Tennessee House of Representatives District 39 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Tennessee, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 39 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 39

Incumbent Iris Rudder defeated Bruce Manuel in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 39 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Iris Rudder (R)	76.7	14,207
		Bruce Manuel (D)	23.3	4,309

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 18,516
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Bruce Manuel (D)

I would seek to overturn the Tennessee law banning abortion. I believe in a woman's right to bodily autonomy and their right to choose what is best for their healthcare and life.

Teachers earn roughly 20% less than comparably educated professionals on average. In Tennessee, that number is 21.4% and our underfunded education system has consistently ranked between 44th-46th. We must increase teacher pay and funding for public schools.

I support the decriminalization of marijuana and believe the decision to not allow the retail sale of the product is a mistake. The state of Tennessee could be getting so much revenue from such sales and use that money to improve the lives the citizens of this state.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Bruce Manuel (D)

1. I am very very passionate about there being free and fair elections. The Republican party in the state has abandoned any attempt to make elections fair in Tennessee. As many states, Republican are using gerrymandering of political districts to give themselves and advantage by diluting the minority vote which usually votes Democrat. The gutting of the Voting Rights Acts and obstruction in the US Congress of voter protection legislation is repulsive.

2. I am passionate about a woman's right to bodily autonomy. It is wrong for the few right-wing Supreme Court justices to overture Roe vs Wade. This act will destroy the lives of many people and impose hardships on families in this country who already are struggling to survive in this economy and recovering the pandemic.

3. I believe that we desperately need sensible gun control legislation in this country. We need universal background checks. We need to restrict the sale of firearms to persons under 21 years of age. We need to outlaw high-capacity magazines and I believe we need to ban the sale of assault rifles to private citizens.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Bruce Manuel (D)

I really look up to President Barack Obama in many ways as a trailblazer. I also admire Senator John McCain because of his record of sacrifice for his country as a POW during the Vietnam War. As a retired naval officer myself, his example really speaks to me.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Bruce Manuel (D)

I remember coming home from kindergarten and my mother was watching the news about the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy. I was only six years old, but I could sense the gravity of the event on everyone.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Bruce Manuel (D)

My very first job was a summer job working in Baylor College of Medicine for a research scientist developing birth control drugs.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Bruce Manuel (D)

The ideal relationship is one where conflicting views of what to do to improve the lives of citizens are discussed in a rational, respectful manner, taking in to account the will of the voters. It should never be the case where they all march lockstep into decision without consideration of dissenting views. It is said, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions". No one has all the answers. The current atmosphere in the Tennessee legislature of not allowing any discussion differing of views and ideas, plus the general vindictiveness that is evident in their actions, is toxic and destroying our democracy.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Bruce Manuel (D)

This state is going down a road of creating a system of distinct "haves" and "have-nots". The governor and his cronies are lining their pockets from big money donors and industries with little regard for the safety and welfare of he people of Tennessee. The people of this state are becoming poorer, less educated, and more disenfranchised by his and the Republican supermajority in the legislature. There are no checks and balances to their power. They are on a path to consolidate their rule even more. This is very dangerous.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Bruce Manuel (D)

I don't think a unicameral state legislature is a good idea. We need for there to be checks and balances in the system.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Bruce Manuel (D)

I don't think this should be a prerequisite. I believe we need term limits, because some of the people in the legislature are willing to sell their votes to the highest bidder. The presence of money in our American political system has poisoned our democracy to the point where the voter's voice is almost meaningless.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Bruce Manuel (D)

Here in Franklin County, residents of the unincorporated section called Midway have been battling a local sand

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Bruce Manuel (D)

Compromise is an essential part of a functioning democracy. It is the only way for our legislature to deliver policy that can benefit the most people, while accommodating diverse perspectives and interests.

See also

More about these elections:

• Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2022

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