CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Candidates seeking election to a District 7 seat on the Bradley County Commission have named good jobs, infrastructure needs and care for seniors among their concerns.
Republicans Kevin Raper and Joshua Rogers seek their party's nomination for District 7, Seat A in the May 1 primary, while Tammy Davis runs unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
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Kevin Raper
Joshua Rogers
Tammy DavisDavis, a real estate and accounting professional, co-chairs the Bradley County Democratic Party.
Raper has worked as an educator for more than 30 years. Rogers, a marketing and public relations professional, serves as treasurer for the Bradley County Republican Party.
District 7 encompasses North Cleveland, primarily west of Keith Street and south of Paul Huff Parkway. It extends into the North Ocoee and Frontage Road areas and along Georgetown Pike and South Lee Highway.
Infrastructure - education, roads and services - ranks as the top priority for the county's growing population, Raper said.
"Population growth is not necessarily a good thing," he said. "Sometimes it's a bad thing. If the infrastructure is up to par with the population growth, then it's absolutely a good thing."
Davis and Rogers both cite job growth and seniors as key focuses.
"We want a friendly business climate and environment for creating better-paying jobs," Rogers said, adding that includes preparing students for higher education or vocational paths.
Enticing high-tech jobs to the area means supporting education and student apprenticeships, Davis said.
Rogers also called for not overtaxing seniors while still providing the services they need.
"We need to find a way to take care of our seniors and boost the health of the county as a whole," Davis said.
All three candidates shared thoughts on their approach to the county's budget.
"Our greatest challenge is doing our best to spend within our means," Raper said, citing pressures of population growth. "I want to listen to the people of Bradley County and come up with creative ideas to stretch our taxpayer dollars as far we can."
The county budget should address diverse needs, Davis said, noting only one woman now serves on the commission.
"Because there is no diversity [on the commission], I think sometimes people are afraid to speak up," she said. "We have to be willing to do that."
Rogers said he will review the budget with "a fine-tooth comb," but use "a scalpel, not a meat cleaver."
It will take working across lines within the county commission and with city leaders to provide the best all-around services for residents, he said.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Davis in the Aug. 2 general election for the seat. It is the only Bradley County Commission seat not decided in the Republican primary.
Commissioner Bill Winters runs unopposed for District 7, Seat B.
Early voting begins April 11.
Contact Paul Leach at paul.leach.press@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @pleach_3.