Knoxville, TN – The Mark Padgett for Knoxville City Mayor campaign (www.VotePadgett.com) today released the “Padgett Plan,” a 28-page document that outlines ideas and opportunities to move Knoxville forward.

“From our police force to infrastructure to parks and greenways, the only way we can afford to pay for programs and services we all care about is by growing jobs and our economy and cutting waste and red tape in city government,” Padgett said. “I’ve shared this vision for Knoxville with hundreds of community groups, neighborhood associations, and businesses and at over 45 debates. The ‘Padgett Plan’ is the culmination and next phase of my conversation with Knoxville. I believe that voters deserve to hear specific ideas on how to create jobs, strengthen our neighborhoods and improve city services.

“This plan is not meant to be exhaustive, but merely an outline of where I see some great opportunities for Knoxville. My administration will be organized and designed to address unforeseen challenges and opportunities facing Knoxville.”

The “Padgett Plan” is organized into four sections:

1.     Job Creation and Economic Growth

2.     Stronger, Safer and More Connected Neighborhoods

3.     Transparent, Efficient and Accessible Government

4.     Downtown Knoxville – Everyone’s Neighborhood

Highlights include:

• -Create a local version of former Governor Phil Bredesen’s “TNInvestcos” to increase capital available for companies right here in Knoxville, as well as provide and support a network of mentors and training.

• -Proactively recruit businesses in diverse and cutting-edge industries that want to grow and expand operations, raise their children, serve as responsible environmental stewards and invest in the community.

• -Create a Rapid Action Fund to enable the city to negotiate during business recruitment in real time and good faith.

• -Create a Youth Advisory Council to provide feedback and share ideas on youth-related policy issues.

• -Help communities without neighborhood associations organize and strengthen the relationships between community groups and police liaisons.

• -Create a senior advisory position within the Community Development Department to dramatically decrease the number of vacant, abandoned and blighted properties.

• -Make Knoxville the most walkable, bikeable and runnable city in the Southeast.

• -Add at least 25 services online, including applying for and closing business licenses, which currently are only available in paper format.

• -Make every public record that can be placed online available on the Internet.

• -Create new, interactive online platforms – including webinars and e-town halls – to foster civic engagement and generate new ideas to move the city forward.

• -Create specific, industry-focused economic incentive zones, similar to the Central Business Improvement Districts (CBID), to bring together creative leaders in specific industries.

View the Plan at http://www.votepadgett.com/lib/file/manager/PadgettPlan.pdf.

The campaign has also posted more than 50 videos on YouTube (www.YouTube.com/PadgettForMayor) to share Mark’s position on everything from codes enforcement and homelessness to red light cameras and parks/greenways.

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