Franklin is more than just a city to me. It’s where I grew up, went to school, played football, had my first job, and where I continue to live today. This community shaped who I am, which is why I care so deeply about its future and why I am running for re-election as the mayor of this great city.

 

For the past decade, I have been actively involved in serving Franklin—donating my time on boards and commissions, representing the 6th District as Alderperson for six years, and proudly serving as your mayor for the last three. Before I entered public service, I was an armchair quarterback, wondering why things weren’t getting done or why progress felt slow. It’s always easier to criticize than to step forward with solutions. I saw major companies passing us by and long-standing businesses leaving, and I knew something needed to change.

 

That’s why in 2017, I put my passion to work and ran for Alderperson, giving me a front-row seat to understand the challenges holding our city back. In 2023, I took the next step and ran for Mayor—successfully unseating a nine-year incumbent. That victory gave me the opportunity to build a strategic vision for making Franklin a premier location where businesses want to invest, grow, and call home. And together, that’s exactly what we’ve started to accomplish.

 

The first step was assembling a team of proven leaders who shared my commitment to elevating our city. That decision has made all the difference, helping us secure some of the largest economic development projects in Franklin’s history. Here are just a few of the successes we’ve achieved:

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• Saputo Cheese – $85 million processing facility bringing more than 500 jobs

• Carma Laboratories – New $38 million, 225,000-sq-ft headquarters, production, and warehouse facility

• Yaskawa America – A transformational $182 million investment creating 1,000 jobs

• Modine Manufacturing – $26 million investment with more than 400 jobs

• Microbial Discovery Group – Leasing, finishing, and equipping a new 117,000-sq-ft facility

• Krones Inc. – 240,000-sq-ft logistics center

• And of course… COSTCO, scheduled to open in 2026
   

Before the April 7 election, I will be hosting a series of meet-and-greets across the community to listen to your ideas, hear your concerns, and answer your questions.

 

We have only scratched the surface of what Franklin can become. With your trust and support, I will continue working every day to move Franklin forward.

 

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John Nelson