The announcement was years in the making, and Scott Conger a former Jackson City Council member and president/CEO of the United Way of West Tennessee, took the first step to claim the highest seat in the political arena in the City of Jackson.
Conger announced his intentions to run for Mayor of the City of Jackson in the lobby of the Carl Perkins Civic Center, Thursday, and the backdrop could not have been more appropriate.
It was as if his late grandfather – Robert D. “Bob” Conger – was looking over his shoulder, and in a sense, he was, considering Scott Conger stood in front of a plaque that carried the name of the man who served as Mayor of Jackson from 1967 through 1989.
“I’m running for mayor, because we can’t be satisfied with the status quo,” Conger said,”We have to bring more people to the table, so we can work towards a shared vision of what our great city will look like for future generations.
“Because if there’s one thing you can’t do, it’s that you can’t box Jackson, Tennessee into a stereotype or into one subset of people. That’s what makes us great. But we have to be willing to innovate and listen to new ideas. We can’t be threatened by differences of opinion; great people welcome diverse viewpoints.”
Conger was joined at the podium with his wife Nikki, and their two children – daughter Madelynn 2, and five-month-old son, Charlie.
“Having two small children, my wife and I are affected by a lot of the same things that you are,” Conger said. “We have the same concerns and worries. “We want our family to grow in a city they can be proud of (and) get a good education, get a career and grow roots, here in Jackson.
“No matter where you come from, we all want the same things. We want a better life for our families, and ourselves. We may have a different idea of how to get there – and that’s OK.”
Conger resigned his position as the representative for District 5, after he and his wife purchased a home outside of the district he represented.
He announced his resignation in October 2017, and made it official November 7.
He joins Jimmy Eldridge (R) State Representative District 73 from Jackson, who became the first person to announce he is seeking the office of Mayor of the City of Jackson, when the general election is held in May 2019.
Mark Johnstone has not announced he is running for the office of Mayor, but he is forming an exploratory committee to evaluate the possibilities.
(PHOTO: Scott Conger)
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