Q&A: Meet John Louallen, Republican candidate for Tennessee House District 78

Voters will choose a new representative for Tennessee House District 78 this year following the retirement of longtime Rep. Mary Littleton, who announced she would not seek reelection after serving the district since 2012.

District 78 includes all of Cheatham County and the eastern portion of Dickson County. Three candidates are seeking the seat: Republicans John Louallen and Perry Keenan, and Democrat Dr. Aniya Farmer.

Early voting for the Aug. 6 state primary begins July 17 and runs through Aug. 1. The winners will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

Ahead of the election, the Gazette asked each candidate the same series of questions about the issues facing District 78. Below are John Louallen's responses.

KSG: Why are you running for District 78?

Louallen: I grew up believing that if you see a problem, you don't sit back and complain about it, you step up and help fix it. That's what led me to serve eight years on the Cheatham County School Board and four years as Mayor of Pegram. I never served for a title. I served because I wanted to make a difference in my community.

Today, I'm running for State Representative for the very same reason.

I believe our voices deserve to be heard in Nashville. Too many people feel like government has gotten too big, spends too much money, and doesn't listen to the people who elected them.

I want to be a representative who answers the phone, returns emails, and shows up in the community, not just during election season, but every day.

I'm running because I believe in protecting our constitutional freedoms, supporting our law enforcement officers, standing up for our farmers and small businesses, defending life, and making sure government is accountable to the taxpayers who fund it.

I'm also running because I want my children and future generations to enjoy the same opportunities and freedoms that we have today.

KSG: What are the top three issues facing District 78?

Louallen: Public Education; Property Taxes; Public Safety 

KSG: Mary Littleton represented this district for more than a decade and your opponent received her endorsement. What would you say to voters who supported Rep. Littleton?

Louallen: First, I want to thank Representative Mary Littleton for her many years of service to District 78. Public service is a sacrifice, and I respect the time and dedication she gave to our communities.

If you supported Representative Littleton in the past, I'm asking you to take a look at me and my record. I've balanced budgets, worked with people who didn't always agree, and made decisions based on what was best for our communities.

I'll be an accessible representative who returns phone calls, answers emails, and is present in the district. I'll listen before I speak, and I'll always remember that I work for the people of District 78.

Whether you supported Representative Littleton, someone else, or have never been involved in politics before, I would be honored to earn your vote. My commitment is simple: to represent every citizen of District 78 with integrity, transparency, and common sense.

KSG: How should Tennessee address school funding and public education?

Louallen: Education is one of the most important responsibilities of state government, and every child in Tennessee deserves access to a quality education.

I believe we should start by making sure our public schools are fully supported. The vast majority of Tennessee students attend public schools, and they deserve safe classrooms, great teachers, and the resources they need to succeed. Funding should be transparent, accountable, and focused on students. Taxpayers deserve to know how education dollars are being spent, and local school districts should have the flexibility to address the unique needs of their communities instead of relying on one-size-fits-all mandates from Nashville.

I also believe parents are essential partners in education. They should have a strong voice in their children's education and deserve clear communication from their local schools. As someone who served eight years on the Cheatham County School Board, I understand that every district is different. Rural and suburban districts face different challenges, and funding formulas should recognize those differences while ensuring students have equitable opportunities.

We also need to invest in career and technical education, agriculture education, and workforce development so students have multiple pathways to success, whether that's college, the military, a skilled trade, or entering the workforce.

Finally, we must be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Before creating new programs or expanding existing ones, we should make sure they are financially sustainable and that they don't unintentionally take resources away from our neighborhood public schools. My goal is simple: strong public schools, empowered parents, excellent teachers, and a funding system that is fair, transparent, and accountable to the taxpayers who make it possible.

KSG: What role should the state play in managing growth and development?

Louallen: The state's role is to be a good partner by providing the tools, infrastructure, and resources that allow local communities to grow responsibly while preserving what makes them unique.

For communities like Cheatham and Dickson Counties, that means investing in roads and bridges before traffic becomes a crisis, supporting public schools as enrollment grows, expanding reliable infrastructure, and protecting our agricultural heritage.

I also believe local governments should have a strong voice in planning decisions. The people who live in a community understand its needs better than bureaucrats in Nashville. State government should respect local input while ensuring laws are fair, consistent, and protect private property rights.

Growth should never come at the expense of our quality of life. Families move here because they appreciate our small-town values, safe communities, and rural character. We should welcome responsible growth while protecting farmland, supporting local businesses, and making sure infrastructure keeps pace with development.

