04/15/2026
Curt Cobb Announces Election Bid for Bedford County Mayor
SHELBYVILLE – Bedford County Clerk and Master Curt Cobb announced today he is running for the open Bedford County Mayor seat.
“I am a proud Shelbyville native and believe that our community is strongest when all our local governments are working together to improve the quality of life for everyone. Throughout my time as a State Representative and then as Clerk and Master, I have built a reputation for listening to residents and bringing people together to solve problems facing the community,” Cobb said. “Bedford County is a special place, and I will protect our community and make sure it remains a place families can call home for generations.”
“I learned a lot from my parents, Myrna, who is a retired schoolteacher, and the late Chancellor Tyrus H. Cobb, who was a state trial judge, about the importance of being involved in our community, and I feel my background has prepared me to serve as County Mayor,” Cobb said. “I will continue to strive to make our community a safer place to live and work.”
“We need to look at the county with an eye toward the future. The city of Shelbyville is growing at such a high rate. If we do not work together as a community, our schools and infrastructure will get left behind,” Cobb said. “People expect their elected officials to work together and focus on solutions that protect and strengthen our county. I believe local government should be about common sense and results.”
Cobb recognizes the link between good schools and good jobs, and he will work to give students their best chance to get a good education, a quality job, and a better life. “I will lead our county commission and work with our school board to improve our schools while keeping taxes low,” Cobb said. “I am proud to be known as a fiscal conservative committed to accountable, efficient, and transparent government, and I will work hard to ensure tax dollars are spent wisely.”
Cobb was first elected to the Tennessee State House of Representatives in 2002 and served until 2009. During his time as state representative for Bedford, Rutherford, and Lincoln counties, Cobb was rated A+ by the National Rifle Association and was instrumental in passing funding for State Route 437, also known as the Shelbyville Bypass. He worked to widen Highway 41A between Tullahoma and Shelbyville as well North Main Street in Shelbyville, realizing the growing importance of this retail corridor in the community. Cobb supported several key public safety initiatives including “Jessica’s Law”, which set a minimum period of 25 years of incarceration for r**e and aggravated sexual battery of a child. Jessica’s Law also created a sexual offender registration which forced individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses to register with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and comply with monitoring and reporting requirements.
Cobb has held the position of Bedford County Clerk & Master since 2009, which is a county constitutional office. “As Clerk & Master, I manage revenue, accounting, financial reporting, investments, as well other duties to ensure the Court runs efficiently. The County Mayor is the chief executive of the county, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, supervising department heads, managing county property and assets, and working with Finance, elected officials and boards,” Cobb said. “As a former small business owner, Certified Public Administrator, former State Representative, and County Official, I understand how to run a business, how to manage budgets, and how to work with others.”
Cobb joined the Bedford County E-911 Board in 2011 and was elected Chairman shortly thereafter. Since then, he has been very active in the overall operation of 911 services in Bedford County and across Tennessee. In 2013, as cell phone use became widespread and landlines declined, the statewide 911 funding model was significantly reduced. Recognizing the urgent need for stronger advocacy and representation, Chairman Cobb helped form the Tennessee 911 Association known as TN911, and served as its founding chair. Because of his leadership, Cobb was inducted into the Tennessee 911 Hall of Honor. He was recently honored with an award for founding TN911, which has had a lasting impact on lifesaving emergency services in Tennessee. His efforts have ensured reliable funding and support for first responders and played a critical role in stabilizing the statewide 911 funding structure.
Cobb has three adult children and is married to Loren A. Sanderson, an attorney and partner with Kious, Rodgers, Barger, & Sanderson, PLLC and an adjunct professor at Middle Tennessee State University. Cobb is currently a member of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Association, Masonic Lodge, Rosebank Cemetery Association in Flat Creek, Bedford County Emergency Communications District E-911, County Officials Association of Tennessee, Middle Tennessee Court Clerks Association (past president), National Wild Turkey Federation, and Ducks Unlimited. He is a past board member of the South Central Human Resources Agency, South Central TN Business Development Corporation, Tennova Healthcare-Shelbyville Advisory Board, Shelbyville-Bedford County Economic Development & Tourism, and was a member of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Advisory Committee and Shelbyville Historic Zoning Commission.
The election will be held August 6, with early voting scheduled from July 17 through August 1.
