News Leader interview
with Greg Davis

In April 2006, Shirlee Grabko of the Union News Leader, mailed five questions to all the candidates running for county commissioner. Each district's answers were printed together in a given issue with District 4 appearing in late May.

Greg Davis really loves and cares about Union County and its future. On Union County’s 5-year strategic plan, he remarked, “I have helped develop many business and strategic plans (similar to Union County’s) which are designed to obtain financing, or qualify for grants. Unfortunately, in most cases these plans stay on the shelf after the funding is achieved. To be useful, a plan should be examined at least monthly and updated as issues change. The Union County plan is well written, but the plan itself states it will only be reviewed annually, so it may merely be a formality.” He feels all the goals in the plan are important, but will be moot unless it is used to make things happen.

Greg says, “Union County is a beautiful place - not just the scenery, but also the people and our culture. Our biggest challenge is to provide opportunities for our children so that they don’t have to move away to make a good living.” Regarding new employment opportunities in Union County, Greg says, “90% of the new jobs created in Tennessee are from small business. While we should continue to try to attract large industry, we have a better chance of providing local jobs by cultivating small businesses. We must do this so that our children can make a living in Union County and raise their families here.”

Greg loves Union County’s rural flavor and believes we are heading into a positive future. “Things are changing. We have entered the 21st century and we will need good leadership to face the high-tech challenges coming. Union County’s future will be in small, especially high-tech business. We must strengthen our rural assets such as our parks and the lake, and promote infrastructure improvements such as broadband Internet and widening Highway 33.”

Greg believes he has much to offer with his professional talents. “As a consultant I have written million dollar budgets and plans. I owned an advertising and marketing company and still consult in those fields—a benefit when we market Union County to the state government and industry.” Greg creates and design software for the motion control robotics industry and the nuclear power industry and understands technology from many levels - a strength Union County will need to move forward in this world. The software he creates is in place in Asia, Europe, South America, and here in North America— “all from my little home on Hinds Creek”. Greg believes that we can teach our children to do the same thing—to reach the world markets from right here in little ol’ Union County. We can do this with the right guidance. “I am the right guide at the right time. I am in love with Union County and have worked hard to learn how to make a great living here. Working for myself gives me more time with my family, more volunteer time, and if elected, more time to serve my district,” he adds.

Greg Davis is in touch with our heritage, while embracing new technology. He started life here in the 4th district 38 years ago. “I have a vested interest in our district and our county. I will not make quick and rash decisions, but will always consider the long-term effects on the county. I believe that the government is meant to serve us, not us serve the government. The world is changing and we need good management to guide us to where we need to go.” Greg has a website www.GadPolitics.com.