My goal is simple: encourage smart growth, protect our way of life, and ensure state government is a partner, not a roadblock for our local communities.

KSG: How should Tennessee approach transportation and road improvements?  

Louallen: Transportation is one of the most important investments we can make because it affects our economy, public safety, and quality of life every day.

As our communities continue to grow, our infrastructure has to keep pace. Too often, roads become overcrowded years before improvements are made. I believe Tennessee should prioritize road projects based on safety, traffic congestion, and future growth, not politics.

For District 78, that means fighting for state investment in the roads and bridges that families, school buses, farmers, and local businesses depend on every day. Better transportation infrastructure improves emergency response times, supports economic development, and makes it easier for people to get to work, school, and home safely.

I also believe we have a responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Before asking taxpayers for more money, we should make sure existing transportation funds are spent efficiently, projects are managed responsibly, and taxpayers receive real value for their investment.

My approach is straightforward: invest in roads before they become a crisis, focus on safety first, spend taxpayer dollars wisely, and make sure growing communities like ours aren't left behind when transportation decisions are made in Nashville.

KSG: What can the state do to support volunteer fire departments, EMS services and rural emergency responders?  

Louallen: Volunteer firefighters, EMS personnel, and rural emergency responders are the backbone of communities across Tennessee. They answer the call at all hours, often with limited resources, because they care about their neighbors.

The state has a responsibility to make sure these departments have the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.

First, we should continue investing in grants for equipment, training, and station improvements so departments aren't forced to rely solely on local fundraisers or already stretched county budgets.

Second, we need to address recruitment and retention. Volunteer departments across Tennessee are struggling to find and keep volunteers. The state should explore incentives and programs that encourage people to serve their communities.

Third, we need to invest in emergency communications and infrastructure. Reliable radio systems, broadband, and coordinated dispatch systems can make the difference between life and death, especially in rural areas where response times are often longer.

Finally, I believe state government should listen to the people on the front lines. Firefighters, paramedics, and emergency responders understand the challenges they face better than anyone in Nashville. Their input should help shape public policy. Public safety isn't a partisan issue. Every family deserves to know that when they call 911, trained professionals have the equipment, training, and support needed to respond quickly and effectively.

KSG: What experience best prepares you to serve in the Tennessee House?

Louallen: I believe my experience has prepared me to serve because I've spent my career solving problems, managing budgets, and serving people.

For eight years, I served on the Cheatham County School Board, including time as Chairman and Vice Chairman. During that time, I worked on multi-million-dollar budgets, policy decisions, school safety, capital projects, and the challenges that come with serving a growing community. I learned how to listen, ask tough questions, and make decisions that balanced the needs of students, teachers, parents, and taxpayers.

I then had the honor of serving four years as Mayor of Pegram. As mayor, I worked with budgets, infrastructure projects, public safety, planning and zoning issues, and economic development. Local government teaches you quickly that every decision has real consequences for the people you serve.

Professionally, I've spent years as a federal contractor working to identify fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid programs. That experience reinforced the importance of accountability, transparency, and being a good steward of taxpayer dollars. Before that, I served in law enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff, an experience that gave me a deep appreciation for public safety, personal responsibility, and the sacrifices made by those who wear the badge.

More than any title I've held, what prepares me to serve is that I've been accessible and accountable to the people I represent. I've attended the meetings, answered the phone calls, listened to concerns, and worked with people who didn't always agree with me to find practical solutions.

I don't claim to have all the answers, but I do bring a proven record of public service, fiscal responsibility, and a willingness to listen. If elected, I'll take that same approach to the Tennessee House, working hard, staying accessible, and always remembering that I work for the people of District 78, not the other way around.

KSG: What committee assignments would you seek and why?

Louallen: First, I would have a strong interest in serving on committees related to education. I understand the challenges facing students, teachers, parents, and local school systems. I believe we need to support strong public schools, expand career and technical education opportunities, and make sure education funding is transparent and focused on students.

I also have a strong interest in issues involving public safety and law enforcement. My experience as a former Deputy Sheriff has given me a deep appreciation for the men and women who protect our communities. I would advocate for policies that support law enforcement, first responders, and safe communities.

At the end of the day, committee assignments are about more than titles, they are about where you can make the greatest impact. I would approach every assignment by listening, learning, and working to deliver results for the people of District 78.