Fairview voters selected Rick Shepherd as its next mayor.
Shepherd defeated Vice Mayor Chris McDonald by less than 100 votes: 1,420 to 1,385.
After winning the race, Shepherd said on social media that his life will continue to be guided by three words: “God, country, and family.”
“First and foremost, I give all praise and glory to God Almighty. I have been blessed with a country I love, a family that means everything to me, and friends who have stood beside me,” Shepherd explained.
He thanked campaign supporters who “knocked on doors, put out signs, made calls, and encouraged [the campaign] along the way, thank you.”
“This victory belongs to all of you,” he explained.
Shepherd (pictured above) said even if people didn’t vote for him, he was still their mayor.
“I didn’t run for a title. I ran because I love this community and believe in its future,” he added.
The mayor-elect said he would use taxpayer dollars responsibly, be transparent, and listen to Fairview citizens.
“I look forward to working with the board of commissioners, city employees, and citizens to move Fairview forward. May God bless each of you, may God bless Fairview, and may God continue to bless the United States of America,” Shepherd explained.
“Now, let’s get to work!” he added.
According to his campaign website, Shepherd wants to reduce the city’s debt and rein in its spending, while also growing industry and tourism in the area. He noted he would fight against a property tax increase.
In April, Fairview, a town of about 11,000 people, projected its general-fund debt would reach $13.6 million after planned borrowing.
On the city’s board of commissioners, David Bynum and Scott Lucas won the two open seats, defeating current Commissioner Wayne Hall and Karen Cobb.
Bynum received 2,223 votes, followed by Lucas with 1,588, Hall with 1,533, and Cobb with 1,441.
Bynum thanked Fairview voters for allowing him the opportunity to serve the city.
“Thank you to the citizens of Fairview for the opportunity to serve you. I believe that, working together with [Rick Shepherd] and [Scott Lucas], we can provide responsible growth while maintaining the rural feel that the citizens of Fairview want. Let’s move forward working together,” he noted.
Bynum told The Fairviewian that he wanted to recruit new businesses to the city to ease the property-tax burden while also improving road infrastructure.
For Lucas, he told Fairview residents that regardless of whether people voted for him, he would serve them with “integrity, humility, and a heart for this community.”
“The campaign is over. Now it’s time to come together and get to work!” he said.
Lucas told The Fairviewian that increasing property taxes would be a “last resort” for the city. He noted he supported improving infrastructure and controlling spending, adding that “long-term financial planning deserves more attention.”
Fairview has a city manager-commission style of government in which the mayor and four commissioners make up the board.
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Photo “Rick Shepherd” by Rick Shepherd. Background Photo “Fairview City Hall” by Skye Marthaler. CC BY-SA 3.0.
