The Tennessean
Mayoral Candidates Share Views
but they differ on experience
September 10, 2008
William E. Farmer and Philip Edward Craighead have lived in
Lebanon for a combined 105 years. They graduated from area schools and
have raised their families here.
- Both want upgrades to city services and a revitalization of
the square,
- Both say managing growth is among the most important topics
facing the city today.
- As candidates for mayor of Wilson’s county seat,
both praise the town’s people and say its location is ripe
for attracting new business.
- So what distinguishes these political competitors?
- One touts his experience in local government as an asset in
his campaign, while the other says his business background is a reason
to vote for him.
Contractor believes views, experience will benefit Lebanon.
Philip Edward Craighead, 53, has been a general contractor since 1985.
In 1981, he incorporated The Phoenix Group of Middle Tennessee, a
company that provides concrete and under-drainage work for the
Tennessee Department of Transportation. He has been married to Darlene
Craighead for 28 years. They have two grown children, Zack, 24 and
Carissa Stone Wheeler, 34.
How long have you lived in Lebanon?
“I have lived in Lebanon for 40years, having moved here in
1969 with my family, Reverend Billy and Marie Craighead. I graduated
from Lebanon High School in 1972 and continued my education at Middle
Tennessee University, graduating in 1976. I continued to work at our
family business (KOA Campground, Lebanon Skating Rink, Lebanon
Site-seeing Tours) while attending school, until I opened my own
business.”
What is your past political experience?
“I have been active in service organization s over the past
40 years and currently serve on the Lebanon Revitalization Task Force,
working with HUD to find ways to revitalize struggling neighborhoods.
Being a developer, I have 30 years experience in dealing with the city
engineering, planning and codes departments. My experience with my TDOT
contract has given me an internal knowledge of the workings of the
state budget and contract process.”
Why do you want to be mayor of Lebanon?
“I have spent the last 40 years living in the best town in
middle Tennessee and have watched it grow from a farming community to a
bustling community with many challenges. Our future depends on
maintaining the quality of life we have come to expect with the need to
grow, but we must build from within. I am running to bring my many
years of business experience to help Lebanon begin the first of many
steps to its future. We must respect our neighborhoods and work hard to
bring the new growth that will support new schools and recreation for
our families. My experience in managing large projects will help us
find the best way to move forward.”
If elected, what do you hope to accomplish as mayor?
“My goals are to bring stability to our city government,
bring a common sense approach to our problems and streamline our
systems to help citizens get quick answers to any issues. We need to
bring the right retail development that will enhance our tax base,
partner with new and existing companies that share our vision for the
future of our families, partner with neighboring cities and
county government to work together to accomplish the common goals with
teamwork, cooperation, and respect. Support our city
employees’ right to grow and have a voice in city government
and provide the benefits to allow them to prosper. Support the rebirth
of our town center and the neighborhoods that have been neglected.
Generate new revenue while maintaining a low tax rate. As the leader of
the city, the citizen’s concerns will be my
concerns.”
Looking five years into the future, what do you predict will
be Lebanon’s biggest challenge?
Managing the fiscal responsibilities, with the need to upgrade our
infrastructure to manage our growth, continuing to deal with the
economic challenges that effect all citizens as well as the city
government. We must lead the way in recruiting the business and
industry that will bring jobs, re-enforcing our image in the middle TN
area as one of the premier places to live. Keeping up with the needs
for better roads and access to our city.”
How would you sell business and industry leaders on locating in
Lebanon? What type of business and industry does the city want to go
after?
“All of the surrounding cities have their own uniqueness.
Lebanon has a strong AA-3 bond rating, with five available industrial
parks with the zoning to make business relocation as seamless as
possible. We have developed a future land-use plan with road expansion
that addresses the issues of the proper blend of commercial, industrial
and residential that allows a balance that equals quality of life for
all residents. We have a ready base of employees and the proper
educational growth to continue providing a skilled work
force.”
What is Lebanon’s strongest overall asset and why?
“Our location as the eastern gateway to the Middle Tennessee
area. Our location is primary in the relocation or development of new
business. We have the interstate systems with the new 840 corridor that
will bring rapid growth to southern industrial area, will bring the
planned development that will be necessary to support. A community
driven by our people’s spirit and willingness to volunteer as
seen by the success of the Wilson County Fair. Our Fire
Department’s ISO-4 safety rating and CLEA rating for our
police department shows our commitment to our citizens’
safety.”
What is the city’s most immediate need, and what do
you plan to do to make this happen, if elected?
