Mayor Jerry Gist Seeks Re-Election
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DOWNTOWN JACKSON — Mayor Jerry Gist confirmed that he will seek re-election as Jackson’s mayor, Tuesday. Gist’s name will be placed on the May 5, 2015, city of Jackson municipal election ballot. “It has been an honor, a privilege, and a great pleasure to serve our community as mayor for the past six and one-half years,” Gist said in a statement. “Today, I am announcing my intention to seek a third term in office. The city has moved forward in a positive manner in the last few years, but we still have much to accomplish. There are projects that need completion and goals that need to be met. I welcome an opportunity to complete these projects and to meet these goals.” Gist has worked for the city of Jackson since 1977. READ the rest of the statement from Gist below: Even though our revenue has been restricted by the economic downturn and we have faced more than our share of natural disasters, we have maintained normal operations and service levels. Tornadoes and floods have affected a heartbreaking number of our citizens and businesses, yet I like to believe that our city has been effective in responding. Despite these challenges, our finances are now stable. We‘ve continued efficient operations in difficult times without raising taxes. I see new opportunities on the horizon, and I want to be a part of the effort to see them through. Key issues include crime reduction, continued city-wide revitalization, transportation improvements, and economic development. The Southern Bypass Extension is still on the table, and public support will help us make it a reality. We‘ve been able to attract funding to rebuild East Chester into an attractive corridor that will bring new life into the heart of our city. After years of persistent effort, Hollywood Drive is now completed with five lanes from I-40 to the 45 Bypass. Additionally, state funding has been secured for preliminary engineering work to begin the widening of I-40 to six lanes in Jackson from US 412 (Bells Highway) to US 70 east of Jackson, and for improvement design to the I-40/US 45 Bypass Interchange at Casey Jones Village. With the Tennessee Department of Transportation investment of $100,000,000 over the next six years in infrastructure improvements for Jackson, the city is positioned to grow in retail and commercial development. Interstate ramps at I-40 and Highland Avenue will be designed to allow continued commercial and retail development via an access road from Highland Avenue to Campbell Street. The correction of the U-Turn to I-40 at Carriage House near Casey Jones Village will also create future development via an access road to Hollywood Drive. There are positive signs for economic development in Jackson. I want to sustain a business environment where business start-ups have the greatest chance of success and new businesses are attracted to our city. We were excited to learn that Jackson was named by Site Selection Magazine as the sixth-best place to locate a business for cities with populations between 50,000 and 200,000. Madison County has the lowest unemployment rate of 8.6%, compared to our regional county rate of 10.4%. With our Team Madison County economic development efforts and our outstanding Chamber of Commerce, I am confident that we can continue to recruit more jobs for our city. I am especially proud of our fine city staff. They serve our city with distinction. Several key department head positions have been filled within the fire, police, engineering, health and sanitation, and building and codes departments. With the new experience and energy they add to our outstanding staff, our administration can provide efficient and reliable services as we take best advantage of the opportunities before us. Because of our safe neighborhoods task force, the city has added new police officers in gang, traffic, and drug patrols, as well as neighborhood sweeps and a special operations unit. These combined efforts have brought Jackson‘s crime rate down more than five percent thus far during my second term as city mayor. This is especially significant because during economic downturns, crime typically rises rather than declines. With an upturn in the economy, and with new strategies in place to provide more comprehensive police protection in our neighborhoods, I hope to see even further reductions in crime. We, as a city, need to keep our momentum moving forward. We need to stay the course. We are fortunate to live in a community where people can come together to work for what is best for Jackson. This unity of purpose enables us to progress. I enjoy public service and look forward to coming to work every day on behalf of the citizens of Jackson. The job is both challenging and rewarding, and I hope I have earned the right to ask for everyone’s vote again. It is with great humility that I seek the opportunity to continue to serve, to resolve issues facing us, and to meet the challenges that our future holds.” Mayor Gist has worked within local municipal government for 35 years in various capacities. He began working for the city of Jackson in 1977 as the executive director of the city’s recreation and parks department. He assumed the role of executive director of the city’s public works department in 1991. Mayor Gist was elected Madison County mayor in 2002, and in May 2007, he was elected the city of Jackson mayor. Gist holds a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University in Alabama, a master‘s degree in public administration from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, and is a graduate of The Harvard School of Government. He is a U.S. Army veteran. Jerry and his wife Liz have two children and four grandchildren. Jackson TN – Mayor‘s Office
