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Alcoa City Commissioner Clayton Bledsoe was 14 years old and a sophomore at Alcoa High School when his father, Dossie, died of emphysema in 1965.

Five of Bledsoe's brothers and sisters were left behind in the family home.

"Donny, our oldest brother, was our father. He still is," Bledsoe said. Donny provided great support to Anna Mae, the Bledsoe matriarch, Bledsoe said, but needless to say: "Basically, all the kids worked during the summertime."

Bledsoe was among them, working for the city pool at Springbrook and on a city garbage truck.

"Back then, when we were raised, we had two shirts and two pairs of blue jeans, and that was supposed to be for the year."

The ability to stretch a dollar and the history of his family in the city make Bledsoe believe he deserves one of two commission seats up for grabs Nov. 2. He, fellow incumbent George Williams and challenger Ken White are vying for the two seats. Technically, it will be Bledsoe's first chance to be duly elected to the seat. He was appointed by the sitting commission to fill out the remainder of John Widner's term, who died in office in 2003.

"John Widner was a good friend of mine," he said. "One of the nicest people I've ever met in my life."

Prior to his appointment to the seat, Bledsoe made an unsuccessful run for the commission last year.

He lost by only seven votes.

"I knew the last time I ran against Vaughn (Belcher), Clint (Abbott) and Don (Mull) I knew it was going to be tough to beat any of them," he said.

Ditto this time around, and that's why he's campaigning hard.

"I know George has been working hard, and Ken has been working hard."

But he enjoys campaigning, he said.

"It's fun. I've seen a lot of people I haven't seen in years, a lot of people that were in the city when I was a little boy but that I didn't know were still living," said Bledsoe, who now serves as a magistrate in Blount County Circuit Court following a 25-year career in the U.S. Air Force.

Historical connections

Bledsoe said he wants to build upon this connection to the past by paying more attention to preserving the unique city's dwindling historic structure, including the old municipal building and Springbrook Fire Hall.

"I want to keep up the history of the city," he said.

He also credits his family's own history in the city with a good shot at retaining his seat.

His brother Donny was director of public works for the city for about 35 years, and counts a son, nephew and sister-in-law among educators in the Alcoa School System.

When his mother died in 1999, she left behind 49 grandchildren, he said. Two of his nieces are currently in the school system, and, he said, "there's always at least one" relative passing through Alcoa schools.

"I know a lot of people," he said, through his myriad family connections. "Not that they are all going to vote for me."

He's counting on his knowledge of the issues and his vision for the future to win another term.

As for reasons he wants to retain the seat, he cites a desire to see several major city projects come to fruition, including completion of the new water treatment plant and a new service center to accommodate all aspects of the Public Works Department.

"I want to be around when (they are) finished," he said.

He also said he will continue to support efforts, such as the recently passed abandoned car ordinance, to improve neighborhoods throughout the city.

"There are areas in this city that need to be cleaned up. We need to try in some way to help these people upgrade their homes and get federal funds."

Balancing revenues

On that note, he wants to ensure the elderly residents of the city do not have to shoulder an increased property tax burden. That comes through a delicate balance of retail and residential revenue generation, and wise use of tax dollars.

He said he wants to see commercial and retail development further concentrated in the southern area of the city so as not to intrude upon the quiet residential nature of the rest of the city.

"Probably 65 percent of the people in the city of Alcoa are elderly people on a fixed income. We've worked very hard to keep the tax rate low. I think its important that we give the best service we can for the dollar."

He said he looks forward to working with new Alcoa Police Chief Ken Burge, though he frankly mentions that he was not in agreement with City Manager Mark Johnson on the hiring. He was in support of the job going to Circuit Court Clerk Tom Hatcher, but Johnson "felt we needed a fresh start. That's history, and so far everything is doing good.

"I think he's going to do a good job. He seems to be a people person, and that's something we need."

He characterizes himself as a "people person," too.

"I'm always available. I always thought I'm a people person. I talk to people about it if they have issues. You've got to be a good listener, and not overreact to issues.

"You've got to do what you think is right for them, not what is right for you."