Jonah Keltner seeks re-election

Jonah Keltner recently announced he is seeking re-election to the office of County Mayor in this year's election.

Jonah is a lifelong resident of Lewis County, who grew up in the Mt. Joy Road community. It was there he developed a love for his country, and a passion for the great outdoors.

His father, Larry, was a proud U.S. Navy veteran and factory worker who put in many hours of overtime just to make ends meet. His mother, Debbie, was a hardworking homemaker who kept things in order around the house. Together, they raised their children to appreciate the conservative principles and Christian values that our nation was founded on.

Jonah learned at an early age how to work hard and earn his keep. As a young child, he made his first dollar selling snacks from a homemade lemonade stand. At 16, he started flipping burgers at Dairy Queen to pay for his first car. And after graduating high school, Jonah went to work stocking shelves at Walmart to pay his way through college.

Jonah's parents taught him that along with hard work, he also needed a quality education to achieve his personal goals in life. So after graduating from Lewis County High School in 1996, Jonah enrolled at Columbia State and earned his Associates Degree. He then went to Murfreesboro and received his Bachelor's Degree and teaching license from MTSU.

After that, Jonah entered graduate school and earned a Master's Degree from Walden University. He then returned to his alma mater and graduated with a degree of Specialist in Education from MTSU. Jonah finally completed his formal education in 2009, when he was awarded the designation of Certified Public Administrator from the University of Tennessee.

Jonah and his wife, Tonya, have been married for 22 years. They have three daughters, Kailee (18), Kinlee (14), and Karlee (9); and one son, the late Kainen Keltner, who passed away after a brave battle with cancer when he was just four years old. The Keltners attend church at Freedom Holy Temple, where Jonah serves as both an Elder and Educational Director.

Jonah has a long history of success in public service, and has the unique experience of having served in both our legislative and executive branches of local government. Between 2006-2014, he was elected to serve two terms as County Commissioner. Jonah also has five years of experience as County Mayor, having served in that office from 2009-2010, and again from 2018-2022.

Before becoming County Mayor in 2018, Jonah had 16 years worth of experience in the field of education. During that time, he began his career as a teacher, and was later promoted to Attendance Supervisor for the Lewis County School System. He also worked as a bus driver, and coached several different sports, including high school tennis and softball, as well as middle school basketball and softball.

Despite his busy schedule, Jonah has strived to remain one of Lewis County's most active public servants. Each year he participates in various community events and charitable fundraisers. Jonah is currently the President of Lewis County Dixie Youth, an Associate Member of the Fraternal Order of Police, and a member of the Lewis County Elks.

Throughout his pubic service experience, Jonah has gained a reputation as a leader who can bring people together to get results. By focusing on teamwork, he has managed to help Lewis County Government accomplish many great things the last four years.

For instance, while working with County Commissioners, Jonah aided in securing a historic $10 million in State and Federal Grants; he managed a record-high General Fund balance of over $3 million; he ensured there were no property tax increases; he oversaw the completion of the new Lewis County Justice Center; and he guided Lewis County through the Coronavirus Pandemic.

While partnering with other leaders in our community, Jonah assisted in developing the largest and most successful Recycling Program in the history of our community; he helped tentatively sell the entire 90-acre County Industrial Park to multiple businesses; and he supported the expansion of broadband Internet to every household in Lewis County.

In announcing his candidacy, Jonah state, "I take great pride in being a Lewis county native, and I feel so blessed to live in such a wonderful community. Being County Mayor these last four years has been one of the greatest honors of my life, because it has allowed me to serve the hometown that I love, and the people that I believe in.

And now, I'm very excited about the opportunity I have to continue serving another term as your County Mayor. My record in public service shows that I'm a team player who has consistently worked well with others to get things done for Lewis County. And during these last four years in office, I have seen firsthand that there is no limit to what we can accomplish if we all work together.

During this campaign, I'm not going to make any empty political promises I can't keep. But there are some things you can count on if I'm re-elected County Mayor.

I will continue working tirelessly to bring positive changes and growth to our community. I will continue practicing open government and treat everyone with respect. I will continue defending our law enforcement officers, advocating on behalf of our teachers, standing up for our senior citizens, and supporting our Veterans. And I will continue to pursue industrial interests, insist on practicing fiscal responsibility, and fight to keep our taxes as absolutely low as possible.

In closing, I hope to see you out on the campaign trail so we can discuss the issues that matter most to you. However, if I miss you and you would like to talk, please feel free to contact me and I'd be glad to schedule a personal visit with you. Also, if you would like a free yard sign or free t-shirt to show your support for my campaign, please feel free to call or text me anytime.

And finally, I would like to take this opportunity to humbly ask for your vote for County Mayor. Please allow me to continue using my education and experience to make Lewis County an even better and brighter place to live, work and raise a family."

If you would like to be a part of Jonah's campaign, please contact him by phone at 931-628-3003 or by email at [email protected]. You can also follow the Keltner Campaign on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jonah.keltner.