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Rob Burke is challenging Mayor Gary Chesney in the May election.

Burke says he wants to make changes in how the mayors office operates.

“I am running for mayor as I aspire to bring transparency, accountability, honesty, integrity, respect and a collaborative spirit back to the office of mayor which we have greatly lacked for some time,” Burke added.

Burke made comments during the recent candidate forum hosted by the Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I hope you will consider not only what you have heard here tonight, but what you have seen in the most several years. There’s some statements that Chesney’s the most responsive mayor yet he quiets your voice and raises your taxes. If that’s what you want, if that’s what you’ve asked for, then he the most responsive mayor. He says that his opinions matter to him, but if you attend a City Council meeting or watch his Facebook comments, you’ll find out that that’s certainly not true,” he said. “I hope you will consider everything that you have seen and everything that you have heard over the past several years and that you will make an informed decision as to what the best direction of the city needs to be here.”

Burke’s suggestions for change are focused on citizen involvement in the governmental process.

“The biggest change that city government needs to make involves our citizens and the work that we’re doing. As I’ve mentioned earlier, I believe that everyone has something valuable that they can offer to the city. Instead of welcoming peoples’ voice, it’s been removed and/or quieted here in recent years,” he said.

“An example is the referendum concerning Morristown Landing’s debt, which would have put a vote on the matter in your hands, was struck down. Instead of allowing the people to voice their opinion on the matter, elected officials who voted in the negative chose to remove that democratic right from you.

“Additionally, the public comments section for non-agenda items was removed from your City Council meeting earlier this year. This means that if you have a question or concern that you would like to bring to the mayor and to the council in the form of a public meeting, you have to get off work just a little bit earlier than normal and try to make the pre-meeting at 4 p.m. And then you hope that your respective council member is in attendance, because it’s not mandatory.”

Burke discussed in broad terms his ideas for change with regard to citizen involvement.

“Instead of actions such as these, that take your voice away and take your power away, we should be embracing and elevating the voice of the people. This could be accomplished by allowing people to attend and participate in city meetings virtually, creating citizens task force teams that inform the mayor and council on very specific issues that plague our city, finding ways to attendance at city meetings in a number of ways.

“When city government involves as many people that want to participate as possible, it highlights the benefits of attending and removes the ‘us versus them’ mentality that we see around town. It is then and only then that we will find our greatest strength and uncover our true potential for our city.”

Asked what the next major civic project Morristown should tackle is, Burke said the city should not be done with Morristown Landing and should change the focus of the recreation and events center.

“Although Morristown Landing is open, I strongly believe the site continues to be the focus of our most important civic project to come,” he said. “You see, what was originally marketed as a community center and then put on the far west of town with prices unattainable by the majority of the community should not be considered a project at completion. These walls may be up and the cheers of joy and excitement may come from within, but until the programs and amenities at the Landing are accessible to the majority of our people, I will always consider it to be a project in the works.

“In my opinion, it makes little sense to have such an incredible addition to our city, yet a large portion of those who will be bearing the burden of paying for it for the next 30 years will never be able to set foot through those doors.

“With that in mind, I’d like to partner with all those interested to bring multiple free events on site: some training, education, ESL classes, whatever, whoever wants to partner with me, let’s do it,” Burke said. “Additionally, I believe the largest part of this next civic project, in making Morristown Landing more accessible, is to find a way in which our children and youth can consistently and routinely enjoy the services. And trust me, I have several ideas … In my experience, children and youth – especially those who would be considered disadvantaged for a number of reasons – are often one opportunity, one caring adult away from a completely different life. Morristown Landing in conjunction with the caring, compassionate adults that we have in this city and our skilled businesses could and should be a significant part of the answer to how to best support them.”

Burke said his qualifications for city mayor stem from his background.

“A bit about me that you might find interesting: I have five children, a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, a Master’s degree in nonprofit management leadership; I’m a military veteran; I’ve worked with EMS for five years; I’ve worked in city government for nine years now, Department of Children’s Services’ Department of Developmental Disabilities and I’m currently, with the Division on Children and Youth,” he said.

“I have a number of skills, qualities, knowledge and experience which I think will be great improvements to the office of mayor … my education allows me to understand systems and how to lead them into great growth, impact and efficiency … my Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice, Master’s in nonprofit management leadership – and those programs taught me how to analyze and improve systems and lead generations into great success,” he said. “I also have served on the inaugural Resilient Tennessee Collaborative Leadership Academy in which the top leaders in the child service systems get to participate in. My career path the the state, miliary, EMS, has provided me the experience of selfless service to those who need it most.

“And I’m not above getting in the trenches and getting my hands dirty to support the work that needs to be done.”

“My mentality is that the city is better together and that we have something valuable – we each have something valuable – to bring to the city, whether it’s an idea, a passion, skillset that can make us better. I believe that if we leverage our differences in just the right way, we can reach our full potential. This is a vastly different mindset of the current mayor, as he argues against, bullies and degrades anybody who does not agree with him.

“This is an incredibly inappropriate response, especially coming from the office of mayor. This willingness and excitement to listen, collaborate and respect peoples’ opinions is arguably my greatest skill and one that will be welcomed and much needed into our changing, diversified city,” Burke said.

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