Tyler

By CASEY KNAUPP
Staff Writer

Local business owner Jason Wright announced Wednesday he will run for the open Tyler City Council District 6 seat, currently held by Charles Alworth, who is prevented from running again due to term limits.

Wright, 34, has lived in Tyler for six years with his wife Carrie and their two daughters. He is owner, president and chief executive officer of CENTURY 21 First Group, a real estate company, with offices in Tyler and Lindale.

Wright said as a business owner, he understands the city needs to continue to be run with a “business approach” and ensure that Tyler sticks to the blue print developed years ago. He wants to continue to stew-ard the city to be fiscally responsible and continue with non-deficit spending. He said Tyler is now a kind of refuge from the economic problems the rest of the nation is facing; he wants to ensure people will continue to want to come to Tyler.

Wright would also like to see the Tyler 21 Plan continue on the right track and see it through to fruition.

If there is one thing Wright is especially adamant about, he said, it is to run the city with business principals, spur economic development and create a good environment for businesses to flourish. He said Tyler has consistently maintained above average economic growth, below average unemployment and continues to be an inward migration community.

Wright, who grew up in Sulphur Springs, graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Arts, communications degree and is a member of Green Acres Baptist Church, where he has taught and directed classes for six years.

He is past president of the Tyler Sunrise Rotary Club and the Greater Tyler Association of Realtors and he is a past member of Tyler YMCA Board of Directors. He is a member of several boards and committees of the Texas Association of Realtors, including its Executive Board, Budget Committee, Realtors Political Involvement Council and Issues Mobilization Commit-tee. He is also a legislative liaison for the Texas Congressional District 1.

He volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army.
Wright claims as a sea-soned business owner and senior level manager, he has the leadership, political, communication and overall professional business skills necessary for effective organizational leadership.

He has been president and CEO of Third Day Ventures, Inc. DBA CENTURY 21 First Group since 2003. From 2001-2003, he worked as a business consultant for the Home Depot Corp. in Atlanta, Ga. and from 1999-2001, he worked as an operations manager for the Enron Corp. in Houston.

The City Council election will be held May 8 , 2010.