Bristol, Tennessee

City Council

The City Council is the governing body of the City of Bristol. The Council consists of five (5) persons, three of whom are elected from three (3) council districts by the eligible voters of the city at large and two (2) of whom are elected to at-large seats by the eligible voters of the city at large. Council members are elected on a non-partisan basis for a staggered four-year term of office. Annually in July, the City Council selects one of its members to serve as mayor for a one-year period and one of its members to serve for a one-year period as Vice-Mayor. The Mayor presides at all meetings of city council and is the ceremonial head of the city, but has no other executive or administrative powers or duties. The Vice-Mayor serves in the absence or disability of the Mayor. As the legislative body of the city, the Council is responsible for approving the appropriation of money and the collection of taxes; the approval of bonds and notes; and the enactment of laws (ordinances).

Front left to right: Vice-Mayor Joel Staton, Councilwoman Margaret Feierabend, and Mayor David Shumaker

Back left to right: Councilman Jim Messimer and Councilman Fred Testa

David Shumaker was elected to City Council in 1998. In July of 2007, he was
selected by City Council to serve a second term as Mayor through July 2008. David formerly served as Mayor in 2003-2004. His primary focus on the city council is economic growth through tourism and the revitalization of Bristol's historic downtown area. He serves on the board of the Rhythm and Roots Reunion music festival and is one of the festival's founders. He also represents the City of Bristol on the Trainstation Board. Believe in Bristol, Bristol Convention and Visitors Bureau, Networks Sullivan Country Partnership, First Tennessee Development District, and the HOME Consortium. David is a lifelong Bristol resident and a former high school teacher. He is now a licensed home inspector, and owns Practical Preservation, a home inspection service specializing in older homes. He is past president of the Twin City Civitan Club and a member of the Virginia Intermont College Board of Fellows.

Joel Staton was elected to City Council in 2005. He was chosen by City Council
to serve for a one-year period as Vice-Mayor in July 2007. A resident of Bristol for
most of his life, Staton is a 1970 graduate of Tennessee High School and received
his bachelor's degree from East Tennessee State University. In 2004, Staton
retired from the Bristol Tennessee Essential Services after 30 years of service
as a mechanic. He serves as Vice-Chairman of the State Street Farmers' Market
board of directors, as chair of the Staff/Parish Relations committee at Anderson
Street United Methodist Church and is a member of the church's Administrative
Board. Staton serves as a volunteer instructor for the American Red Cross and
assists with disaster relief work. A member of the Bristol Civitan Club, Staton is alsoan avid scuba diver and holds the professional level of divemaster. He is married to Peg Tanksley Staton.
email: jstaton@bristoltn.org

Margaret Feierabend (pronounced ‘fire-robin’) was elected to City Council in May
2005. She previously served on City Council from 1994-2001, including a term as
Bristol’s first female mayor from 1997 to 1998. Feierabend continues her advocacy
for children and youth by co-chairing Bristol’s Promise: Youth Networking Alliance,
working with Bristol Area Youth Council and PTA. She works for preservation – for
historic Bristol, our cultural heritage, and our natural beauty of creeks, knobs and
parks. An advocate for strategic planning, Feierabend believes we must “plan our
work and work our plan” to accomplish our goal of keeping Bristol a great place to
live, work and play. Feierabend maintains that positive citizen involvement is the
key to making this happen, especially through effective neighborhood associations.
More information is available at www.margaretfeierabend.net email: mfeierabend@bristoltn.org

Dr. James E. Messimer was elected to City Council in 2003. He was first selected by City
Council to serve as Mayor in 2004-2005, and again in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. He is a Doctor
of Chiropractic and owns Messimer Chiropractic. He has served as president of the Tennessee
Chiropractic Association and was selected Tennessee Chiropractor of the Year in 1992. He is
a past District Governor of Lions International District 24-F. During his 30-plus years of practice
in Bristol he has served on numerous boards and currently serves on the board of directors of
Santa Pal, Healing Hands Health Clinic, Bristol Regional Medical Center and Bristol Life Saving
Crew. He serves on the board of Trustees at Kentucky Christian University. email: jmessimer@bristoltn.org

Fred Testa was elected to City Council in 2007. Testa is the General Manager of
A.H. Schreiber Company, an apparel manufacturer located in Bristol Tennessee. He
currently serves the Bristol Chamber of Commerce as a Chamber Ambassador and
also serves on the Chambers' Counsel for Senior Core of Retired Executives
(S.C.O.R.E.). Testa has previously served on Bristol's Industrial Development Board
and on the Health and Education Advisory Board, both for approximately ten years.
Testa and his wife, Susan, have two children. He is a former studio musician and
still enjoys many styles of music. email: ftesta@bristoltn.org

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