Vice Mayor Chris Bratcher announced that he will run for re-election, continuing to make jobs his number one priority. He said, “My position as Vice Mayor allowed me, along with state and local officials and the Chamber of Commerce, to recruit Amazon.  The Amazon fulfillment center will provide 1,150 jobs with an average pay of $16.50 an hour.”

“The new Wal-Mart on South Church Street will employ about 300 people.  The production of the Nissan LEAF in Smyrna represents a $1 billion investment that will provide jobs countywide.  There are other developments in the works,” Bratcher said, adding that the Chamber of Commerce saw a record increase in ribbon cuttings. 

Bratcher also cited the development of the Avenue and the new hospital on Medical Center Parkway as job producers.  The City owns 100 undeveloped acres in the Gateway, an area where Bratcher would like to see corporations locate their headquarters, producing more, higher paying jobs.

“I want to continue to make Murfreesboro the best place it can be, a place where our children can get a good education, grow up in safe neighborhoods and get a good job close to home,” Bratcher said, as his motivation for seeking another term.  Rutherford County’s population has increased by over 44 percent over the last 10 years, an increase local officials attribute to quality of life.

Bratcher was first elected to the Murfreesboro City Council in 1988. He has four grown children and three grandchildren.  A product of public schools, Bratcher attended McFadden School, Riverdale High School and Middle Tennessee State University.