Buck Clemons has announced his candidacy for Madison City Council, District 1. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Buck Clemons has announced his intention to seek the District 1 seat with Madison City Council in Madison’s Aug. 23 municipal election.

“I’m running because I believe the world is what we make it and I want to do my part to help Madison live up to its potential,” Clemons said.

“We need to preserve and improve the quality of life for Madison residents by focusing on bringing in new business in a way that supports current residents and existing businesses,” Clemons said. “The city must be considerate of those who have already purchased homes and invested in Madison businesses.”

To recruit new business, Clemons said Madison needs “personnel in place and processes to support them … but none of that is useful without a grand vision of what is possible and what Madison should be.”

“We, as a community, need to explore the idea of an events fairground to improve quality of life through festivals and other events,” he said. “We also need to develop a funding conduit that supports the expansion of sidewalks.”

However, accomplishing these goals will be difficult “in such a fiscally constrained environment. Schools must come first; our roads require not just maintenance but improvements. Balancing these needs requires a City Council that can work internally, with itself, and with the mayor,” Clemons said.

Clemons, his wife Hea-Suk, 12-year-old daughter Kimberly and fourteen-year-old son Michael live in Georgetown Square. Next semester, their children will attend Discovery middle and Bob Jones high schools, respectively.

Buck’s oldest son, Logan, currently serves as an Airman in U.S. Air Force, stationed in Florida. The Clemons family are members of Asbury United Methodist Church. Buck is a charter member of Asbury Riders motorcycle group.

The Clemons family moved to Madison in 2006 when Buck retired after 20 years in the U.S. Army as an AH-64 gun pilot. He since has worked as a business development consultant for the defense industry.

He previously served on boards for AUVSI Pathfinder chapter and Association of Old Crows. He currently serves on Vertical Lift Consortium’s board. Buck actively supports the local startup community and enjoys working on motorcycles.