Safety, health, business manager running for OS Town Council

OLIVER SPRINGS—Nathan Benson of Oliver Springs is running for Oliver Springs alderman in Ward 4 in the November 4 municipal election.

Benson and his wife Jennifer (Wright) Benson graduated from Oliver Springs High School in 2001. They have two children named Riley and Addison Benson that attend Norwood Middle and Elementary schools.

Benson served in the Tennessee Army National Guard 278th Armored Calvary Regiment as a calvary scout after graduating from high school. During his six years in the service, he was deployed to Iraq as a sergeant assigned to the Regimental Protective Services Detail.

Benson is now employed with Canberra Industries in Oak Ridge as the safety, health, and business improvement manager, a press release said. He has been employed with them for nearly 12 years, including his leave of absence to serve overseas.

He has a degree in occupational health and safety and an undergraduate certificate in industrial hygiene from Columbia Southern University. He is also an authorized OSHA general industry outreach trainer.

“His volunteer activities have shown him the best of our community, and areas where we can improve,” the press release said.

Benson has coached at both the Norwood and Oliver Springs youth clubs, and since 2012, he has voluntarily served on the Oliver Springs Planning Commission. He also delivers meals through “Boxes of Love” at the Beech Park Baptist Church outreach program.

“(Benson) believes that these progressive skills and assignments have given him the knowledge and fortitude to build trust and cooperation with the city’s residents during a time of uncertainty,” the press release said. “He believes that accountability and growth are paramount to the success of our great community.

“City officials, employees, business owners, and residents all make choices every day that affect the community in which we live and play. Accountability and transparency are critical to planning with the residents of Oliver Springs to determine what they want the community to look like in five years, 10 years, and even 25 years. Growth planning and joint commissions between residents and the city staff must be a unified effort to stimulate growth in the town that will help stabilize and increase Oliver Springs’ finances.

“As a resident and taxpayer of Oliver Springs, we have asked our firefighters, police officers, water, sewer, and street crews to perform work each day with very limited staffing and resources to succeed. They have all done a fantastic job at meeting the demands of a small town under these circumstances.”

Benson encouraged Oliver Springs residents to “come alive and support this town by volunteering with a local church or civic organization, attending meetings at city hall, and becoming engaged in shaping our children’s future.”