Adam Lewis - Bradley County Government

08/31/2026

The public is invited to join us tomorrow morning as Bradley County’s elected officials officially begin their new terms of service.

The County Elected Officials Swearing In Ceremony will take place Tuesday, September 1, at 9:00 a.m. on the Courthouse Plaza in downtown Cleveland. Family, friends, and members of the community are welcome to attend as our elected officials take their oaths of office.

We hope you’ll join us for this important moment in Bradley County government.

08/27/2026

I’ve spent this week in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for a conference that began Tuesday, the same day we learned that Dolly Parton had passed away.

As I headed home today, I couldn’t leave without making one stop.

I stopped by the historic Sevier County Courthouse in downtown Sevierville, Dolly’s hometown, to see the statue that has stood there in her honor for decades. Flowers, notes and other tributes still surrounded it as people stopped to pay their respects.

Dolly’s story took her around the world, but she never left East Tennessee behind. She was proud of where she came from, generous with what she earned, and used her success to create opportunities for others. Few people have represented Tennessee to the world quite like she did.

There was something fitting about saying goodbye to her here, at home, in the community that helped shape her.

I’m glad I stopped.

08/27/2026

Please consider helping Chris and his family!

For the past 11 years, Paramedic Chris Ballard has spent his career … Bradley County EMS needs your support for Help One of Our Own: Paramedic Chris Ballard

08/20/2026

This month, Bradley County marks the retirement of three public servants whose careers represent an extraordinary 115 years of combined service to our community.

County Clerk Donna Simpson, Register of Deeds Dina Swafford, and County Trustee Mike Smith have each spent decades serving the people of Bradley County. That’s more than a century of helping citizens, working alongside dedicated county employees, and carrying out responsibilities that most people rarely think about, but depend on every day.

Public service isn’t measured only by major accomplishments or public recognition. It’s also measured by the consistency of showing up every day, treating people with respect, solving problems, and doing the work that keeps county government functioning. Over the course of 115 years, these three have served countless families through life’s everyday moments while earning the trust and respect of colleagues across county government.

It’s difficult to put into words the impact of that kind of commitment. Very few careers span multiple generations of citizens, elected officials, and employees. Their service has helped shape the Bradley County we know today.

Congratulations to Donna, Dinah, and Mike on your well-earned retirement. Thank you for your dedication, your professionalism, and for the example you’ve set through a lifetime of public service. I wish each of you nothing but the very best in this next chapter.

08/10/2026

One of the things we’ve been working on in the Mayor’s Office is finding better ways to keep citizens informed.

Government works best when people have access to accurate, timely information. You don’t have to agree with every decision that’s made, but you should have the opportunity to understand what’s being discussed and why.

I’m excited to help with the launch of this new weekly email from Gary Davis - Bradley County Mayor. If you’d like regular updates on county government, projects, public meetings, and other community news, I encourage you to sign up.

I think it’s a great step toward making county government more accessible and transparent for everyone.

I'd like to make it even easier to stay informed about what's happening in Bradley County.

For many years, one of the ways we kept citizens informed was through a weekly update in the local newspaper. While that served our community well, the way people get their information has changed, and we want to make sure we're reaching more people, more consistently.

That's why my office is launching a weekly email update.

Each week, you'll receive information on county government, major projects, budget and financial updates, upcoming public meetings, community news, and other important announcements directly from my office.

If you'd like to stay informed and connected with what's happening in Bradley County, I'd encourage you to sign up today.

Sign up here:
https://mailchi.mp/35d6803c8974/general-capture-form

My commitment has always been to make county government as transparent, accessible, and informative as possible. I hope you'll join us.

08/10/2026

I want to get out in front of some questions I know are coming regarding a proposed annexation on the north side of Bradley County.

The property is approximately 385 acres near exit 33, adjacent to the Love’s Truck Stop, and is currently undeveloped. The property owner is requesting annexation into the City of Cleveland along with a general commercial zoning designation for future commercial development.

A few important facts: this is not the City of Cleveland taking county land on its own. This is a request being made by the property owner. It is across the road from Love's, adjacent to property already in the city, and it lies within the established growth boundary. Because of that, this request will not come before the Bradley County Commission. It will move through the City of Cleveland’s planning process and ultimately be approved or denied by the Cleveland City Council.

I’m also aware of speculation that this property could someday be used for a data center. At this point, I have no information indicating that is the case beyond speculation. Based on the city zoning requirements I am familiar with, the proposed general commercial zoning does not currently allow data centers. Could zoning be changed at some point in the future? Certainly. But I’m not going to speculate beyond the facts we have today.

I’m sharing this for one reason: transparency. I would rather give people accurate information early than wait until rumors take over and then try to react after the fact.

The last time I tried to do that on the subject of data centers, I was accused by some of working behind the scenes against the public. That was not true then, and it is not true now. I cannot speak for the property owner, and I cannot speak for City of Cleveland officials. I can only explain what I know and what role Bradley County does or does not have in the process.

There will probably still be people who assume more is happening than what I’ve shared here. I can’t control that. What I can do is continue to be straightforward with the public and share the facts as they become available. That is what I intend to keep doing.

08/10/2026

07/31/2026

Spent a few hours this morning volunteering with the Bradley County EMS team at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Ocoee Region as part of the United Way of the Ocoee Region's Day of Action.

It was great to see so many people from businesses, churches, nonprofits, and local organizations giving back to the community. Sometimes the best way to make a difference is simply to show up and help.

Thanks to United Way for organizing another great event and to the Boys & Girls Club for letting us be a small part of the day.

07/29/2026

Getting better every day!

This week, our crews are wrapping up training on our new Stryker LIFEPAK 35 cardiac monitors, which will soon be in service across Bradley County.

These monitors are carried on every ambulance and are used every day, on every call. Whether someone is having chest pain, difficulty breathing, a stroke, a serious injury, or is in cardiac arrest, this equipment gives our paramedics real-time information about a patient’s condition and helps guide critical treatment decisions. It can monitor heart rhythms, perform 15-lead ECGs, deliver lifesaving defibrillation, and transmit important information to the hospital before the patient even arrives.

This is approximately a $1 million investment in the health and safety of our community, ensuring our crews have the most advanced tools available when seconds matter.

A sincere thank you to Gary Davis - Bradley County Mayor and the Bradley County Commission - TN for their continued support of Bradley County EMS and for making this investment in the people we serve. Their commitment helps ensure that when you call 911, our providers arrive equipped with the technology they need to deliver the highest level of care.

Technology alone doesn’t save lives, but placing the best equipment in the hands of well-trained professionals gives our patients the very best chance when it matters most.