News
In the News: Grissom seeking re-elect as Russellville mayor
Posted on May 4, 2016
Originally published in the Times Daily.
David Grissom said he looks at being Russellville’s mayor as an honor, not just a job.
“To me, being able to serve the community you grew up in, your hometown, as mayor, it’s a privilege,” he said.
He said in 2012 as a city councilman, when he first thought about running for mayor, it was his goal, if elected, to make the city a better place to live and to work.
“I wanted my daughter to have a better opportunity than I did, to be able to stay here and work after she finished school, if that is what she wants to do,” Grissom said. “I have been in business all my life, and I tried to run the city as a business, trying to make the city better every day.”
He said working with the council, the city has been able to add new businesses and new jobs.
“We still have some things going on that will have a positive influence on the city, the county and the region,” Grissom said.
He is seeking re-election in an effort to see some projects completed.
“We are adding new jobs; we have been involved in a massive effort to repave and repair many of the roads in the city; and we have our sights set on developing our downtown district once again,” Grissom said. “That’s something I really want to see completed within the next few years.
“I remember how active the downtown area once was,” he said. “I want to see that again. I want to see people coming back downtown to work, to shop. I believe it can happen.”
He said during the past four years, there have been 700 additional jobs developed in the city. He expects that number to continue to grow.
“But it has been a team effort,” the mayor said. “There was no one person; everyone worked together to get new jobs, new businesses, and we are still working together on other projects to bring in new retail and more jobs.
“One of the main things I campaigned on four years ago, and it is just as important today, is that we all work together as a team to accomplish what we want for the city,” Grissom said. “I think we have built relationships with people across the state and country that will help us moving forward.
“We have a good team working together on the city council, all with the same goal and that’s to see the city improve. I’m blessed to be working with such a good group of men, dedicated to serving the city. I want to continue to work with the council to keep improving our city.”
Grissom, a 1990 graduate of Russellville High School, previously served the city as the District 5 representative to the City Council from 2008-12.