 4 year term. And I have, I have fulfilled that...that time, and I am going to roll off of that and let someone else take over.
HELBERT: Wow, it sounds like you are really busy. So you are really good at managing your time?
GRAVITT: It's difficult, especially also being self-employed. Therefore I have to make a living and both jobs are...by our state constitution, being a state legislator they view us as a part time position. But, like I tell people, “Being a state representative is the most full time part time job I have ever seen in my life."
HELBERT: Wow. Okay, so did you have second thought about running again since you are so busy? Or are you...did you know you were going to do it the whole time?
GRAVITT: I thought I would certainly try for the state House of Representatives again. Simply because two years ago I made the commitment to the citizens of East Ridge. And again, East Ridge is only a portion of my state house seat. I made a public commitment then that I would not run for re-election in East Ridge. I don't think it's correct for an elected official to...to hold two elected positions at the same time. But on the other hand, like I previously said, I was elected to that position first. I viewed that as a four year contract and I have fulfilled that contract and it's time to let someone else take over in East Ridge now. I think I've fulfilled the...I have turned East Ridge- I helped turn East Ridge around from what it was.
HELBERT: Talk a little bit about that. What have you done that you are most proud of for East Ridge?
GRAVITT: Well, the economic development is the main focus since I was elected 3.5 years ago. And one of the reasons why- if you had told me 7 years ago that Marc you are going to be a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. I would have honestly look at you and told you, you were nuts. I didn't have any political ambition. And it's kind of strange- I got involved in politics because some East Ridge friends of mine, a fireman, EMT, a police officer. We were all sitting around one night and we were complaining about the direction that East Ridge was going. And one of them looked at me, an East Ridge fire fighter, and he said "Well Marc you are a small business owner. You are involved in the community. Why don't you run for city council?" And I did. And that's...that's how I wound up where I am today.
HELBERT: Oh that's awesome, it's good that you were able to get involved like that. Why do you think the voters should chose you again?
GRAVITT: Well I've served the...I've been there for two years and quite honestly the two years I have been there, it has been a learning process. As I said, I was not the type...I wasn't the person that has been involved in politics my whole life. Didn't exactly know how the process worked. I have learned a lot. The two committees...the three committees that I serve on- which are a business and utilities subcommittee, business and utilities full committee, and also local government full committee. They put me on business and utilities sub and full committee because I am a small business owner. And so that's why I am on that. And then the local government, I was placed on that committee because of my role in East Ridge. I'm sorry, what was the second part of the questions?
HELBERT: Okay...why should voters chose you again?
GRAVITT: Well I think I- even though the first two years has been a learning experience. I think with my previous position as serving on East Ridge city council I think I have a bit of leg up on my opposition. And quite honestly I have never met my opponents. So I don’t want to say anything negative toward them because I don't know their reasons for running either. But being a small business owner, being self-employed, and serving in local government- I think that gives me a little bit of a leg up on understanding how politics works. And understanding how getting bills passed over in Nashville how that all-the whole process works in general.
HELBERT: Thank you, and what do you think are the biggest challenges facing the 30th district and how do you plan to meet those challenges?
GRAVITT: Well, as I said, the 30th district- I like to tell people it is probably one of the most diversified districts of any legislator over in the house. It...It goes from, you know, lower income areas to extremely affluent areas, to golf course communities, Missionary Ridge. And like I said, the city of Collegedale. So it's really a diverse district. As far as the issues that directly impact my district alone- right now the biggest thing is getting East Brainerd Road- that road completion finished. The phase one of it, and then the phase two. We will have to start on that- that will be several years down the road, to get phase two to work.
HELBERT: And what is your position on the Affordable Care Act and Tennessee's failure to expand Medicaid? What can state government do, or should to, to insure health care access to lower income residents?
