McCall announces bid for re-election

In announcing my candidacy for re-election as Mayor of Hartsville–Trousdale County, I believe it’s important to share my background and the reasons I feel I am the right person to continue serving in this role. I especially want those who are new to our community to better understand who I am and what I stand for.

I grew up in Smith County and attended Smith County High School. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee, I began my career managing a livestock market for the Tennessee Farm Bureau in Woodbury. I later worked with the State of Tennessee’s livestock marketing division, where I led electronic marketing research through a USDA grant—helping bring the first tele-auctions and cattle board sales to Tennessee.

I came to Hartsville in 1979 when I married my late wife, Kathy Oakley, daughter of Sue and James D. “Budgie” Oakley. Mr. Oakley, a longtime pharmacist in Hartsville, is well known and respected throughout our community.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, I held executive roles in insurance, financial services, and healthcare administration. During that time, I earned a diploma from the Graduate School of Banking of the South at LSU and completed my CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) and ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designations through The American College.

From 2000 to 2020, I worked full-time as a professional speaker, leading training sessions and seminars across the country. That experience gave me the opportunity to visit small towns nationwide and exchange ideas with mayors and city leaders—learning what works and bringing those insights back home.

I also had the privilege of working with leading organizations such as Bridgestone-Firestone, Walmart, and Toyota, as well as numerous state and national associations. Through that work, I gained valuable insight into best practices that can help communities grow and succeed.

When I became mayor, I quickly realized just how important those relationships and experiences would be. Over the years, I’ve built a strong network of business leaders and government officials at both the state and federal levels. These connections have been instrumental in helping Hartsville–Trousdale County secure funding, grants, and resources that benefit our community—relationships that take years to build and cannot happen overnight.

Over the past three and a half years, working alongside dedicated individuals, organizations, and nonprofits, we’ve made meaningful progress. And there is still more to come. I look forward to sharing more about what we’ve accomplished—and where we’re headed in the days ahead. The best is yet to come.

I respectfully ask for your vote so we can continue building on this momentum and work together to create an even better Hartsville–Trousdale County.