Monday, June 23, 2014
Jackson Seeks Re-election This August
Press release
Chris D. Jackson, a county commissioner currently representing the 2nd District in Lawrence County, has filed the necessary paperwork to seek re-election this August.
A lifelong resident of Loretto, Jackson attended Loretto High School and the University of North Alabama where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in political science and minoring in criminal justice. He is employed with the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department where he works in administration and information technology. He is married to the former Kailea Daniels of Leoma. They reside in Loretto.
Jackson was first elected to the county commission in 2006 at the age of 19. Upon his election, he became the youngest person ever to hold office in Lawrence County and one of the youngest people ever elected to public office in Tennessee history. In 2010, he won re-election garnering 62% of the vote.
During his time in office, Jackson has worked diligently to improve the lives of the people of the 2nd District and to make Lawrence County more competitive in the 21st Century by advocating and supporting progressive policies that will bring about positive, lasting change to our county.
While Jackson understands that Lawrence County still has much work to do, he is proud of the accomplishments and steady progress that has been made over the past several years. They include lowering the unemployment rate from 17.5% in 2010 to below 9% currently, the fact there have been no tax increases in seven years, the paying off over $20 million of old county debt, new investments in education that have led to improved test scores and graduation rates so much that our school system has been the top in the region for three years in a row, running of over 30 miles of water lines to over 800 citizens who desperately need them and removing all harmful portable classrooms from South Lawrence School and replacing them with permanent classrooms. He is also proud to have been the lead sponsor of transparency guidelines that were passed whose goal is to make county government more open and accountable to the public.
Currently, Jackson is one of the lead proponents of a new school building program that will finally get new high schools in Loretto and Summertown and a new EO Coffman middle school in Lawrenceburg. He was also a vocal advocate in the recent push that got three additional Student Resource Officers in our schools (Leoma, New Prospect and Summertown), a proactive move that will help keep our children safe.
During his tenure, Jackson has made it a top priority to be as accessible as possible to the people and to keep his constituents informed on county business. He has done so by penning regular op-eds in the local paper, corresponding with citizens on Facebook and Twitter, making his cell phone and personal email available and even sending out mass electronic calls to constituents on important issues facing their district. He has maintained a 100% attendance record for all regular session meetings of the county commission, providing a strong and reliable voice for his constituents.
In May of 2011, Jackson was recognized for his leadership when he was selected by the National Associations of Counties (NACo) as one of 100 county officials from around the nation to participate in a historic meeting at the White House in Washington D.C. to discuss the issues confronting county governments. He has used many of the contacts he made on this trip to help constituents on intergovernmental issues they may have.
Jackson is an active member and current vice president of the Loretto Lions Club. He is also the former secretary of the Loretto Lions Retirement Board. Currently, he is the Secretary of the South Lawrence Economic Development Association, a member of the Lawrence County Public Records Commission and a member of the Next Generation NACo Network. He is the State Director for the Young Elected Officials Network and on the county commission he has served as chairman of the Technology Committee and Energy Efficiency Committee.
In announcing his re-election bid, Jackson said the following:
“It has been a great honor to serve as commissioner of the 2nd District over the past 8 years. I have tried my best to provide respectful, responsive and efficient service to the people of Lawrence County and to provide my constituents with the kind of bold leadership they deserve.
I didn't run for office to just go-along-to-get-along or to do what's popular; I ran for office to do what is right and to get our county moving after years of sitting still. I believe anyone can serve in elective office and vote to do what is easy. But it takes a leader to take a stand and do what’s right, even when it is unpopular. I have done my best to be a leader not only for my constituents, but for all the people of Lawrence County who have a strong desire for us to do better as a county.
While we have made steady progress over the past few years, we still have a ways to go. I believe in this county's future and will continue to work hard to find ways that will help us move forward into the future. My goal will always be to find ways to encourage progress, not to stand in its way.
It would be an honor to earn your vote this August and to be able to continue to serve you and your family. Together, we can make progress.”
