Murfreesboro Post Releases News Story Stating Mayor Tommy Bragg Will Not Seek Re-election

Oct 16, 2013 at 10:49 am by bryan


Murfreesboro will have a new mayor. Three-term Mayor Tommy Bragg is expected to announce at Thursday night's City Council meeting he won't seek another term. Monte Hale, Jr., managing editor of the Murfreesboro Post, says writer Dan Whittle broke the story this (Wednesday) morning...

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The 66-year old Bragg said he sat out to help with economic development, foster our community’s relationship and growth with Middle Tennessee State University, help strengthen Murfreesboro City Schools, generate new good-paying jobs and that has been accomplished.

Hale says with the news, at least one person has already stepped into the race to succeed Bragg...

The term for McFarland, age 39, will end in 2014. Councilman Toby Gilley, whose current term doesn't expire until 2016, has already announce his intention to run for General Sessions judge. Check WGNSRadio.com, keyword Bragg or MurfreesboroPost.com for more on the story.

FROM MURFREESBORO POST WRITER DAN WHITTLE

Tommy Bragg is expected to announce he will not seek a fourth term as mayor at Thursday night’s Murfreesboro City Council meeting.

The three-time elected mayor has served 12 years at the helm of the government for Murfreesboro, one of Tennessee’s most-progressive cities in terms of job growth, economic development and education.

“Enough is enough,” Bragg said. “I set out, when first running for mayor, to help with economic development, foster our community’s relationship and growth with Middle Tennessee State University, help strengthen Murfreesboro City Schools, generate new good-paying jobs and we’ve done that.”

Bragg, 66, comes from a family with years of public service impact not only for Murfreesboro, but regionally including Cannon and Rutherford counties, and statewide in the state legislature and Tennessee National Guard.

Murfreesboro native John Hood’s relationship with the Bragg family goes back to his childhood when he first delivered newspapers for Minor Bragg, the mayor’s grandfather who published Woodbury’s Cannon Courier and Rutherford Courier newspapers in Murfreesboro back in the 1940-50 era.

“Going back to when I delivered and sold newspapers for publisher Minor Bragg, I’ve had a rich relationship with the Bragg family,” noted Hood, who followed John Bragg, the mayor’s father, as a state representative in the Tennessee Legislature.

“I followed John Bragg in the legislature, where he served 30 years and was one of the most influential, progressive state lawmakers in the history of Middle Tennessee. This type of leadership has helped make our community become one of the most progressive and livable in the Southeast.”

Hood served as state representative from 1996-2008.

“Tommy Bragg has carried on that family’s great tradition of public service, giving of himself and his family,” said Hood, who currently serves as director of government and community affairs at MTSU. “As mayor, in following his father’s steps in support of education, Tommy has enhanced the relationship between Murfreesboro, MTSU and City Schools. He has served the citizens of Murfreesboro well. I understand he and wife Jeanne desire to spend more time with family, especially their grandchildren, and do some travels together.”

Vice Mayor Ron Washington has served on the City Council for the past three decades.

If Vice Mayor Washington, who is in management at Middle Tennessee Electric Cooperative, runs and is successfully elected, he would be the first black citizen to hold the mayor’s post. Repeated attempts to get comments from Washington were unsuccessful.

Two-term Councilman Shane McFarland confirmed he’s formed a political team, and will seek the mayor’s office at age 39.

“I will run,” noted construction business owner McFarland. “Mayor Bragg has been a great leader and ambassador for Murfreesboro. We’re charging full-steam ahead to continue that progress.”

Thirteen-year veteran Councilman Toby Gilley, a lawyer, said he will not seek the mayor’s slot. He is running for General Sessions judge.

To read in-depth coverage of this topic, pick up a copy of the Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, print edition of The Murfreesboro Post.

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