GRAVITT: Well Forbes Magazine did an article, the day before yesterday I believe it was. And...Saying that the Affordable Care Act was...was a nightmare and that a lot of people-specifically in Florida and North Carolina were going to basically get kicked off the rolls. And that, because...you know look, Blue Cross Blue Shield they have pulled out of all of the major cities in the state except for the city of Chattanooga. Cigna, all of the major insurance carriers are increasing their rates from 30, and I think Blue Cross 60 or 62%. So I think the term Affordable Care Act is...is becoming somewhat of a misnomer. Do I wish that we could do something to help people who don't have insurance? Yes, absolutely I do. But at the same time I think we need to do it responsibly. And I just don't think the Affordable Care Act is necessarily the answer. Speaker Beth Harwell she appointed a committee this past summer-spring and summer- to where she is proposing a three star. I think that is the term that she's used, a three star Affordable Care Act. What some people need to remember is that when Governor Bredesen was in office he had to eliminate, I believe it was 200,000...over 200,000 people off of the TennCare roles. He just had to slash them. Cut them off. And another thing that people need to understand is the state of Tennessee's budget is 34.9 billion dollars. 34.9 billion. Currently the TennCare costs alone are over 10 billion dollars. So right now TennCare is already a third of the state of Tennessee's budget. So...I guess to answer your own question- what do I think about it? Something needs to be done. But at the same time we can't break the state in order to do that.
HELBERT: Thank you, and we've just got a couple of minutes left here. What was your biggest accomplishment so far?
GRAVITT: This past session I carried a bill in Nashville that had to deal with Hamilton County WWTA, Water and Waste Water Treatment Authority. And...and it was by no means a slam towards the WWTA, but what they were doing is charging the landlords or-and the future tenants for the people...for the previous tenants water bill. If the landlord did not pay that previous tenants water bill, they charged it to the future tenant. If that tenant did not pay the water bill, the prevented Tennessee American Water from turning on their water. That was not correct. So I viewed this bill as a consumer protection bill. And, so now they can no longer do that. You know, that would be like me paying for your mortgage or me paying your car payment. It just didn't make sense. That's...that's one of the biggest things that I am proud of. That I think will help the citizens of Hamilton County.
HELBERT: Thank you. And ...if you are re-elected, what issue to do you want to tackle or address first?
GRAVITT: There are a couple of issues I would like to look at. Number one that's been reporting on quite a bit is the opioid addiction in the state of Tennessee. The State of Tennessee currently is number one for opioid prescriptions written in the nation. There is more prescriptions written for opioid medication than any other state. That is a huge issue and that's #1. #2 may be somewhat of a controversial-well I know it's going to be a controversial issue. Is that I would like to explore the issues of medical marijuana in the state of Tennessee. I think that...that that would help alleviate the substantial opioid addictions simply because of- and what I am talking about is not necessarily the marijuana that people smoke. But the cannabis oil that can be administered through either a patch or through a vapor that...that the patient inhales. That's...I would really like to...to see the state of Tennessee progress in that area.
HELBERT: Do you think it would something that would be taxable, bring income for the state?
GRAVITT: I think it could. But that's not my main purpose for...for trying to work on this legislation. You know, it's been proven-a friend of mine, a fellow state representative traveled to Colorado last week. And he met with several former Tennessee residences that moved there, who had kids that suffered from up to one...one infant suffered over 500 seizures a day. Since they moved to Colorado and the...the infant was put on the cannabis oil, her seizures have reduced down to 50 seizures a day. So it's a quality of life issue as well. You know, the cannabis oil can help also veterans with PTSD issues. And I think it's just...I think it's something that we need to take a look at.
HELBERT: Okay, thanks so much. It looks like time is about up you've got about 15 seconds if you want to add anything in there.
GRAVITT: I am State Representative Marc Gravitt. I am a small business owner. I have been endorsed by several organizations. I've been endorsed by both the Times and the Free Press here in Chattanooga. The National Federation of Independent Businesses. The Legislator of the year from the...for the 109th General Assembly from the state of Tennessee Assessors Association, and many others. And I would certainly appreciate your vote in about 3 weeks.
HELBERT: Alright, thanks so much.