Jeremy Burnett – Candidate for Board of Commissioners – Biography
Jeremy Burnett has been a resident of Lakeland since early 2012. He currently serves as the dean of faculty support at Southwest Tennessee community college, where he has been a member of the faculty and administration for more than 18 years. He is an active member of Faith Baptist Church where he volunteers in the pre-school ministry and is active in his Sunday school class.
Mr. Burnett has been with Southwest Tennessee Community College since 2000 and has served as an Instructor, Assistant Professor, Department Chair and Director in both Distance Education and then Faculty Advising before assuming the role of Dean of Faculty Support in 2017.
Mr. Burnett holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration and a Master of Science in Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality, both from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He has work experience in the hotel and casino business with both the Kemmons Wilson companies – Holiday Inn and the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Mr. Burnett has had the privilege to work with his son, other boys and young men in the Boy Scouts for the past 12 years as a father, cubmaster, merit badge counselor, Eagle
Mentor and Troop committee chair. In that work he has helped more than 5 Boy Scouts to earn the rank of Eagle.
In his his spare time, he enjoys woodworking and camping with his family.
Jeremy is a husband to Rachel and father of three wonderful children, Andrew, 19, Anne, 10 and Addison, 6.
What is your vision for Lakeland over the next four years?
We need to continue the momentum of positive metrics of residential development, efficiency in city management and positive financial health of the city. To support that, we need to complete the school system, rely on the vision of the city staff and administration in the areas of infrastructure development, maintenance and improvement.
As a commissioner, I would actively work to engage with the developer and any potential commercial tenants to move the Lake District to completion, and to support further economic development projects In other parts of the city.
What is the major issue for Lakeland now and how do you address it?
I think there are a few major issues that currently facing Lakeland. Not the least of which is how to finish the work already started to have a complete K-12 school system. That single issue will, I believe, define the future direction of this city forevermore. This city was a bedroom community with no desire for such service. As that demographic has shifted to families with children , the way to sustain the positive growth in residential development and to attract new business to Lakeland is to have a complete school system.
Why are you the person needed to guide the City’s future? List your capabilities.
First and foremost, I am a conservative Christian man, a sinner saved by Grace. As such, I know I am not perfect and that I do not have all the answers. I make decisions based on data, facts, and best practices with input from various viewpoints. I am a relationship oriented man who values people and I believe that shows in the relationships I have with people on both sides of historically divisive issues in our community.
Describe your involvement in the Lakeland community.
Our family moved to Lakeland in February of 2012. We have three children. Andrew is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Anne is in her first year at Lakeland Middle Prep. and Addison is a first grader at Lakeland Elementary. I have closely followed the Board of Commissioners (B.O.C.) actions and routinely attend B.O.C. meetings. We actively supported the bond vote for the high school in 2015. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Lakeland Education Foundation. My oldest son, Andrew completed his Eagle Scout service project by raising funds for, designing and building a communications board at the athletic fields adjacent to city hall.
