CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Jeff Bryant Jr. has won a three-way race to become Montgomery County’s next Highway Supervisor, beating out two long-time Highway Department employees, Bryan Knight, and Stayton Black Jr.

In Thursday night’s election, Bryant took 47.8% of the vote, Knight 38.3%, and Black 13.8%. Bryant beat Knight by 1,902 votes.

“I ran on modernizing the Highway Department, not being just a maintenance department or just repaving roads. With our growth, we’ve got to make sure that we have someone that can identify areas of need and improve our roads, and I think the citizens of Montgomery County agree with that message,” Bryant said in his acceptance speech at Ruby Cora in Adams.

Bryant won the Republican Primary in March, becoming the local GOP nominee for the position. He has a degree in engineering from the University of Tennessee-Martin and a Tennessee State Professional Engineer License. He formerly worked for DBS and Associates Engineering and is project manager at the Clarksville Street Department.

Bryant thanked his campaign team and voters, along with his family.

In an emailed comments, to Clarksville Now, he also said, “Finally, I want to thank my opponents, who both ran hard-working, positive campaigns. They have dedicated their lives to the Highway Department, and I know that together we’ll make it even stronger.”

Black has over 30 years of combined experience in construction, maintenance, and management, with 23 years in the Highway Department.

Knight has worked at the Highway Department for over 25 years and has been in a leadership position there for seven years.

Both Black and Knight congratulated Bryant and said they look forward to working with him.

The Montgomery County Highway Supervisor position came open when Mike Frost decided not to run for re-election after serving in that role for 14 years. Not long after, Frost died June 21 at age 67.

Bryant will take office Sept. 1

MORE: Montgomery County election results

Jariel Jimenez and Lee Erwin contributed to this report.

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