My family moved to Hamilton County 31 years ago when I took a position at Chattanooga State. Once our kids were grown, my wife, Mary, and I began looking for a place to downsize. We quickly realized that Red Bank was our best choice. Five years ago, we began building our new house on a small lot in Lower Red Bank. It was the best decision we’ve ever made.
I have never lived anywhere that has this city’s sense of community. Red Bank people take pride in their town. Both the folks whose families have been here for generations and the increasing number of new, often younger, residents care deeply about where they live.
I quickly became engaged in our new community. I am especially proud of my contributions to the Save Red Bank Central Park movement.
I currently serve on the Red Bank City Event Planning Committee, appointed by the Commission initially to plan the Red Bank Jubilee 2022. In addition, I have joined the City’s Beautification Committee to help improve Dayton Boulevard. I’ve picked up litter and removed invasive plants on Stringer’s Branch, and my wife and I volunteer to monitor the Bluebird Trail at White Oak Park.
I have learned about the history of our city as well. I am currently doing research for a pictorial history of Red Bank. This book project has given me the opportunity to hear from many people in the community who have shared their photographs and the stories that go with them. I am also doing more traditional research with libraries, historical societies, and using online resources. The book project dovetails with my online collection of images which I named “10,000 Photographs of Red Bank.”
Over the past couple of years, I have attended most every public meeting held by the city of Red Bank - Commission meetings, work sessions, budget hearings, the strategic planning retreat, and Planning Commission meetings. I’ve learned quite a bit about our government, and I like what I have seen. Now I want to do more. At the Red Bank Jubilee in May, I felt such energy and excitement with the crowd, the vendors, and the activities that I made up my mind to run for the Red Bank Commission, District 3.
Red Bank has unlimited potential. I want to help my community become the best small city in the Southeast. The areas where I want to make a difference include:
More parks and better parks
A focus on neighborhoods
Supporting our small businesses and recruiting new ones
Enhancing the delivery of services - and not just services from the City of Red Bank
I will expand on these themes throughout my campaign.
Lawrence Miller