“We must look at more than one immediate need. Building our
new schools, to allow us to show new business the commitment to quality
education, managing the fiscal responsibilities and finding new grant
revenue sources to allow us to upgrading our aging infrastructure,
while keeping our taxes low, moving forward on the new planning
recommendations on zoning to allow growth to move forward and prevent
politics from getting in the way of progress.”
Farmer’s outlook on Lebanon’s growth holds
importance
William E. Farmer, 70, attorney of 33 years, practices law in Lebanon.
Farmer is married to the farmer Linda Kent, who was raised in the
Statesville area. Between the two, the couple has five grown children.
How long have you lived in Lebanon?
“I moved to Lebanon in 1943, attended Highland Heights
Elementary School and graduated from Lebanon High School. I went to
college at Vanderbilt University where I received a B.E. in electrical
engineering and later attended Purdue University in Lafayette, IND.,
where I received a M.S. degree in nuclear engineering. I am a veteran,
having served in the United States Army, where I worked in nuclear
weapons technology. After working at various engineering positions in
different areas of the United States, I returned to Lebanon in 1966 and
have lived in the Lebanon area since that time. I was employed at the
E.I. DuPont Company in Old Hickory, Tenn., as an engineer and design
supervisor. While working at E.I. DuPont, I went to night law school at
the Nashville School of Law and began to practice law in Lebanon in
1976.”
What is your past political experience or public offices held?
“For the past five years I have served on the Lebanon City
Council as the Councilperson for Ward 3 (Cumberland University area). I
was elected Mayor Pro Tem by the other members of the city council and
serve as mayor in the absence of the present mayor. I have also served
in the following offices, positions: Commissioner, Wilson County
Commission (1972-1981); Lebanon Tenth District School Board
(1974-1980); prosecutor, city of Lebanon (1978-1980); city attorney,
city of Lebanon (1987-1990 and 1994-1998); Mayor Pro Tem, city of
Lebanon (2005 to present).”
Why do you want to be the mayor of Lebanon?
“Lebanon is my home. I love this community. I want to make it
an even better place to raise a family, for our children and
grandchildren. In the next few years, we are going to face tremendous
challenges as a city government, to manage growth, to provide the
services our citizens need and serve, to keep crime low and encourage
economic development. Our city government is now a $47 million
operation. I am the only candidate for mayor who has any experience in
local government. I understand how government works and how it
sometimes doesn’t work, and I have a good working
relationship with the other members of the city council.”
If elected, what do you hope to accomplish as mayor?
“I want to make Lebanon an even better place to live and
raise a family. I want to make our neighborhoods even safer, with
better fire and police protection. We need to expand our parks
department to give more people recreational opportunities.
And we need to upgrade our basic city services, such as improving
traffic throughout the community and street and road repairs. I also
want to improve our public square. It’s a unique part of our
community and our history; it sets Lebanon apart from the other cities
in the area. We need to make it a focal point for our city’s
image.”
Looking five years into the city’s future, what do you
predict will be Lebanon’s biggest challenges?
“Managing growth and the demands it puts on city services is
and will be our greatest challenge over the next five years. Our
citizens and our city leaders must have a common vision for the future
that protects Lebanon’s history and heritage and is sensitive
to the impact on our local neighborhoods. That requires us coming
together as a community to meet the challenges before us.”
How would you sell business owners and industry leaders on locating in
Lebanon? What type of business and industry does the city want to go
after?
“First, I believe the people of Lebanon are its greatest
selling point, they are hard working, friendly and dedicated to the
community. Second, we have great neighborhoods, good schools, strong
churches and a university which are all assets for any business that
locates here. Third, we are conveniently located to the interstate, we
have good rail service and a local airport, and we are adjacent to
Nashville and its international airport. I think Lebanon has a lot to
offer. What the city needs is a more professional economic development
and recruitment program to make sure the message is getting out to
business considering relocation in the area. Obviously the types of
jobs we want to attract are those with the highest paying salaries and
wages.”
What is Lebanon’s strongest asset and why?
“Again, our people are the strongest asset we have in
Lebanon. Our citizens are friendly, hard-working and have a strong
community background which makes Lebanon a place that we all
love.”
What is the city’s most immediate need, and what do
you plan to do to make that happen, if elected?
“The most immediate need for Lebanon city government is to
assure our citizens that their tax monies are being spent wisely and
efficiently and that their government has the vision and forethought to
plan for the future changes which will occur. Our government must be
open, accountable and responsive to our citizens. When elected mayor, I
will work with the Lebanon City Council, as I have in the past, to make
our government more efficient and to respect the needs of all our
citizens.
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