Update, 10:40 a.m.: Following Pitts’ announcement Friday morning, Mark Riggins announced to Clarksville Now that he will run for mayor. Riggins is the General Manager of Clarksville Gas and Water and previously served on the Montgomery County Commission.

Also Friday morning, Charlie Koon and Brian Zacharias both told Clarksville Now they are “exploring” a run for mayor. Koon is Senior Vice President for Community, Business and Military Development at Legends Bank. Zacharias represents Ward 1 on the City Council and is a teacher with the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System.

Former mayoral candidate A.C. Lopez has also said he’s considering a run.

The mayor’s race will be on the November 2026 ballot, along with six City Council Wards currently occupied by Zacharias in Ward 1, Deanna McLaughlin in Ward 2, Wanda Smith in Ward 6, Travis Holleman in Ward 7, Stacey Streetman in Ward 10, and Joe Shakeenab in Ward 11.

Previously:

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Mayor Joe Pitts announced Friday morning that he won’t be seeking re-election when his term expires next year in 2026.

He announced the news in an email to city employees, saying will now move on to the next phase of his life after working 20 years in public office. This included serving two four-year terms as city mayor and 12 years in the Tennessee House of Representatives, District 67, according to previous reports.

“It’s an honor to serve in elected office of any sort, but when you get to be the leader of your hometown, that was something I dreamed about when I was 17 years old,” Pitts told Clarksville Now. “It took me 43 years to get there, but it’s just been the best experience of my life. A wonderful season.”

When asked what’s next following his departure as City of Clarksville mayor, Pitts said he doesn’t have any plans, but his faith is very important to him and the Lord told him that his season as mayor has come to an end at the end of this term. “So, I have to do this step before knowing what to do next. I can tell you this, I’m not retiring.”

Pitts was first elected mayor in 2018. He was preceded in office by Kim McMillan, who served two terms, from 2011 to 2018. She was preceded by the back-and-forth administrations of Mayor Johnny Piper and Mayor Don Trotter.

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