CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis has announced he will be a candidate for re- election in the May 1 Republican primary.
In a news release, Davis said he will campaign on "adhering to the basics of good fiscal policy, highlighting my record of achievement and planning for the future growth of the community and this region we call home."
"My record is one of a fiscal conservative and I do not believe in spending money you don't have. I have never proposed a tax increase in any of the county budgets but have instead found ways to save taxpayer dollars and increase services provided. As a result, each budget has been balanced without a tax increase," Davis said.
Among the new services are three more paid fire stations, bringing the total to eight and delivering a Class 4 ISO rating.
The jobless rate is 3.1 percent and the completion of a new interchange on APD 40 opens up hundreds of acres for development. The new industrial park off Exit 20 also is underway, he said.
Davis said he understands local concerns because he was born and raised in the county. He earned the designation of certified public administrator from the University of Tennessee in 1999 and is among only 17 county mayors in Tennessee to have attained that status.
He is a 35-year member of the Kiwanis Club of Cleveland and past president of the North Lee Ruritan Club and the North Lee PTO. He is the chairman of the Southeast Tennessee Development District and past chairman of the Southeast Tennessee Human Resources Agency, and he serves on numerous boards.
Davis and his wife, Sonya, have four children and four grandchildren.
To Bradley County voters, he said, "While we may not always agree on every issue, you can always know that you have a friend in the mayor's office who is working hard for each and every citizen in Bradley County."