(BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn.)-- Bristol, Virginia City Mayor Jim Rector has been appointed to the Tri-Cities Airport Commission, filling the seat vacated by former Bristol, Virginia City Manager Paul Spangler.

Rector was a member of the Bristol, Virginia City Council from May 1982 through June 1994 and served as Mayor for eight years during that time. In May 2006, he was re-elected to the Council. Rector is also actively involved in the community as Chairman of the Bristol Virginia Utilities Board and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Mountain Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Rector retired from the Washington County, Virginia School System in November 2004, where he held the position of Director of Personnel Services and Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory & Henry College and received his Master’s Degree from Radford College. Rector also attended East Tennessee State University, Virginia Tech, and the University of Virginia.  He and his wife, Ann, live in Bristol, Virginia and have one son.

TCRA’s 12-member Airport Commission is made up of appointed representatives from the Airport’s city and county owners. Rector represents the City of Bristol, Virginia.