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Barry Davis, of Blount County, a certified public accountant and East Tennessee businessman, has filed an application with the Tennessee Senate Republican Caucus and the Tennessee House Republican Caucus seeking the position of state treasurer.

"I am honored by the support of local Republicans who have suggested I pursue this office. I am very familiar with the responsibilities of the state treasurer, and I believe I offer a businesslike, conservative approach to dealing with the issues facing the state in these critical economic times."

Davis currently serves as chief financial officer for the Bridgemont development in Sevierville. The project encompasses over 1,000 acres and includes the new City of Sevierville Events Center. The Bridgemont Group also brought Bass Pro Shops to the region and developed its store at Interstate 40 exit 407.

Prior to joining the Bridgemont development, Davis was a partner in a well-known public accounting firm in Maryville. His partners have included CPAs Joe Ingram, Chuck Newman and Lonas Overholt.

Davis was heavily involved in the Blount County Chamber of Commerce in the 1990s, serving four years on the board of directors, including one as a vice chair. He was active in several United Way campaigns and is a 1995 graduate of Leadership Blount. Davis is a past president of the Boys Club and the Alcoa City Schools Foundation.

He has previously served three times as treasurer for Republican candidates for local office, and this year was the finance chairman of David Duggan's winning campaign for Circuit Court judge.

The Davis family has been active in public service roles. His wife, Sylvia Shannon Davis, is vice president for Strategic Planning at the University of Tennessee, while an uncle, Alcoa native James A. Clodfelter, retired after serving many years as director of Legal Services for the General Assembly.