08/01/2026
For those not familiar with who I am, allow me to introduce myself. I am Matt Colvard. I was raised in Pikeville by my parents, Danny and Sue Colvard. I am a member of the BCHS class of 2006. My wife Grace and I have been married for five years, and along with our sons, AJ and Preston, and special son David, make Pikeville our home. I attended college first at Chatt. State and transferred to Tennessee Tech, earning a B.S. in history and secondary education. Currently, I teach U.S. government/social science classes and coach golf at Sequatchie Co. High School. I am also near completing a M.S. degree in Instructional Leadership at WGU. I am also a member of Pikeville Church of God.
There is a lot to this position, so I have a lot to say. Bledsoe County is in a unique position this election cycle, and it’s a major reason I am seeking your vote. Mayor Ridley retiring means Mr. Kris Frady will be sworn-in later this year to lead our executive branch. I have congratulated Mayor-elect Frady and look forward to working with him towards efforts that will lead us through the next decade. We have a good commission. Encouraged by friends with District 4, I’m running again in part because, with the experience gained in serving from 2014-2022, teaching government as a profession, and the vision I see for Bledsoe County, I believe I am the most qualified candidate who can coordinate with and assist our new leadership going forward. Managed growth in infrastructure, job attraction, healthcare, agritourism, efficiency, and innovation are items I will address from day one. Bledsoe has a unique brand to sell, given our scenic beauty, historical heritage, agriculture, and small businesses. Preserving and promoting these features is important, but it all comes with asking the right questions, setting goals, and shining a light on many needs and issues that all too often are kicked down the road. Managed growth going hand-in-hand with smart oversight and efficient spending is important because no one wants uncontrolled growth followed by unchecked spending. We are a small town, but we have big decisions to make and plenty of business to take care of.
I would ask the voters to consider the benefit of my experience:
When I first ran for office in 2014 at age 27, the only promise I made was to make sure we leave Bledsoe County better for the next generation. Upon my departure in 2022, Bledsoe County was in better shape. From 2018-2022, I coordinated with the County Mayor on construction of the new Bledsoe County Health Department here in Pikeville, just two blocks from the Bledsoe County Courthouse, to upgrade health service access in Bledsoe County. This effort allowed Bledsoe County EMS to make use of the former Health Department’s available space. Right now, ground has been broken on a new, modernized EMS Headquarters. This is likely the first project Mr. Frady will see to completion and I hope to have a seat at the table to help the county see a smooth transition.
Along with many dedicated others (shout out to CTE Director, Steve Reel), including the current commission, I lobbied with the county mayor as early as February 2022 in preliminary discussions with Rep. Ron Travis and Governor Bill Lee, initializing a TCAT campus to be built in Pikeville within a three-plus year window by 2025. Today, as we can see alongside the U.S. Hwy 127 bypass, we are very close to seeing the fruits of this project bloom later this year. Promoting career development and course offerings to the high school students I teach has been a blessing this past school year. I also encourage Bledsonians 23 and older to take advantage of TN Reconnect to finish degrees or further their career opportunities through TCAT.
From 2020-2022, the county purchased the former Sheldon property in District 4 along Hwy 127. Working with the County and City Mayor and the State of Tennessee (who all did a fantastic job and the heavy lifting) in securing adequate roadways and infrastructure for Aviagen to provide jobs was a blessing that saw investment of $35.3 million towards our state-of-the-art feed mill here in town. Working with the Dept. of Agriculture, and listening to local cattlemen, family farmers, equine enthusiasts, and our multi-million dollar growers is something I will always take seriously in order to provide the economic resources and local support they need to do business.
Now, at 38, sitting in on TN-ECD, TDEC meetings, seeing firsthand the ins and outs of local government, I have the knowledge and experience that comes with working in this position to help our new County Mayor navigate the needs of Bledsoe County. I am a candidate who pays attention to what Nashville is working on in the General Assembly and how their votes impact local government. As a candidate who has also studied and taught policy and procedure, I am grounded in focusing on the relationship between the state and federal levels, and their impact on Bledsoe County. The truth is budgets are complicated. Wants are unlimited, and the commission is presented with the task of what to say “no” and “yes” to. Too, we have to consider who will be impacted by our decisions. What must also be appreciated is that many budgetary items are often mandatory or statutory obligations required to be met by state and federal law. The county’s hand is then forced to meet and fund these obligations. Due to this, revenue sources and expenses must consistently be reviewed. The bottom line should always be to keep taxes low, but to also make sure our fee offices are bringing in estimated collections, while we entertain new streams of revenue and efficient budgeting that cuts out waste. This keeps our General Fund healthy and reduces deficit spending. Adding to this level of insight, I was chosen to serve as a member of the Bledsoe County Finance Committee from 2015 through 2022, engaging in preparing finalized budget proposals spanning many categories. I have put in the time and effort in seeing that fiscally responsible budgets be sent to the full commission each year for approval.
