CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Following former Councilperson Deanna McLaughlin resigning as a member of the Clarksville City Council back in January, the appointment process began on Thursday night to find her replacement, which included seven candidates throwing their name into the selection process.
At the City Council’s regular session meeting on Thursday, each candidate addressed the council about their interest in the position, while also taking questions from the government body.
The list of candidates included AC Lopez, a United States Marine Corps and U.S Army veteran, David Upchurch, a 22-year-old political science major from Austin Peay State University, as well as Deanna Shepard, the senior manager of quality and value-based care at Tennessee Oncology.
| PREVIOUSLY: Steps outlined to appoint replacement for Deanna McLaughlin in City Council Ward 2
Additionally, the list of candidates also included U.S. Army veteran Eric Claunch and Jeff Loyd, a longtime Clarksville resident and Montgomery County’s first-ever state champion in wrestling.
Jeremy Wright, who works in the financial aid department at Nashville State Community College, and Ross St. Louis, who currently works for Dash 10 Media and previously served as a firefighter with Woodlawn Fire Rescue, both made their cases to the council as well.
What’s next
The Clarksville City Council will appoint one of the candidates next Wednesday, Feb. 11, during a special called meeting beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Below are the special session voting procedures as the City Council will look to fill their current vacant position next week.

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