Randy Fairbanks
Age: 57
Occupation: Certified Public Accountant - owner of Fairbanks Bookkeeping and Tax Service
Residence: Soddy-Daisy
Years lived in Hamilton County: 57
Family: Married, two children
Education: B.S. Degree in Accounting from UTC & CPA license
Previous Public Office Experience: N/A
Church or Civic Involvement: Member of Family Christ Church, member of Pachyderm Club, TSSAA Football Official, past member of Hamilton County Health and Education Development Board, past Falling Water Elementary PTA president
Achievements: Officiating the 2009 TSSAA championship football game; obtaining my CPA designation; raising my two beautiful daughters.
What is the biggest challenge facing the office you are seeking, and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge in District 1, as is the case in most parts of Hamilton County, is adequately funding the educational needs of our schools. Sixty percent of our $665 million dollar budget, or $395 million, goes to our schools. That shows me the importance of our schools. I will work with our local state delegation to try and get our fair share of the BEP funding from Nashville. For too long, we have helped fund new buildings in nearby counties. I also pledge to use the discretionary funds to help meet the needs that do not come from the school system’s budget. The $100,000 each commissioner is allocated each year is already out of the budget, so it makes no sense for the money to sit in the bank while there are so many needs in our schools going unmet.
Why should voters choose you?
District 1 needs a hands on county commissioner. A commissioner who is out in the community listening to the people’s concerns. They need a commissioner who will visit the schools in the district on a regular basis, to know firsthand what its needs are. They need a commissioner who will attend city commission meetings to know what issues the citizens’ care about. I have been involved in the community through church and working with the Soddy Daisy Kids Club, as both a coach and official. I have served as a PTA president in a District 1 school. I know the struggles parents go through to help provide their children a good education. I will work diligently with educators, city commissioners, and community leaders to make our community a better place to live and raise a family.