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Mike Richardson says his decision to seek another term on the Hamblen County Commission comes from a desire to continue work he believes is only beginning to take shape.

He is the incumbent in District 6.

Richardson, who has lived in Morristown his entire life, says his connection to the community runs deep.

He purchased his property in 1982 and has raised his family here. Today he is also the grandfather of three grandchildren who are growing up in the same community he has long called home.

When Richardson first ran for office, he believed his professional background in construction and architecture could be particularly useful as the county moved forward with its new jail project. By the time he joined the commission, however, he discovered many of the key decisions surrounding the project had already been made years earlier.

“I thought I could help with the jail project because of my background,” Richardson said. “But most of those decisions had been made about five years before.”

Richardson said the previous commission faced difficult circumstances when the project moved forward. The timing of construction coincided with the economic uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic, which complicated bidding and pricing for major construction projects across the country.

He believes the earlier commission made the best decisions it could under those conditions.

“They had to take the first bids that came in because of the situation,” Richardson said.

He also pointed to one strategy that he believes ultimately helped control costs. County officials pre-purchased a large amount of construction materials early in the process in order to lock in prices before they rose further.

“They did a good job pre-purchasing materials,” he said. “That locked in prices.”

Stopping the project midway through construction would likely have made the situation worse, Richardson added.

“It would have cost more to stop it than to finish it,” he said.

The topic of taxes has also become a major point of discussion in recent county elections. Richardson said the large increase approved in recent years might not have been necessary if earlier commissions had taken a slower, more gradual approach over time.

“If previous commissions had increased taxes a penny or two at a time over ten or fifteen years, the increase wouldn’t have been so much all at once,” he said.

Another factor that affected tax bills was a state-required property reappraisal, which raised the assessed value of many homes and properties across the county.

“People saw gains in their equity because their property values went up,” Richardson said.

Beyond the local tax debate, Richardson believes the broader economy is also shifting in ways that could benefit communities like Hamblen County.

For many years, he said, the United States has gradually moved toward a service-based economy. Recently, however, federal efforts have begun encouraging the return of manufacturing and industrial production.

“We turned ourselves into a service nation,” Richardson said. “Now federally they’re working to bring industry back.”

He believes Hamblen County is well positioned to benefit from those changes because of the variety of industries already operating in the area.

“Fortunately Hamblen County set itself up as a diversified industry county,” he said.

The region also offers another advantage for employers considering relocation or expansion.

“There’s a large workforce availability in the area,” Richardson said.

Transportation and infrastructure are ongoing concerns for county government as the population continues to grow. In District 6, where Richardson represents voters, many roads fall within city limits rather than the county system.

When county road projects are planned, he said, the road superintendent typically brings forward recommendations based on which roads need the most attention.

“The road commissioner brings suggested roads that are in the most need,” Richardson said.

Growth across the county has also created new demands for services, including waste collection. Richardson said the purchase of additional garbage trucks was intended to improve efficiency and prepare for continued residential development.

“A lot of growth is happening in Hamblen County,” he said. “Those trucks save money in the long run and help service new housing.”

Education is another area where Richardson believes the county is moving in a positive direction. He praised the leadership currently guiding the school system and said their long-term planning has been encouraging.

“We have great leadership in education,” he said. “They’re very forward thinking.”

As the student population grows, Richardson would like to see more permanent classroom construction rather than relying on portable units. At the same time, he acknowledged that large construction projects must be phased in carefully.

“I would like to see more brick and mortar buildings instead of portables,” he said. “But you can’t do it all at once.”

Richardson said his professional background has also been helpful in other areas of county government, including projects involving the health department and other public facilities.

Looking ahead, he believes a second term would allow him to apply what he has learned during his first years on the commission.

“You just get your feet wet in the first term,” Richardson said. “Now I feel like I can really dig in and finish what I started.”

He also supports the idea of term limits for elected officials, believing that two terms provides enough time to make meaningful progress while still allowing for fresh leadership.

“I think two terms allows someone to make a difference,” he said.

For Richardson, the role ultimately comes down to making decisions that serve the community as responsibly as possible.

“I try to do what I truly believe is best for the county I serve,” he said. “You make the best decision you can with what you have to work with.”