The city’s elected
A look at Clinton officials
CLINTON MAYOR SCOTT BURTON
However, as he talked of the progress made under his administration, he was quick to point out that it was not a one-man show. He gave credit to many others.
“I haven’t done anything,” Burton said. “It’s a group of guys and girls working together.”
He also gave credit to other cooperating groups, including the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce and the Anderson County Commission.
The mayor is a native of Clinton, graduating from Clinton High School in 1984 and from the University of Tennessee in 1989 with a degree in management.
After graduation from UT, he followed a winding path away from Clinton that eventually brought him back home to serve as mayor. He first went to work in the corporate offices of Hallmark Cards, and later dealt in pharmaceuticals.
His jobs took him to such places as Atlanta, San Antonio and Jacksonville, Florida. He said his claim to fame was that in Jacksonville he lived in the same condo building as motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel.
Eventually he came back to Clinton to deal in real estate. Burton and his wife, Tracy, who is a technology instructor at Clinton High School, have three grown children: Alex, who also graduated from UT in management; Lauren, a nursing graduate of East Tennessee State University, who now works at UT Hospital: and Sarah, who graduated from Clinton High School in 2021 and is now attending the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.
Burton has lived in Clinton for 21 years now, and he said that in 2007 there was referendum to combine Clinton schools with the county school system.
That is when he got involved in public service because he wanted to make a difference. He successfully ran for councilman and now he is in his fourth term as mayor.
The mayor said the biggest challenge he has seen in his time in office is the growth of the city and county. “People are coming back to this area because of the beauty and the quality of life,” he said.
One of his accomplishments has been to clean up eyesores, including the Magnet Mills property. He would like to see that property developed with businesses on the ground floor of a building and condos on the upper floors.
The mayor said he is proud that in two years the city will be debtfree. He also spoke about three grants he is involved with.
The first is for the Jaycees pool and splash pad. He said this splash pad will be larger than the one at Lakefront Park and will be for older kids.
Burton said it can be used six months out of the year and will not have to be manned. That project should be finished next year.
The second grant deals with the old armory around the corner from the pool. This project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2024, will result in the Boys and Girls Clubs operating a childcare service at the city owned building.
The third grant is the redevelopment of the downtown area around Market and Main streets. “That is really going to change the look of downtown,” he said.
This project is scheduled to start in 2024 and will result in, among other things, ADA-compliant sidewalks, narrower streets, and more trees. That will make it more inviting for people to come downtown, Burton said.