Updated with comments from Keri Lovato.
CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Half of the seats on the City Council were up for election this week, with only one race going uncontested.
Ward 3
Carlos Peters defeated Josh Wikholm to win the Ward 3 seat, 60.1% to 39.1%.
“It’s been a long hard fight, and I am just glad it’s going the way it’s been going,” Peters told Clarksville Now.
“There are so many expectations when you are walking through neighborhoods and knocking on doors, talking to people, you find out so much that you really didn’t realize was going on in people’s neighborhoods, so you kind of get a new perspective and a new focus on what needs to be done.”
As for what he wants to accomplish, he said he wants “to make sure that when we rebuild in the areas where the tornados went through, that we build smart. Sidewalks for the school and stuff like that is things I need to focus on.”
Ward 5
Ambar Marquis won re-election to City Council Ward 5, defeating Randall McDonald, 58.9% to 40.5%.
It was a tough campaign for her, she said. “There was a lot of campaign fatigue, because this election was more than just your average election, (people were) considering the national level as well. For many it came down to national stuff. Even though the city council doesn’t deal with a lot of those issues, people still wanted to know your opinions on the national level as well. That was also a big factor in this race.”
When asked what she would like to accomplish in her next term, Marquis said, “We’re working on a traffic signal here that is supposed to be happening on Peachers Mill. (And) to help with the safety measures in the ward as well. I’m following through with a couple of other projects that will take place here. I know with the RPC we’re supposed to be doing a code rewrite with housing and construction. I would like to see that improved to today’s standards, and that we do something about our tree canopy in Clarksville as well. And make sure it aids in affordability for homes as well.”
Ward 8
Jerry Haywood took 32.8% of the vote to win a competitive four-way race for City Council Ward 8. His challengers were Dwight Jemison (with 23.9%), Kyong Dawson (21.9%) and Faye Rennell Morales (20.9%)
Haywood told Clarksville Now he felt excited to serve Ward 8. “I’ve never run for anything before, election or public office wise. This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said.
He said he rose above the pack by spending a lot of time in the community. “I got to know people and talk to people about what they were seeing and what they wanted changed like a lot of public safety issues.”
On what’s next, he said, “I want to get in and figure out where I sit. And then, I want to know where Ward 8 stands on any projects and if we have any find out where we are at on those projects.”
Ward 9
Jimmy Brown won a four-way race for the Ward 9 council seat, a council position he’s run for previously. “It was exciting. It’s been a long time coming, and a lot of work has been put into this. I felt humbled and grateful for those people that put their trust in me.”
Brown had 38.5% of the vote. His competitors included Rodney Davis (25.7%), Bridget Childs (19.9%) and Keymonta Epps (15.5%).
As for what separated him from his opponents, he said, “my experience being a public servant and having that experience of knowing how those things work, and being able to talk to people and making contact with the citizens out there.”
Going forward he said he wants to “make sure the funding goes where it needs to go to, like our roads. The citizens expect it, and we want the money going where it is supposed to be. Nobody wants to pay more taxes, so we have to manage what we do have.”
Ward 12
Keri Lovato won election to return to the Ward 12 seat, after being appointed by the Council to fill an unexpired term. She had 40.4% of the vote. Her challengers were Dave Bilan (27.9%) and Zoyie Jackson (31.1%).
Lovato thanked her supporters for their help. “I am really grateful for the community who rallied behind me and for everyone who helped me through the process.”
She said experience is what set her apart from the other candidates. “I have already been on the City Council position for over a year. I had a bit more insight into what makes the city run, and I have been building those relationships with our constituents. I think our messages and goals were very similar, but I think the experience is the biggest part.”
As for what’s next, she said, “Public safety is still one of my bigger concerns specifically in regard to our police officers and fire departments making sure they have the funding to support their departments and give them the resources they need to keep us safe. Another big thing is infrastructure needs, including road improvements, widening roads and making sure they are safe.”
Other races
In Ward 4, former Councilman Tim Chandler ran unopposed in Ward 4 and will be sworn in with the others in January. City Judge Charles Smith also ran unopposed.
With half of the council seats on the ballot this cycle, the remaining council seats and city mayor will be on the ballot in 2026.
Lily Russell, Curtis LeBlanc, Christian Brown and Chris Smith contributed to this report.
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