By Paul Graden
March 6, 2026

For the past six weeks, I've been meeting with a group of small business owners across Sumner County. Not because I needed their endorsements. Not because I was looking for campaign donations. But because I wanted to understand the challenges they face when the County Commission makes decisions about property taxes and infrastructure.

These aren't abstract policy debates for them. When the commission raises property taxes, small business owners feel it in their bottom line. When the commission fails to maintain county roads, small business owners deal with the potholes that damage delivery vehicles. When the commission doesn't invest in water and sewer infrastructure, small business owners struggle to expand.

I'm running for County Commission to represent District 9 families. But families aren't the only ones affected by commission decisions. Small businesses are the backbone of our community. They create jobs. They sponsor Little League teams. They show up when neighbors need help. And they deserve a commissioner who understands their concerns.

Here's what I learned from six weeks of conversations.

Property taxes are crushing small businesses.

Every small business owner I spoke with mentioned property taxes. Not as a talking point. As a real concern that affects their ability to stay in business.

When the County Commission raises property taxes, homeowners feel the pain. But small business owners feel it twice. They pay higher taxes on their commercial property. And they pay higher taxes on their personal homes. For a small business operating on thin margins, a property tax increase can be the difference between staying open and closing down.

I believe the County Commission has a responsibility to keep property taxes as low as possible. That means saying no to unnecessary spending. That means finding efficiencies in county operations. That means making tough choices about what the county can afford.

Small business owners don't have the luxury of raising prices every time their costs go up. They have to compete. They have to find efficiencies. They have to make hard decisions. The County Commission should operate the same way.

As your County Commissioner, I'll fight to keep property taxes down. Not just for homeowners. For small businesses too.

County infrastructure affects small businesses every day.

When I talk to small business owners, they don't just worry about property taxes. They worry about infrastructure.

County roads that aren't maintained create problems for delivery trucks and customer access. Water and sewer systems that can't handle growth limit business expansion. Inadequate broadband infrastructure makes it harder to compete in a digital economy.

The County Commission controls county infrastructure. Roads. Water. Sewer. Broadband partnerships. These aren't glamorous issues, but they matter to small businesses every single day.

A restaurant owner told me about the potholes on the county road leading to his location. Every time a customer hits one, they think twice about coming back. A retail shop owner told me about the water pressure issues that make it hard to keep her restrooms clean. A contractor told me about the lack of broadband in unincorporated areas, which makes it harder to submit bids and manage projects.

These are county-level issues. And they're solvable if the County Commission prioritizes infrastructure over pet projects.

As your County Commissioner, I'll fight for infrastructure investments that help small businesses thrive. Better roads. Reliable water and sewer. Broadband partnerships. The basics that make it possible to run a business in Sumner County.

Small businesses need an advocate at the state level.

The County Commission doesn't control everything that affects small businesses. Many of the regulations and policies that impact local businesses come from the state legislature in Nashville.

But County Commissioners have a voice at the state level. We can work with state legislators to advocate for policies that help small businesses. We can testify at committee hearings. We can build relationships with lawmakers. We can make sure Sumner County's concerns are heard in Nashville.

Small business owners don't have time to lobby the state legislature. They're too busy running their businesses. They need a County Commissioner who will advocate for them at the state level.

That's part of the job. And it's a part I take seriously.

Why this matters for District 9.

I'm running for County Commission to represent District 9 families. But families and small businesses aren't separate constituencies. They're the same people.

The small business owner who's worried about property taxes is also a parent worried about school funding. The restaurant owner who's concerned about county roads is also a neighbor who wants safe streets for his kids. The retail shop owner who's frustrated with inadequate infrastructure is also a homeowner who wants reliable water and sewer service.

When I fight to keep property taxes down, I'm fighting for homeowners and business owners. When I fight for better county infrastructure, I'm fighting for families and small businesses. When I advocate at the state level, I'm fighting for everyone who lives, works, and raises a family in District 9.

What's next.

I'm grateful to the small business owners who've spent the past six weeks sharing their insights with me. I'm especially grateful to the vice president of Pinnacle Bank who's been part of these conversations and is one of the endorsers on my website.

These meetings aren't over. I'll keep listening. I'll keep learning. And when I'm on the County Commission, I'll keep fighting for policies that help small businesses thrive.

If you're a small business owner in District 9 and you want to share your concerns, reach out. I'm knocking doors across the district, but I'm also available to meet with anyone who wants to talk about the issues that matter to them.

Early voting starts April 15. I'm asking for your support.

Paul Graden
Candidate for Sumner County Commission, District 9
VotePaulGraden.com