CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Three candidates made their case for why they should be appointed to serve as the District 6 commissioner at the informal meeting Monday night.
Christopher Lancia
Christopher Lancia is a U.S. Army veteran of 26 years. He is president of the Night Stalker Association and works as chief of staff and strategy for the Tennessee Department of General Services.
Lancia said service has been the throughline of his life, and because his family has chosen Montgomery County as their home, he wishes to contribute his energy and expertise to the role of county commissioner.
“For more than 30 years, my work has been centered around helping organizations serve people better,” he said. “That has taken me from the Army to nonprofit leadership to my current role in Tennessee state government. Across those roles, I’ve learned that trust matters far more than titles. And that progress happens when leaders listen well, communicate clearly and follow through consistently.
“I’ve spent much of my career operating in complex environments where decisions are not abstract. They affect families, employees, neighbors and communities in real and meaningful ways. Realizing this, I’ve worked to translate complexity into clarity. To bring people together across divisions and to help institutions do what they exist to do more effectively and more humanly.”
Lancia said his approach will be grounded in a simple belief: belonging. “It is the outcome of good governance. People experience belonging when they feel seen by their government, when they believe their voice matters.”
Clayton Rudder
Clayton Rudder is another Army veteran who has worked for 15 years with the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, as well as the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. He is supervisor of Circuit and Chancery Courts and the sergeant-of-arms for the County Commission Chambers.
“I had a brief conversation with Mr. Lancia this evening, and I want everybody to know upfront it was extremely cordial. I had a conversation briefly with Mr. Allbert, and it was the same, extremely cordial. And that poses to you that you’re faced with a good problem,” Rudder said. “You have three gentlemen to choose from, three gentleman that want to serve, and I believe in my heart we’ll do the right thing whatever your decision is.
“Through other conversations that I’ve had, I know that people are opposed to me serving because I do work for the county, and I respect their decision,” he said. “We can part just fine with that. But also, being a county employee gives me insight that a lot of other people simply are not just going to have. They will have to learn. I’ve spent four years here with you, standing right back here.”
Rudder said he has studied and listened to how the County Commission operates for the past four years, and he believes through that time, it has given him a head start to be able to serve the people of District 6.
Randy Allbert
Allbert is the one candidate who has previous experience serving on the County Commission. He is also a local business owner. He said he is ready to get work and try to make a difference in District 6, as well as throughout Montgomery County.
“I’m not a great speaker, I don’t have a great resume, (but) I’ve been in a business-oriented family for 40 plus years, anything from building homes, to skating rinks, apartments, golfing courses, and that’s what I do. I’m a family businessman,” Allbert said. “I have served my community for 45-plus years; I’ve been in the Central Civitan for 35 years, and I’m on the Cunningham Fire Board.
Allbert said all he does is volunteer, which also included experience helping out with the YAIPAK, as well as Habitat for Humanity. “I’m semi-retired, so I have a lot of opportunities to do things,” he said. “I was a commissioner; I was appointed when a good friend of mine passed away that held that seat … but I’m willing to serve with this commission, and work with each and every one of you.”
Allbert said he is a Republican, but he’ll work with anybody, no matter their party affiliation. “We all have ideas, great ideas,” he said. “We need to remember we’re working for Montgomery County, and I am working for District 6.”
What’s next
The County Commission will meet for their formal meeting on Jan. 12, where they will vote to appoint Michael Lankford’s replacement, who was appointed to represent state House District 75 in December, following the passing of the late state Rep. Jeff Burkhart.
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