In 2020, I was unanimously chosen to chair the Finance Committee until I left the commission in 2022. When crafting the budget, it’s important for the commission to have options, and it’s important for taxpayers - through open government - to know what all this entails. Sometimes “bare-bones” budgets are prepared, and we build from there based on the essential needs and resources presented by each office and operation. I attended this year’s Finance Committee meeting, taking notes. If elected, I will seek to serve again on the Finance Committee with efficiency, low taxes, and fiscal responsibility in mind at all times. I will follow the money, ask tough questions, seek guidance through prayer and study, answering for every vote I cast.
Upon my re-election in 2018, I was chosen by fellow commissioners – of all partisan affiliation – to serve as Vice Chairman until 2021. During this time, we were tragically presented with the sudden passing of longtime Chairman Craig Mercer in 2021. Craig was knowledgeable and did not shy away from asking tough questions. Due to his passing, I was again unanimously chosen to lead the commission as Chairman, serving until I left office in 2022.
In all of my eight years, the only meeting I missed was due to attending an educational conference in San Antonio, TX in 2017. Never missed a budget meeting, and attended many other committee meetings to be fully aware of decisions impacting Bledsoe County.
That next year, the Bledsoe County Industrial Development Board unexpectedly lost a giant and a friend in Mr. Wayne Griffith. I was humbled to be appointed to the IDB and have served in this capacity since 2023. This year, I also had the privilege of serving on the Bledsoe County Board of Equalization to review and hear appeals regarding tax assessments. I also am a member of the Pikeville-Bledsoe Chamber of Commerce.
One point I want to turn to is that our local firefighters and members of our Bledsoe County Rescue Squad serve us as volunteers. I’ve always been available to hear their concerns and support their efforts in providing emergency services. One of the key things I want to highlight and work on over the next four years with the commission is to lobby our new governor, our new State Representative, Sen. Gardenhire (who has been a real asset to Bledsoe County) and federal leaders to consider funding for hydrant access in our communities. Right now, we have many idle hydrants that aren't functional and have not seen accessibility updates in decades. This not only means safer communities and accessibility for our VFDs, but will also impact ISO/Protection Class ratings, meaning lower insurance premiums for homeowners. The cost of a single hydrant can be upwards of $6,000. I will immediately connect with SETD (Southeast TN Dev. Dist.) while exploring CDBG and all other grant and funding options available to make this happen. At this time, I have written to Rep. Travis and Sen. Gardenhire and will continue to press this issue. Working to make sure this materializes ASAP is one of my top priorities to work with our fire chiefs and both mayors on for District 4 and the rest of the county.
Serving the people, to me, means paying attention to and addressing issues such as these that often are ignored or lost in the weeds.
Likewise with health and safety, I will fight tooth and nail to see that the new Bledsoe EMS remains operated in-house, providing adequate emergency medical services to the people of Bledsoe County. Voters strongly spoke up, and I supported this during my last term on the commission. We are also fortunate to have Erlanger Bledsoe in our backyard. Expanding doctors offices and service-access while fighting for Bledsoe County Nursing Home to be solvent are endeavors I will consistently promote and work to secure for our area. Many rural areas are in healthcare deserts. Particularly for our youth, retirees, and our Veterans, I will do whatever I can to see growth and accessibility in Rural Healthcare.
Local schools make up a large part of our budget, though state and federal funding picks up the largest part of the tab. Apart from approving the school budget, the commission has very little to do with school policy. When it comes to capital investments and grants, the county can assist with these project needs, but the best thing the mayor and the commission can do is focus on raising opportunity scores concerning job growth and career options for our graduates to raise families here at home. As a teacher, I strongly support public education, and TN Promise opportunities, which include TCAT programs. When called for, I will put my educational background to good use, working with Dist. 4 school board member Steve Perry, the full board of education, including Director Walker, to help navigate the challenges facing our education system. Having family and friend’s children in our system, being able to communicate or mediate needs within our school system matters very much to me as an educator and a parent.
