I served for eight years as the Hamilton County Commissioner for District 2. During my tenure, it became evident to me that people run for public office for two primary reasons. They run either for themselves because they seek name and title recognition, financial gain, or an ego boost, or they run because they truly desire to serve the public. Tom is most certainly in the latter category.
Tom was raised on Signal Mountain, attended Signal Mountain Junior High, and his family has lived on Signal Mountain for five generations. He knows District 2. Tom graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Business Administration and has been a CPA for over 40 years. He knows how to read and understand budgets, income statements, and balance sheets. This is a skill set that is truly needed when dealing with a budget of over $476 million (FY2021 proposed). I desire to have someone with Tom’s knowledge and experience watching over the checkbook to make sure that my tax dollars are being spent wisely.
Likewise, Tom’s record for community service is exemplary. He has served on the boards of Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, Girls, Inc., Chambliss Home, Bible in the Schools, Creative Discovery Museum, and is a member of the Chattanooga Downtown Rotary Club. Additionally, Tom served two terms as the chair for United Way and of Richmont Graduate University/Chattanooga Bible Institute. All of Tom’s community service has been voluntary and unpaid; he performed those duties out of a desire to serve the community he loves, not for financial gain or individual glory.
I have known Tom for many years and believe him to be a man of the utmost honesty, transparency, and integrity. He will provide the representation that we need on the School Board not only for District 2, but also for Hamilton County.
I urge you to vote for Tom Decosimo – a true servant leader.
Jim Fields