Encouraged by his performance when he ran for Mayor of Jackson in 2019, Dr. Jerry Woods announced his candidacy for the position at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, Thursday.
The election will be held May 2, 2023.
“I have decided to run, again, for Mayor of the City of Jackson,” Dr. Woods said, “Our platform, our plan is fairly simple. We want to involve as many people as possible as we move this campaign forward.
“There is a place in this campaign for everyone who believes in positive work, integrity and working for all people.”
Woods, who ran for the office of Mayor in 2019, advanced to a runoff before losing to Scott Conger.
Woods said through civic engagement, diversity, inclusion and servant leadership, his platform to move Jackson Forward includes –
- Increased support for our school system and youth services to ensure positive outcomes for all of our children.
- Enhance, sustain and protect our neighborhoods to provide a greater quality of life for all our citizens.
- Fuel Jackson’s economic status and outlook for present and future citizens.
A Jackson native, and graduate of South Side High School, Woods graduated from Lambuth University in 1976 and obtained his Masters in Education from the University of Memphis, his EDS from the University of Memphis and his EDG from the University of Mississippi.
Woods served as a superintendent for the Covington School District from 1999 to 2003, and served as superintendent of the Clinton School District in Tennessee from 2003 to 2005.
From 2005 to 2008, he was an associate professor of education leadership at the University of Tennessee at Martin.
He was also superintendent of schools in Forrest City, Ark., from 2008 to 2012, and in 2013 the scholastic auditor for the Arkansas Department of Education.
He was the interim executive vice president at Lane College from December 2013 until August, 2014.
The following year he served as an educational consultant, and in 2015 he was appointed the interim director of special education for the Jackson-Madison County School System.
In 2016 and 2017, he returned to his consulting work, before a return to Arkansas to serve as a special education teacher, where he was named teacher of the year in the Gosnell School District.
Dr. Glenn M. Vaulx is serving as the senior advisor for the ‘Woods for Mayor’ campaign.
“He has lived his life as a servant leader, and he believes as I do – Jackson, Tennessee, is indeed a great city to live in,” Valux said, “He is a great husband, a great son, and really just an all-around great man.
“He is a very principled young Christian man with strong values, who really loves all people, and I capitalize ALL people … a person of integrity who has a vision for this great city.”
(PHOTO: Dr. Jerry Woods)
