CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville City Council voted Tuesday night to appoint Brian Zacharias to the Ward 1 seat and Ambar Marquis to Ward 5.
The special-called session was called to replace former council members Richard Garrett and Jason Knight, who represented Wards 1 and 5 respectively and stepped down from the City Council in July due to issues of residency.
Zacharias and Marquis were two of 13 candidates to who stepped forward for consideration. Both new council members were sworn in directly following the votes.
Brian Zacharias
Zacharias teaches U.S. government, civics, computer science foundations and cyber security at West Creek High School. He is an Army veteran with 22 years of service as a signals intelligences analyst and Arabic linguist.
A self-described political newcomer, Zacharias told council members last week that his military experience would serve him well in the Ward 1 seat. He has cited increased housing costs; support for veterans, active-duty servicemen and their families; and at-home Wi-Fi access as “stressors” he hopes to tackle as a council member.
Ambar Marquis
Ambar Marquis told council members that, having grown up in an urban area, she hopes to help preserve Clarksville’s sense of small-town community through long-term infrastructure planning.
“As our population continues to grow, our residents will begin to lose their voice and sense of community just as those in giant cities have. I believe Clarksville’s growth needs to be looked at with long-term goals and not short-term projects to accommodate current numbers,” Marquis said. “At the end of the day, we have to remember why people are seeking to call Clarksville their home.”
Following the appointment of Zacharias and Marquis, the council went into a non-public session to receive the city attorney Lance Baker’s quarterly report. The two new council members are expected to attend their first full session at the council’s executive session on Thursday, Sept. 30.