Shawn Jacobs, the “dean,” or longest-serving member of the Smithville City Council, signaled his intent to run for re-election Friday by picking up a qualifying petition at the DeKalb County Election Commission.
Jacobs, who is also Police and Fire Commissioner is concluding his second term, having been first elected in 2009 and re-elected in 2011. He has championed such issues as more open government by having regular reports from department heads at council meetings, more certified operators at the Water Treatment Plant, sidewalk and street maintenance, and improvements at the Smithville City Pool and Golf Club. As Police and Fire Commissioner, Jacobs has pushed for more and specialized training and equipping of both departments, including the city’s new Crime-Stoppers program and additional methamphetamine-certified investigators in the Police Department and new generation bullet-proof vests for all officers. In the Fire Department, Jacobs helped secure the city’s new ladder truck and was instrumental in the hiring of Smithville’s first full-time Fire Chief. These improvements, as well as many others were all accomplished without a tax increase.
Jacobs also serves on the Smithville Planning Commission, the Smithville Municipal Airport Committee, and is Vice-Chairman of Smithville Crime-Stoppers. He’s a graduate of DeKalb County High School and has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mass Communication from Middle Tennessee State University. He’s also done graduate work in sociology and education.
Archived News & Obituaries