Randy Carroll has announced his candidacy for Shelbyville City Mayor. The City election will be held Nov. 8, with early voting to begin Oct. 19.  

Carroll has lived in Shelbyville and Bedford County most of his life, attending elementary and high school in Shelbyville. He graduated from Shelbyville Central in 1968. He earned honors degrees in business administration and in management and human relations.  

Right out of high school, he volunteered for and served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 through 1972, with one overseas tour. He worked in small business in Shelbyville for 8 years before joining Duck River Electric Membership Corporation from which he retired after 31 years of service. At DREMC, he wore several hats, finishing up that career as the key accounts coordinator.  

Carroll has served over the years on numerous boards and committees, including the City zoning board. He’s a member of the local Arts Council, Friends of Shelbyville-Bedford County Library, the City of Shelbyville Board of Zoning Appeals, Habitat for Humanity and Shelbyville Community Soup Kitchen. He’s been a member of Shelbyville First Church of the Nazarene for 38 years.  

“Being a life-time resident, I love Shelbyville and want our City to prosper.”  

He was asked to run first for an open City Council seat. Thinking about it, he felt being mayor was a good fit for him.  

Carroll came from a large family; his dad was a local, Pentecostal minister. His family grew up in what was then known as the Robinson Addition in a two bedroom, one bath home. As a “preacher’s kid,” he believes he learned a lot of good morals which he has carried into his professional jobs. But most of all, he learned the love of Jesus and is proud to state he’s a Christian.  

He is the father of 3 adult children-all products of the Bedford County school system. His daughter, Tonya Suzanne Richards and husband, Eric, and children live in Madison, Ala. Son, Jeff Carroll, is an instructor at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville and lives in Tullahoma. Son, Josh Carroll, 22, works in Shelbyville and lives in the county. Carroll proudly notes he has 3 granddaughters; 3 grandsons; and 2 great-grandsons. He proudly notes his youngest grandson, Donnie Carroll, Jeff’s son, is serving in the U.S. Army with the 82nd Airbone. Naming all of the successes of his grandchildren, he added, “I’ve been blessed.”  

Carroll explained that his career has allowed him to work with local City and County officials, Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, the State of Tennessee and national officials on economic and rural development, energy usage and efficiency grants/ loans to benefit “all of the citizens served in southern middle Tennessee.”  

As for why he’s running for City Mayor, Carroll recently stated, “I feel that I have the background, experience and education to serve all the people of Shelbyville.” He believes Shelbyville is experiencing “growing pains” and the City Council will need to study each decision carefully.  

As mayor, he said his input in these decisions will be to consider the impact on existing citizens and businesses.  

“We want to grow but must use wisdom for today and the future. In addition, I look forward to working with all our elected officials and all the employees of the City of Shelbyville—a place where we are all proud of the achievements we make and proud to state that we are from Shelbyville, Tennessee, our hometown.”  

Carroll said his desire in seeking the mayoral office is to “enhance the benefits of living and working in Shelbyville.” He said he prayed a lot about his decision to enter the City race. After all, he has a lot of freedom right now as a retiree.  

“I also want Bedford County citizens to prosper as we grow together. We are blessed to live in Shelbyville and with changes that we all face, I pledge to do my utmost with God’s help and others’ to protect our families, our freedoms and our foundations.”