Mayors from West, Middle and East Tennessee Bring Stronger Leadership Home
January 6, 2025
Since its establishment, eight city or county mayors have enrolled as Regional Scholars in the MLPS program. These mayors have faced the challenges of Covid-19, weather disasters, endemic drug abuse, distressed economic environments and infrastructure failings. By bringing to their own neighborhoods the ideas and perspectives, resources and inspiration from their classroom and from classmates from other areas of the state, these eight leaders are advancing their communities and residents in all three Grand Divisions of Tennessee.
1. EDDIE BRAY (MPLS ‘21), Former Henderson County Mayor
“By collaborating with other leaders, you learn more about their issues and it helps you understand your own issues… The diverse backgrounds give you different perspectives. I learned ways to deal with conflict and how to negotiate with others.”
2. WILLIAM RAWLS (MLPS ‘22), Brownsville Mayor
“The consistent challenge is bringing everyone together in one accord…I have learned that the best leadership skills to have during moments of pushback is with effective communication and its timing.”
3. JAKE BYNUM (MLPS ‘20), Former Weakley County Mayor
“In 2021, a devastating tornado destroyed over 6 million worth of homes and businesses… One of the most impactful lessons I learned is how to approach challenges or offer solutions that are equitable to all.”
4. BRETT LASHLEE (MLPS ‘21), Former Benton County Mayor
“The MLPS program immersed me with great people wanting to do great things! The energy, expertise and knowledge, the desire to serve and vision of the cohort was pure adrenaline for me. I could not wait to get to each and every class, but also count not wait to get back to my mayor’s desk to implement what I had learned from each class and classmate!”
5. JESSE TURNER (MLPS ‘23), Former Loretto Mayor
“Our small town is completing approximately $10 million of improvements to our infrastructure… These improvements have brought a renewed sense of community pride… Relationships are the one thing I have found in my 20+ years of experience that matters the most.”
6. JOE BROOKS (MLPS ‘23), Claiborne County Mayor
“Discussions inevitably lead to examples of how other counties are working within their respective jails to implement programs to assist with drug use. Although not every example is achievable, there is certainly a lot of information exchanged that leads to meaningful work on some level that is leading to the successful implementation of drug services within county jails.”
7. KATHY BULLEN (MLPS ‘24), Unicoi Mayor
“My mayoral experience and the MLPS program have broadened my perspective on just about everything I deal with in life! Listen, digest, measure it, sift it against what you consider to be true and move forward. Learn, unlearn, relearn. Keep moving.”
This article was originally published in the Lipscomb University College of Leadership & Public Service 2024 Dean’s Report. Click here to read the full report.
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