While the county has no authority over city matters, I will keep an open line of communication with City of Pikeville officials. We have to work hand-in-hand towards common goals, such as hydrant access, utility upgrades, supporting recreation and tourism, and economic development. Economic development isn’t just a pledge to say “we need jobs” or “I’ll bring jobs.” It’s a combination of leaders and communities supporting existing businesses to help them overcome hurdles and see growth. It’s asking what do companies and major employers look for when choosing a new community to call home? This includes many of the things mentioned above, but it’s also why we have to take a hard look at what we are offering our youth and families. This is one of the first items major companies look at in a location site. We have great strength in numbers. The more we unite to zoom-in on what needs attention, the more we advocate for our area, the more positive changes will come to light. It takes a village to achieve a better Bledsoe County. Involved and informed communities make the best decisions.
To these ends, in July 2019, shortly after taking office, Gov. Bill Lee visited Pikeville. After he spoke on the courthouse steps, I hand delivered a resolution to him, approved by the full commission, asking for US 127 four-lane expansion. Also included in this letter was the goal that Bledsoe be removed from classification as a Distressed County by 2030. This is interesting, given we are in a Catch-22 position as our Distressed Status allows us more grant and funding opportunities. But for our long-term health, I want to focus on efforts that will grow our employment rate and lift us out of this status. Like so many, I am disappointed that bad actors with Textile Corp defrauded and hoodwinked the job prospects promised with the Dura Building. Now that ownership of the old Dura Plant is back under county ownership, I had the opportunity on June 11 to tour the 16 acre site. Considering this, and with TCAT in our backyard, I will work hard with our state agencies to see that site development is intact and we attract an industry offering good paying jobs. With Tennessee being a business friendly state, Nashville must shine the light on rural counties in need of an economic shot of adrenaline. Right now, everyone has heard about the “Super Two-Lane”, which to me is going so far as to bake a wedding cake and stop short with no icing. Why cook-up such a large, likely once-in-a-lifetime project without icing the cake? We are decades late on giving the Valley needed road and utility upgrades. Bledsoe and Sequatchie are both growing. Common sense governance and securing that Bledsoe is industry-ready means urging the state to award us a full four-lane highway. I would also like to partner with the Road Committee and Highway Dept. to communicate a capital improvement plan addressing aging roads and bridges. We may not always win, but I will make sure Nashville and D.C. both know where Bledsoe County is. We can’t afford to kick the can down the road. If we can plainly identify needs or see something is in bad shape, the least we can do is put forth our best effort to fix it. Government works best when serving as an incubator that allows private business and individuals the freedom and opportunity to thrive without any negative tradeoffs.
To those reading this, know your conversations matter. My knowledge and vision mean nothing if I don’t hear from you - and hearing from you is the best way I know to do business. It’s a fool's errand to pretend I have all the answers – or even know all the questions! Often, we take to social media or table-talk to discuss and bring attention to issues, but I want to highlight that directly contacting public officials, knowing which offices can actually help, is the best way to get the ball rolling towards solving problems. Helping government better communicate, operate more transparently, and make smarter decisions with solid information is a standard I strongly believe in. To me, this is what service leadership is.
Now is the time to raise the conversation above, not just what Bledsoe County needs, but to critically ask where do we want Bledsoe County to be in 2030, 2040, for our children and beyond? One of the simplest ways we continue to improve our county is to ask, “What do we need? And how do we get it?” Winning positions is great, but then comes the questions, “What’s the plan? What are you going to do?” Progress can be slow, but there is no better time to start looking into the future than now. My communication lines are always open. Taking the time to investigate matters and shoot people straight with what are hopefully solutions is part of the job, and a service I enjoy doing. I ask that voters hold me accountable to my platform, my performance, send me ideas, and I encourage more people to attend local meetings when and if able. Seeing our meetings live-streamed, similar to the school board, is something I will address if elected.
I humbly ask those reading this to consider my experience and stances on issues that so many of us share and care about. It would be a great privilege to work for you as your next County Commissioner, District 4 Part A. Your vote on Thursday, August 6 is greatly appreciated. Mark your calendars.
Polls are open until 7:00 PM! If you are in line by 7:00 PM, you may vote!
If I have missed you as I’ve went door-to-door, contact me, and I will gladly listen. If anyone needs a ride to vote, please contact me! See you soon!
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Matt Colvard
Independent Candidate, County Commission,
Dist. 4 Part A
423-443-7435
[email protected]
