| City Council: Doug Young |
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Posted: Thursday, March 25, 2010 1:34 pm
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Doug Young
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Name: Doug Young
Occupation: Owner, City Tile & Floor Covering
Education: Hobgood Elementary School, Central High School, MTSU (B.S.)
Why are you running?
I’m a small business owner, father and husband who believes in community service.
I’ve worked hard to build my business and provide jobs over the past 37 years. I raised my kids here. My wife is a teacher. I’ve been honored to serve the citizens of Murfreesboro on the Council for the past eight years.
I currently serve on the St. Clair Street Senior Citizen Board, Murfreesboro Urban and Environmental Committee, Salem Land Use Committee and as Vice Chairman of the Murfreesboro Planning Commission.
I am a lifelong resident of Murfreesboro and have been fortunate to be a part of the many opportunities that controlled, sustained growth has brought to our City. We enjoy a quality of life that continues to attract new residents and businesses.
I’m running so my grandchildren can have the same or better opportunities for a good education, a good job and a great quality of life.
What is your position on district versus at-large representation on the City Council?
The City charter has provided for Council districts since 1993; however, we need to be careful.
At the state and national level, there are examples of one district getting played against another to get something done. I don’t want that for Murfreesboro.
I respond to calls all the time from all over the City, everything from broken streetlights to dead skunks in the road. In situations where you have district representation, your request for help might be met with, “I’m sorry, that’s not my district.” If your district council member doesn’t agree with your position on an issue, you’re out of luck.
With district representation, you have one person who may or may not agree with you, as opposed to now being able to call all six Council members and get responses.
What is your position the economic issues facing the city?
The No. 1 economic issue facing any city right now is jobs.
We need to continue to recruit businesses that will bring a variety of higher paying jobs to Murfreesboro.
MTMC is developing a state-of-the-art medical facility that is already attracting doctors and their staff and other industry that support the medical community. A number of retailers have located around the MTMC site, adding jobs and increasing shopping opportunities.
Tourism has grown by $100 million over the past eight years, helped by our historical sites, such as Oaklands Mansion, Bradley Academy and the Stones River National Battlefield.
We now have a convention center to help us promote conventions. We have the Verizon call center and Nissan nearby that provides local customer service and manufacturing jobs, respectively. We also have MTSU helping to produce a ready, skilled workforce.
Having such a diversity of businesses not only provides more opportunities for Murfreesboro residents, but also potentially lessens the impact of an economic downturn. I will continue to work with local, state and federal officials and the Chamber of Commerce to aggressively recruit new business.
What is the most pressing city issue and your possible solution?
Maintaining our quality of life.
Murfreesboro is one of the fastest growing communities in the country because of our excellent quality of life.
I had a doctor tell me he moved his family here because he thought it was a great place to raise his kids. A businessman from Atlanta made a lateral move here and received a raise in the form of no state income tax, lower cost of living and not feeling that his children had to go to private schools.
Twenty years ago, we didn’t have the tourism dollars, medical and recreational amenities, and shopping opportunities we enjoy today.
I’ve voted for eight budgets that have contained no property tax increases. Our bond rating is favorable. We have top-notch police and fire protection and excellent schools.
Murfreesboro has provided many opportunities for success.
We need to focus on the future so that these same opportunities are passed on to the next generation.
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