cultural anchors, offering year-round programming. “The library has events for everyone from age zero to 99,” Mayor Cole observes. “They have everything from arts and crafts to painting, Lego activities, story times, magicians, and puppet shows.” These varied offerings contribute to La Vergne’s designation as the “19th Safest City” in Tennessee, creating engagement opportunities that strengthen community bonds. LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY La Vergne’s trajectory from a small municipality to a regional economic hub comes from strategic planning but also an actionable leadership approach. Mayor Cole’s governance philosophy emphasizes practical problem-solving and citizen engagement, providing insight into how mid-sized cities can navigate rapid growth while maintaining community character. On his approach to lifelong learning and its application to governance, Mayor Cole acknowledges the continuous educational process inherent in public service.“For anyone to say there’s no lifelong learning, they’re not being genuine because you’re always learning new things,” he observes.“There is a learning curve with this position. When I came in, I felt well-prepared, but there’s still a curve you have to get caught up on.” This pragmatic perspective informs the city’s longterm planning, particularly as it relates to essential services. Among the mayor’s forward-looking priorities is addressing the police department’s spatial constraints.“This is more of a long-term goal that I’ll probably kick off but most likely hand off to whoever winds up following in my footsteps,” Mayor Cole explains. “We’re going to have to build a new police station. We’ve been in our current one since the 1980s, and we’ve converted every piece of space in that building to offices. We have officers who work out of closets.” His catalyst for public service reveals a straightforward problem-solving mindset that has guided La 139 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 06 LA VERGNE, TN
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