CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett gave his final state-of-the-county address at Tuesday’s 2022 Chamber of Commerce Mayors’ Power Breakfast, and it served as a recap of accomplishments during his two terms in office.
His speech was accompanied by tributes from fellow leaders, along with some tearful moments.
First, Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts ended his state-of-the-city presentation with high praise for Durrett. The two mayors maintained a close relationship throughout the overlapping of their terms in office, collaborating on several projects and supporting one another personally.
Pitts, speaking over a live Zoom call as he’s been ill recently, said of Durrett: His “momma taught him how to be kind, and how to be a man who stood up for his beliefs.”
Pitts also spoke highly of first lady Mary Durrett’s class and dignity in standing by while Durrett faced backlash and personal attacks over pushing his vision for Montgomery County, with projects such as the Downtown Commons and the F&M Bank Arena.
“We are better as a community and as a people because of you both,” Pitts said.
Durrett opened his remarks with thanks to his family, his team, his colleagues and the public, and he opened and closed his speech in prayer.
Here is the bulk of his speech, courtesy of the County Mayor’s Office, with links to prior coverage:
Almost eight years ago, not far from where we are sitting today, I announced I was running for mayor of Montgomery County, and today I am addressing you in my final Mayors’ Power Breakfast. I thought it would be a good opportunity to take a short trip down memory lane.
December 2014: Hemlock Semiconductor announced they were pulling out of their $1.2 billion facility. We rolled up our sleeves and got to work. Within one year, Google announced they were coming to Montgomery County. Now we have Google and LG as well as Shinhung and Pantos in place of Hemlock.
January 2015: The Department of Defense hosted a listening session at Fort Campbell. As part of the downsizing of the Army, they said up to 16,000 soldiers may be removed from Fort Campbell. Hundreds showed up (for the listening session), and many more were turned away. We spoke, and not only did they hear us, they listened.
Jan. 15, 2016: A local newspaper (The Leaf-Chronicle), after this very breakfast said, and I quote, (Durrett presented) “a solid list of ongoing and completed county projects — perhaps with just a little pie in the sky mixed in.” It went on to say that one day there might be an arena downtown and Austin Peay might play their basketball games there.
August 2016: We broke ground for the Downtown Commons. I am reminded of the quote from Field of Dreams – “If you build it, they will come.” Not only did we build it, they came. They came with their kids, soccer balls, yoga mats, paint brushes, banjos, guitars, food trucks and some even brought their ice skates. Who would have ever thought that a small piece of fake grass in the middle of downtown would have such an impact in 2017.
We backed up what we said at the listening session, and Montgomery County was one of only seven Army communities worldwide to be recognized in Washington, D.C. by the U.S. Army with an Army Community Partnership Award – an award that celebrates partnerships that enhance Army readiness and strengthens community bonds.
November 2020: We broke ground on what we called at the time the MPEC. It soon became the F&M Bank Arena, and guess what, APSU will be playing their men’s and women’s basketball games there. That pie they mentioned in 2016 ain’t in the sky, it’s in the oven and it is almost done, and I think it smells pretty good!
The Downtown Commons and the F&M bank Arena were not just pie in the sky ideas. They were visions of what could be for this community. Sure, we were met by a lot of resistance. “No one wants to come downtown,” they said. “The cost is too great,” they said. But with a little convincing, some good old-fashioned elbow grease, and a County Commission that believed in both, downtown is the heart of this community, as it should be, and a gateway between what was and what can be.
From 2019 through today, we have added or announced 6,700 new jobs in Montgomery County through our recruitment efforts. That equates to $2 billion in capital investment added or announced in our community. Those are just the big ones, and the number of new small businesses is too many to count!
As I reflect on the last 7 1/2 years, it doesn’t take much for me to remember this has not been about me, it’s been about WE. So who are WE?
- WE are my family for allowing me to do this job even if it meant missing way too much time with my family.
- WE are the staff in Mayor’s Office, who embrace my quirky style, for always answering my text messages on nights and weekends, and for always having servant hearts.
- WE are the county commissioners for their willingness to serve and for seeing the vision.
- WE are the elected officials, department heads and employees of Montgomery County who bought into a different management style.
- WE is you – everyone in this room has played a role in the successes our community.
Your role has been small, but it made a difference. Just like the butterfly effect, which is (the theory) that a butterfly in South America can flap its wings and it can affect the weather in Texas. So just the tiniest influence can mean a whole lot.
My oldest son Jimmy coined a phrase as we were launching our first campaign. He said, “Dad, this is not a moment, this is a movement.” Ladies and gentlemen, Montgomery County is on the move – and you can’t let it stop.
On Sept. 1, my work as Montgomery County mayor is done, but yours is not; WE are not finished! So please don’t quit doing what you’re doing.
Please don’t let my last comments seem as if I am going to be a lame duck for the next eight months. I promise you I am going to work as hard these last eight months as I have the previous 64.
Following Durrett’s speech, two tribute videos were played featuring accolades from a wide variety of community leaders.