Candidate for Commission 5-C

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Jim A. McEvers

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Jim A. McEvers
228-2148

 

 

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 About Jim...

Occupation/ Work: Retired Engineer and Project Manager from Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

I retired as a project manager and group leader from Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 2001 after 27 years.  I hold a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Central Florida, and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Science and Mechanics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  I have a sixteen year record of community service.

Three Reasons to Vote for Jim...

  1.  My experience as Project Manager for multi-million dollar projects for the U.S. Military, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and the FBI, and my Group Leader experience have demonstrated my leadership, teamwork and management skills.  This experience also included working on projects in foreign countries.

  2. I have always been a determined, results-oriented, ethical, honest, and fair-minded person.  Qualities that I feel would benefit Knox County and the County Commission.

  3. Being retired and a citizen of Knox County for 31 years, my responsibilities as a Knox County Commissioner will receive my undivided attention and my dedicated effort.
 

Jim's Thoughts On....

Knox County Schools:

Both of our children graduated from Farragut High School, the last high school to be built in Knox County in the past 30 years.  If we are to have students that can meet the demands placed upon them, we must reform our neighborhood schools.  We cannot afford to build a new school every few years so we must adjust by: maximizing the utility of the facilities we have either through facility expansion where possible or by transporting to relieve overcrowding, innovative and improved teaching techniques, and maximizing student success whether they are college bound or desire a certified workforce career.

Property Taxes: 

In general, when compared to similar communities, Knox County has a very reasonable tax rate.  However, if we are to improve our infrastructure, schools, and county services, it may become necessary to increase taxes.  If so, I would seriously study the instances where cost cutting would be effective and support eliminating excess before supporting any increase.

Development: 

We need to decide when enough is enough.  Every square inch of what was once the beauty of West Knoxville is rapidly being replaced with subdivisions and shopping centers.  How many do we need?  I believe sector plans are established for good reason and the citizens work hard to provide meaningful input just to see it all discarded in favor of a "developer's" plan for a new shopping center, apartment complex, subdivision, etc.  It would seem from the national news that we have an adequate supply of housing to last us a LONG time if only people could afford it.

 Environment:

I think we should make every effort to protect the environment we have left.  I find it hard to believe that all the run-off from streets and parking lots is beneficial to our lakes and streams.  The tremendous loss of trees and other natural vegetation will take years to replace if ever and has had a devastating effect on the wildlife.