Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship is running for re-election with a platform of "Building Ozark Together."
Blankenship said under his leadership, the city has seen more accomplishments than in any other cycle. He hopes to continue that trend.
"We've just gotten started on a sports complex; We've got some big projects on our airport that we're working on; There's another development on 231," Blankenship told 1819 News. "Just a lot of good things in the works, and I just feel like I got the energy to keep doing it, and I want to keep working at it."
Other accomplishments include the addition of 21 retail businesses, airport improvements, a military flag program, a mural program, Christmas decoration enhancements, entertainment district expansion, an indoor pickleball complex, a downtown farmer's market and other quality-of-life projects.
Before becoming mayor, Blankenship served as chairman of the Dale County Commission and on the Ozark City Council. After 20 years with Southern Company and owning a construction company, Blankenship said he has the skills to move Ozark forward.
"It's just – it's an easy job for me," he said. "I enjoy doing it. When I was doing construction, I did developments and those kind of things, and so this just makes it easy when we're looking at doing all the things that have to be done. It's easy for me and I'm competitive."
Blankenship said Ozark's biggest challenge is housing. He said the lay of the land and people's unwillingness to sell their property leads to a tough market.
Blankenship and his wife, Lori, have two children and seven grandchildren. Blankenship hopes to continue fostering growth in Ozark so his grandchildren can grow up and thrive in the area.
Municipal elections will be on August 26.
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