Hammond seeks re-election to Oak Ridge City Council

The Rev. Derrick Hammond is seeking re-election to the Oak Ridge City Council in the Nov. 5 municipal election.

Hammond, who has served as pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church since 2014, was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Oak Ridge City Council in 2018. He was elected without opposition in a special election later that year and was reelected in 2020.

“As City Council looks to the future, my priorities will be continuing the city’s support for our excellent public schools, ensuring that our residents have the affordable housing we need, and building our community relationships – among the faith, nonprofit, business, education and civic communities - so that all are engaged for the good of the community,” he said in the news release announcing his candidacy.

During his service on City Council and through his community involvement, Hammond has demonstrated a commitment to economic and community development. He said that the city’s “economic endgame” must be a walkable, mixed-use downtown area, and he is committed to making progress toward that goal.

“In addition, my top priority will be to ensure disadvantaged and disenfranchised citizens are beneficiaries of the growth, as well,” he said. “As I often say, when we say, ‘Oak Ridge is moving forward,’ I want us to mean that all of Oak Ridge is moving forward.”

He added, “I firmly believe that Oak Ridge is destined to be a premier community for young families and retirees alike – a place where every citizen is integrated into the life of the community and is an equal participant.”

On City Council, Hammond has been instrumental in several affordable housing and community development projects valued at more than $20 million. He said he believes Oak Ridge must continue to sustain momentum in affordable housing, in bringing public areas of the city into ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance, and in identifying a safe public space for youth and young adults to hang out.

He said in the news release that he will continue to serve as a strong voice for equity and justice in the community.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of Oak Ridge on the City Council. I am seeking re-election to continue my commitment to work hard to make Oak Ridge the best it can be and to ensure that all citizens have a voice in the future of our community,” Hammond stated.

In addition to his pastoral duties, he is heavily engaged in local and surrounding community affairs. He has served as a board member of many organizations, including the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation, Emory Valley Center, United Way of Anderson County, and National Issues Forum Institute.

He currently serves as chair of the Methodist Medical Center Advisory Board. He has also served with the East Tennessee Economic Council, Oak Ridge Ministerial Association, as an adjunct professor at Tennessee Technological University, and a faculty member of the Kettering Foundation’s Deliberative Dialogue Institute.

Hammond holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Auburn University. During his time in school, he served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserves as a chemical operations specialist. He also completed the dual master’s degree program at Samford University, earning a Master of Divinity and a Master of Business Administration. In 2013, he received national accreditation as a Certified Church Administrator (CCA) by the National Association of Church Business Administration.

He is married to Davyda, his wife of 25 years, and they have two beautiful children, Ruth, a doctoral student at Florida International University in Miami, and Alexis, who works at an engineering firm in Orlando, Florida. Both are graduates of Oak Ridge High School

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Hammond seeks re-election to Oak Ridge City Council