Q&A with David Rutherford
by Don Napier
David A. Rutherford has been hired as the City of Crossville’s new City Manager. The City Council has gone through more than 40 applicants since previous city manager Bruce Wyatt resigned on April 11. Mr. Rutherford is now on the job.
Rutherford came to Crossville from McMinnville, Tennessee where he held a similar position. Rutherford’s work history included jobs for cities from Georgia to South Carolina. He is also a credentialed manager through the International City/County Assoc. In addition to his city administrator experience, Rutherford is also a Tennessee licensed attorney.
Crossville Life Publisher Don Napier sat down for an interview with Rutherford in September.
Q: What did you know about Crossville before you became aware of the job opening?
DR: I knew it was a retirement community, and I knew about the existence of Fairfield Glade, Lake Tansi Village, etc. I had driven through Crossville, been to the Playhouse and I had met the Mayor at several conferences.
Q: Where are you from?
DR: I grew up in the Tri-Cities area of upper East Tennessee. We lived out in the country, moving from Bristol to Blountville when I was a baby.
Q: Tell me about your professional life, your previous jobs.
DR: I worked in Planning & Development positions for the State of Tennessee. I moved to Savannah, GA to take a job as a Sr. Environmental Planner, then took a job handling government concerns as City Manager for Port Wentworth, GA, a little industrial town that was under tremendous pressure from the Georgia Port Authority. I also worked as county manager for Effingham County, Georgia for four years prior to taking the job as city manager in McMinnville.
Q: What made you become interested in the Crossville job?
DR: It got me back closer to home. Our grand children live in Smryna and my wife is from Chattanooga.
Q: Why were you looking for a job?
DR: Basically, there was an election in McMinnville and a new board came in November. It was their decision to not renew my contract. I was there for six and a half years. I enjoyed my time there.
Q: Tell us about your family.
DR: I am one of eight children, six boys, two girls. Dad worked in the logging business, a hard-working man.
We have one daughter who is a stay-at-home mother, raising our three grandchildren.
Q: What does your family think about the move?
DR: They are excited about our move to Crossville, still close to them in Smyrna.
Q: What do you think you will enjoy most about living here?
DR: The opportunity to do something new. I like challenges. There is a lot of development potential here. We feel confident we are going to be happy here.
Q: What are your hobbies?
DR: I garden. I like container gardening, raised beds, etc.
Q: Did you ever consider yourself an athlete, then or now?
DR: I played baseball for Sullivan Central, one of the first consolidated schools in east Tennessee.
