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Joe Senter says he wants to bring some common sense to the Morristown City Council.

That’s why Senter – who worked in the Morristown Hamblen Healthcare System emergency room for 31 years, is a licensed funeral director, embalmer and an ordained preacher – is challenging incumbent Ken Smith for one of the two City Council at-large seats.

Senter’s goals if elected?

He plans to encourage increased diversity in city matters.

“I’m willing to vote for the betterment of all people,” he said, adding he wants to take politics out of decision making and focus on doing the right thing.

“Diversity means all people should have a say so in what’s going on in this city. I promise you that if I win a seat, I will do my best to bring diversity in to the city council,” he said. “Take politics out and work together to do the right thing.”

Senter said government should be for all people.

“Government shouldn’t be a rubber stamp. All areas of the City Council should be brought to the people, all people,” he said, adding he supports term limits. “Two terms should be enough. It shouldn’t be a career being a councilman or a mayor.”

Senter agreed with other speakers at the Morristown Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum that the city’s infrastructure – specifically roads – is the biggest issue to be faced.

“Our roads in Morristown is terrible,” he said, “especially over there where I live at. They just seem like they’ll knock your car out of line.”

Senter also pointed to the city’s homeless population as another issue that needs to be considered.

“I know a lot of people don’t pay no attention to that,” he said “But if you drive over on Cumberland Street behind the laundry mat there’s a whole city down there living in tents. I don’t know if they want to do it or they can’t help but doing it. But I think it should be brought to our attention.”

Senter says his life experiences will serve him well if elected to the council.

“I have a well-rounded life,” he said. “I’ve worked in the public for many years. I worked in healthcare for 31 years and I’ve been in the business community for most of my life.”

Senter – who also plays bass – said the “only” official degree he has is a mortuary degree. However, he said in his life as a preacher he also has a “B.A. degree.”

“If you’ve been in church at all at all you know what a B.A. degree is,” he said. “If you don’t know that’s being born again.”

When asked what Morristown’s next big civic project now that the Morristown Landing Recreation and Events Center and the Public Works building are done, Senter said the council needs to reassess the mission of Morristown Landing.

“That Morristown Landing is not actually built for everyone in Morristown because of what it costs to go down there and what it costs to get in there for a membership. Years ago, they were talking about a City Center – just like they got in Jefferson City – what they’ve got down there is a compound that you’re going to have to pay a lot of money just to go in the door.”

Senter said the Landing – which has city resident pricing that begins at $20 per month for individuals and $65 per month for a “nuclear” family – more like a private country club.

“To me it’s not really a public thing,” he said. “Let’s back it up a little bit. It’s already built. Let’s try to change something about how people can get in there because the average person cannot go way down to West Morristown and pay that type of money just to go swimming.”

In closing, Senter stopped to heap some praise on his son for building his election website before telling the crowd he didn’t have a big war chest for the election.

“But, if you want to buy me a sign, you buy me a sign,” he said.

The election is May 2.

Early voting begins April 12.

Videos of the candidates for Morristown City Council and Mayor are online at www.citizentribune.com.