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Farmville Town Council member Jamie Davis, who represents Ward E, announced Wednesday, Feb. 19, he would not be seeking reelection to a third consecutive term.

According to Davis, he is not ruling out public office altogether but says, “Now is a necessary ending to a rewarding eight years of service.” 

The Herald reached out to Davis to inquire as to why he would not be seeking reelection.

Davis said he wanting to spend more time with his family.

“In 2012, when I was first elected, my children were 3 and 6 years old. I wanted to help shape the direction of our community in ways that would contribute to making Farmville a better place to live, conduct business, and to raise families,” Davis said. “My boys are now 11 and 14. While I am involved in many of their activities, I am looking forward to having more time with them.”

Davis says he feels that over the years, the council has made great strides in making Farmville a better place to live.

“There are many ways that we all can make a difference,” Davis said. “I believe the most effective way is by investing in the family unit by being better people, better parents, better neighbors.”

Davis says the council as a whole, as well as the town’s staff, has worked to make a concerted effort to improve the town’s finances over the years.

According to Davis, since 2012, the town has reduced its general obligation debt by more than $9 million, from $19 million to $9.8 million while taking on no additional debt.

“During Jamie’s tenure on council he became chairman of the finance and ordinance committee and provided invaluable guidance on the budget and was hugely successful in reducing the town’s overall debt,” Mayor David Whitus said.

“We have been able to pay for big-ticket items and improvements without having to finance them,” Davis said. 

Davis says that in 2012 $1.19 million dollars was used off the town’s line of credit, in 2013 $1 million, in 2014 $900,000, in 2015 $600,000, all of which was paid back to the line of credit within about six months.

“The line of credit has not been used since 2015,” Davis said. “That’s real progress, in my opinion. It doesn’t mean that the town won’t have to take on additional debt in the future, but it prepares the town to do so responsibly.”

When it comes to serving on the council, Davis says he enjoyed working with the mayor and council to make progress happen and always felt he could express his thoughts.

“Don’t get me wrong, the council does not always agree, and it can sometimes get a little heated, but as Councilman Donald Hunter said to me, ‘We may not agree, but when we walk out of those doors, we are still one council.’ It’s local government at its best,” he said. “We don’t all have to agree, but despite our differences, we must represent our constituents to our best ability and work together to improve our town.”