Gage Schmid for Sevier County Commission, District 2, Seat B
GAGE’S PRIORITIES
Gage Schmid’s forward-looking leadership brings a new approach to the Sevier County Commission—focused on smart growth, strong schools, and a future locals can count on.
Strong Public Schools That Prepare Kids for Life
Strong public schools are the backbone of a strong Sevier County. Our kids deserve an education that prepares them for the real world—whether their path leads to college, a skilled trade, military service, or straight into the workforce. Gage believes schools should focus on practical learning that gives students real skills, real experience, and real choices when they graduate.
Gage supports fully funding public schools, paying teachers competitively so we can recruit and keep great educators, and expanding hands-on career and technical education tied directly to local job opportunities. Gage also believes the county should work closely with the School Board to grow dual-enrollment, workforce credential programs, and internship placements, so students can earn college or trade credits while still in high school and graduate with experience already under their belt. Investing in public education isn’t politics—it’s how we build a skilled workforce, support families, and give every child a fair shot at success right here at home.
Keeping Sevier County Livable for Working Families
Folks who work hard in Sevier County should be able to afford to live here and build a stable life. Gage is focused on tackling the everyday pressures, including rising housing costs, strained infrastructure, and an economy that too often leaves locals behind. The Sevier County government should put affordability first and make sure growth doesn’t come at the expense of the families who keep our community running.
That means focusing economic development on good-paying jobs, workforce training, and local, small businesses. Gage supports expanding trade, technical, and apprenticeship programs that connect directly to local employers, so training leads to real jobs. He also believes in cutting unnecessary red tape while holding everyone to the same fair rules, so small businesses can grow and compete. When we invest in working families and local talent, Sevier County becomes a place where people can put down roots, raise families, and stay for the long haul.
Preserving Our Home for the Next Generation
Our mountains and water are the backbone of Sevier County’s economy, health, and way of life. Protecting them isn’t political—it’s practical. Clean air, clean water, and healthy forests support our tourism economy, protect property values, and keep our communities strong.
That’s why Gage supports common-sense, voluntary, and incentive-based stewardship that works with landowners, farmers, and local communities—not against them. This includes forest health initiatives, conservation efforts that respect property rights, and clean energy options that help homeowners save money while protecting natural resources. Thoughtful stewardship prevents costly environmental damage and ensures Sevier County remains a place people can live, work, and be proud to call home—today and tomorrow.
Planning Ahead for the Next Generation
Good leadership means thinking beyond the next election and making choices that last. Gage believes Sevier County needs long-term planning that supports families, prepares for growth, and protects real opportunities for young people who want to build their lives here. Growth is coming, and whether it strengthens our community or strains it depends on the decisions we make now. It should work for the people who live here, not push them out, and new development should pay its own way so roads, water, and emergency services keep up without longtime neighbors footing the bill.
Nowhere is this more urgent than housing. Tourists have plenty of places to stay, but locals are running out of places they can afford to live. Working families, seniors, and young people who want to stay are being priced out of their own neighborhoods. Gage believes housing growth should put locals first, with careful planning, clear standards, and real community input, not rushed deals that benefit a few and change Sevier County forever.
Accountable, Common-Sense Leadership
County government works best when it stays focused on local problems and local solutions. Gage believes leadership should start with listening, remain accessible to the people it serves, and be guided by what’s best for Sevier County—not national political debates that don’t fix roads, schools, or housing.
Gage is committed to transparency, clear communication, and explaining decisions honestly so folks know what their county government is doing and why. His goal is simple: show up, do the work, and earn trust through steady, practical leadership that delivers real results and puts Sevier County first.
