That’s the question Ronald Reagan asked the American people in 1980.
Four years later, Reagan had done what he said he would do and ran on the theme “it’s morning in America again.”
The parallel isn’t exactly the same, but the same question does apply to Washington County today.
Four years ago, Washington County had recently made some tough decisions to defuse the debt crisis we were facing.
When I first ran for county commission in 2010, the old ways of building everything with debt-financing had landed county government in over $160 million of debt, and we weren’t paying it down.
Today, we have a long-range capital plan that anticipates future needs and invests in improvements along the way to get the most out of our facilities.
This kind of long-term, disciplined budgeting has already saved taxpayers millions of dollars in interest payments and will help prevent future tax increases.
It’s what Tennessee does at the state level, and those same principles of fiscal responsibility are serving us well here in Washington County.
The role of Mayor is, first and foremost, a leadership role…as the chief financial officer of the county.
When I came to full-time public service after a four-decade career at Ferguson Enterprises, where I had grown the business from 8 employees to 80, and $30 million in annual revenue, with back-to-back years of double-digit sales growth.
What I brought to the office of mayor was a practical business background and a conservative philosophy: “Leadership Means Stewardship.”
Almost four years later, we have reduced Washington County’s debt from $172 million when I ran for Mayor in 2018 to $132 million by the end of the current fiscal year.
Less debt. Longer vision. Better jobs. Stronger region. That’s what I said I would do, and that is exactly what we’ve done.
Some people promise things just to get elected, but once they’re in office, they do something else, or even the opposite of what they said they would do.
I’ve done what I said I would do, plain and simple. We’ve paid down debt and kept spending steady, with no tax increases.
That’s still my approach, and that’s why I’m seeking a second term as your Mayor.
You know, there’s no limit to what some people can imagine when they’re spending your money.
I will hold the line and keep us on the path of conservative financial management while investing in future-focused projects with a high return on investment that won’t break the bank.
I’ve done what I said I would do, and I’ll keep doing it.
You can trust what I’ll do in a second term, because you can see what I’ve done in the first, and what I’ve done is what I said I would do three years ago.
Actions speak louder than accusations.
But Stewardship isn’t just about paying down debt. Fundamentally, it is future-focused leadership.
It doesn’t mean we don’t do things. It means we do the right things the right way, and with the long run in mind.
It’s about doing those things that we need to do today to maximize opportunities for tomorrow.
So my areas of focus as Mayor will continue to be on Education and Infrastructure.
First, EDUCATION, because the most profound role of county government is to provide a quality education to our citizens in every part of the county.
Our job is to offer everyone the opportunity to live productive lives and foster a culture of dignified work and entrepreneurship that will lead to the kind of higher-paying jobs that will keep our children here.
So we will stay on track with planned upgrades to our k-12 school facilities, while also looking to narrow the gap in teacher pay so we can recruit and retain excellent educators.
As for facilities, after seeking a solution for many years, we have finally broken ground on a new Jonesborough school, and we have funded improvements for both county high schools.
And the most exciting project on the horizon will transform the former Boones Creek Elementary School into a satellite campus for the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Elizabethton, introducing the new concept of a Middle College.
We are optimistic that this project will be funded in the Governor’s budget for FY ‘23.
This will expand opportunities for vocational education in Washington County, both for high school students and adult learners, and there’s a long waiting list.
For younger students, this “middle college” will feature dual enrollment courses in the skilled trades.
Our high school students will be able to graduate with a career or technical certification and a high school diploma, providing an immediate pathway to full-time employment.
And finally, with an influx of new people moving into our region, INFRASTRUCTURE will continue to be an area of focus, because that is the foundation for responsible economic growth. Especially water. It’s the 21st Century, but unfortunately, we still have thousands of citizens in rural Washington County without access to safe water.
The good news is, we’re making progress. We’ve funded a new crew with the Town of Jonesborough to install water lines that will extend municipal systems into unserved areas.
We will continue seeking state and federal funds to extend basic services without expanding our debt.
Finally, we’re beginning to bring broadband internet into rural areas that have been woefully underserved in terms of access to information technology.
When it comes to the educational and economic opportunities that lead to better-paying jobs, connecting all of Washington County to affordable, high speed internet is NOT optional. It’s absolutely essential.
With remote-work trends rapidly accelerating, we will continue looking for ways to expand internet opportunity that will bring the highest returns on investment without breaking the bank.
You may or may not have heard about some of these initiatives, but a conservative approach to government isn’t always exciting.
Good government rarely makes headlines.
A conservative approach means limiting government to doing only certain things and then doing them efficiently and effectively. So, if the courthouse isn’t top-of-mind, that’s not a bad thing.
County government shouldn’t aspire to fix all of your problems. It should provide the infrastructure, education, and opportunity essential to a strong economy and healthy community.
And then get out of the way. And it should do that in responsible ways that won’t limit the opportunities available to future generations.
It’s about less debt and a longer vision. Leadership still means stewardship. And I’m asking for your vote!
Thank you.