My Family, August 2024

Both our Boys attended Mt Juliet High School and graduated from Tennessee colleges. My wife Jill was a successful Elementary School Teacher and prior to her early retirement, was principal for 15 years at W A Wright Elementary in Mt. Juliet.  To my right, Blake is a Nashville PD Captain, wife Paige Upchurch Giles is a RN. To my left, Josh is an Account Manager in Nashville for Entertainment Insurance. and the Music/Worship Director at Faith Is The Victory Church in Mt. Juliet and wife Kirsten Young Giles is a RN. We are blessed with 5 wonderful Grandsons.

My wife, Jill, and I purchased our home in Mt. Juliet in 1989 and still reside there today. I am blessed to live in a city where your faith, family values and strong community support is alive and well.  I currently serve as the Chair of Mt. Juliet BPAC, a committee that reports to the Mt. Juliet Board Of Commissioners and have previously served on the Planning Commission for several years and in 2010 was appointed by the Board Of Commissioners to fill the then vacant District 3 seat and won two additional elections; the voters kept believing in me and supporting me along with my voting record/accomplishments and I was always appreciative to them. Because of city redistricting, I now am a candidate for City Commissioner District 1 and look forward to serving that District as well as the entire city again. I received a Bachelor Of Business Administration from Belmont University with a Minor in Music prior to moving to Mt. Juliet and have used that degree knowledge along with experience from different careers including local city government, to be proficient and accountable. I am proud of my previous voting record and accomplishments and feel experience is invaluable and necessary to positively move forward in serving the citizens of Mt. Juliet. 

When serving in City Government prior, I consistently voted to increase public safety including the Police and Fire services. I have supported quality economic growth, both as City Commissioner and as a Regional Planning Commissioner. I worked diligently to successfully implement road improvements projects, including traffic calming initiatives and improve our parks, recreational opportunities as well as securing additional sidewalks and greenways. I believe in smaller, more efficient government as well as “ Development should pay for development” ; I never voted to raise property taxes, staying a firm advocate that our city should always operate “ within its means”  by using increased sales tax revenues instead of raising property taxes and also requiring developments to complete and/or share cost of infrastructure improvements. 

I am a strong advocate for the 2’nd Amendment as I am a member of the TN Firearms Association as well as a Lifetime member of NRA. Recently I sponsored/passed local legislation to allow city employees who have valid handgun permits, to carry in the workplace. 

In 2013, I sponsored/passed the formation of BPAC (Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee) who is an advisory committee to the Board Of Commissioners to supply pedestrian safety suggestions, promote awareness, etc. and identifies and writes grant applications to help fund additional sidewalks, greenways, etc. for the city; to date these grant awards have netted the city over $9.2 million in grant money. These awesome committee members work tirelessly, and it is a privilege to be the Chair of such a dedicated and successful committee.

I sponsored/passed a resolution for a 10 Year Police Department Strategic Plan so we can identify and adequately fund the needs of our members in Blue, including salaries, future growth, etc. ; this contributed to the new currently in construction, Police Headquarters and Jill and I are annual supporters of the Mt. Juliet Police Exployers. I  voted for both Fire Stations on Belinda Parkway as well as on North Greenhill Road and diligently searched for additional locations for future stations while in office. 

Outside of City Government, I currently own and operate AGA on Mt. Juliet Road which specializes in Church and Non-Profit ministries. I love spending time with my wife and family and enjoy teaching with my wife, children at Faith Is The Victory Church, here in Mt. Juliet. I have been a member of Rotary in Mt. Juliet since 1997 and recently helped create and serve as President, of a new proposed 501C3 that raises money for recreational needs of the city. I am a proud present and previous sponsor of Mt. Juliet Little League and a member of Mt.Juliet Chamber.