Q&A with Spring Hill Mayoral Candidates: Matt Fitterer

What is your public service experience?

I was first elected to the Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019 and 2023. I have additionally served on the Spring Hill Planning Commission, Budget and Finance Advisory Committee and Transportation Advisory Committee. Throughout my time of public service, I have focused on public safety, low taxes and controlling spending, effective government, and open, transparent communication with citizens.

What is your private sector experience?

I have spent the entirety of my career with specialty healthcare providers, helping improve patient access to care in their communities. Currently, I am employed by the leading oncology research organization in a strategy role with a focus on bringing cutting edge cancer treatment opportunities to patients in their community. I have bachelor and master degrees in health-related fields as well as an MBA.

How do you plan to work with both Maury and Williamson County legislators as the city grows?

I would love to see state level legislation to improve the special census process. As all of middle Tennessee continues to grow, improving the special census process will benefit many cities. Restoring the state shared sales tax to historical norms is legislation that cities have been pursing for several years, and would have a positive financial impact on every city in Tennessee. Cities and counties will continue to look for creative opportunities to finance infrastructure needs without increasing citizen's tax burden, and I'll partner with our legislators to support these efforts as well.

What is your relationship with the city’s state legislators?

My relationship with both state senators and all three state representatives is strong. Several have supported my mayoral campaign through financial contributions or attending events. All of them have written letters of support for various grant applications and Spring Hill needs when I have asked. We're able to speak frankly about potential legislation and how it may impact municipalities. I've always found them to be receptive to communication across issues.

What is important to you in hiring the next city administrator?

Most important to me, is a city administrator who can translate the vision of the city into actionable plans while maintaining day-to-day operations effectively, efficiently and transparently. The Mayor and Aldermen set vision and direction for the city based upon citizen needs. It's then up to the city administrator to turn that vision to movement. I'll look for a candidate who is a strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills, is solution oriented and focused on problem solving and has a sound financial management background.

What is your take on continued private development within the city?

Spring Hill has three incredible economic opportunities in June Lake, Legacy Pointe and the Spring Hill Commerce Center. Each have the potential for significant job creation and sales tax generation. Currently, sales tax in Spring Hill exceeds property tax by about 25%. These three projects have the potential to triple sales tax generation within the City. We hear constantly from citizens that they desire an opportunity to work in Spring Hill, and to cease commuting north. These three projects each offer the opportunity for corporate headquarter relocation, which would create the employment options that so many Spring Hill citizens are seeking.

What do you think the city needs to be doing to improve its infrastructure (power, water, roads, etc.)?

Spring Hill has to be focusing on relationships and collaboration with both governmental and private sector partners. All of Spring Hill's largest infrastructure challenges are going to be solved in collaboration with others, the projects are simply too large and too complex for Spring Hill to complete alone in a timely and cost-effective manner. Spring Hill's Mayor must have the ability to form positive working relationships with external stakeholders if we want to make meaningful progress on major infrastructure projects.

What is the most important issue facing Spring Hill right now?

Spring Hill has a golden opportunity to finalize a generational solution for our water and sewer capacity needs. The combination of the Cumberland River pipeline (currently under feasibility review) and the advanced water purification project (currently in pilot status) can provide the city with the wet utility capacity for the next forty plus years. Spring Hill and it's next Mayor have to complete both projects. Obviously, roadway improvements are also critical to Spring Hill's long-term prosperity as well. It's unfathomable that Spring Hill's mayor hasn't attended a Greater Nashville Regional Council transportation policy board meeting in four years.

What are your goals as mayor?

A successful Mayoral term would simply be making progress on the challenges facing Spring Hill. There is no finish line for the City and the City will never run out of challenges or needs. The goal for any public servant should be to make progress, improve the quality of life in their community and move the ball forward. We’re stewards of the community; we’re caretakers of the office. It’s our job to make progress and leave both the City and the office in a better position than when we began. Specific to the next four years, success will be improving our relationships with governmental and private partners, and making progress on our various infrastructure needs while improving citizens quality of life.