CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – It’s time for Clarksville citizens to reshape the City Council by electing new members to half of the seats.
On the ballot in November are Wards 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11 and 12. To see which one you’re in, look at the ward number on your Voter ID card or go to the city’s interactive Council Ward Map.
Here are the candidates in each ward, some information about them, and why, in their own words, they are running for office.
Council Ward 3: DaJuan Little
DaJuan Little, 31, is a deputy with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. He graduated from Queen City Barber College and is enrolled at Austin Peay State University in Engineering Technology. He’s lived in Clarksville all his life. Little is unopposed for the Ward 3 seat.
“I am wanting to become a city councilman for my community,” Little said. “I enjoy serving the great people of Clarksville/Montgomery County. I always ask what I can do to improve everyone’s quality of life. I want to focus on our community, infrastructure and economy. I lead through my service to the people. I don’t want anyone in my ward to have to guess or not know who their councilman is. I want them to consider me a great friend who they can call on and know that things will get done. I am a man of God and integrity. I will be a councilman that my community will be proud of. I love Clarksville and the people who make us one of the greatest cities in the country. It will always be an honor to serve them.”
For more: www.facebook.com/dajuan.little
Council Ward 4: Tim Chandler, Wallace Redd or Margaret Thompson
Tim Chandler, 65, the incumbent Ward 4 councilman, is retired from the Clarksville Police Department. He graduated from Northwest High School and attended Austin Peay State University for two years. He has lived in Clarksville all his life.
“I am running for re-election so I can continue to represent the citizens of Ward 4 and the citizens of Clarksville,” Chandler said. “During my almost four years on the council we have not increased taxes and have managed to improve services to our citizens. As chairman of the Street Department, I have helped improve paving of our streets and have added more sidewalks. A large sidewalk project is underway for Fort Campbell Boulevard and is in the late planning stages. I also serve on the Finance and Administration Committee, Gas & Water Committee, and I am chairman of the Designations Committee. I have sponsored legislation to clean up commercial businesses in the city. The ordinance will make businesses move junk abandoned vehicles out of sight and keep their lots clean and free of debris and trash. I have always been available to the citizens and encourage them to call me.”
For more: Call 931-206-4617.
Wallace Redd, 61, is owner of Redd Properties and has previous experience on the council, having served as mayor pro tem. He served seven years in the Army. He graduated from Marshall County High School, NCO Academy, LUTC. He has lived in Clarksville for 35 years.
“I am running for City Council to put the people and our neighborhoods first,” Redd said. “I will work for cleaner and safer neighborhoods with better roads, sidewalks and parks. I’ll work to alleviate the traffic going up Boot Hill. I will be accessible to hear from my constituents. I will hold regular and informative community meetings. I will not forget who I represent. I will be fair, open and honest with everyone. I believe in fiscal stewardship and a balancing the city’s budgetary focus to address all neighborhoods’ needs, not just downtown. I’m not afraid to say no, to stand against high taxes, bad ideas and unnecessary wasteful spending. Just as families have to cut spending and live within a budget so should government. … Sunshine laws are put in place for a reason, the public has a right to know what their officials are deliberating.”
For more: www.wallaceredd.com
Margaret Thompson, 48, is a teacher with the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, civilian contractor and victim advocate. She has a Master of Arts degree in Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University, Nashville; and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from California State University, San Bernardino. She has lived in Clarksville for eight years.
“Clarksville is an amazing community that’s been very good to my family,” Thompson said. “Having lived in other cities, I have an appreciation for Clarksville’s charm, amazing school system, and rich history. However, I see opportunities where I can collaborate with colleagues and local partners to make it even better. I have passionately served as an active member of our community as a Jr. Civitan Advisor, on the boards of nonprofits, performing community service with Sigma Gamma Rho, delivering packages to the food insecure, and recruiting Partners In Education, just to name a few. My knowledge and experience will bring innovative solutions to our city that will afford an opportunity for me to serve in a capacity where I can have an impact in sustaining the city’s financial stability while still providing for public safety, a healthy community environment, activities and recreational opportunities for youth, and retaining the town history and character.”
For more: www.facebook.com/Thompson4ward4
Council Ward 5: Joey Dasinger, Melissa Eldridge or Jason Knight
Joey Dasinger, 32, works at Hankook Tire and has a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Bible and Theology from Southeastern Bible College. He has lived in Clarksville for seven years.
“I am running for City Council because any real change that we seek to make through government will be most effective at the local level,” Dasinger said. “In the fight for restoring the principles of liberty and justice for all, no candidate for Clarksville City Council will stand more firm on these than I. When faced with difficult and controversial decisions, I will not pander for popularity, nor will I abstain from voting on these issues. I will not vote in favor of anything that violates the rights of individuals, that will lead to increased spending and taxes, or that will increase the size, scope, or reach of our government. My resolve to hold fast to these principles is what sets me apart as a candidate in this race. I stand for limited government, fiscal responsibility, and individual liberty.”
For more: https://joeydasinger.com
Melissa Eldridge, 52, owns 1-On-1 Care Matters, which provides home care for disabled seniors and veterans, and is a retired licensed physical therapist assistant. She grew up on her family’s farm in the Oakwood community and graduated from Northwest High School. She was enlisted in the Air Force and has degrees in Applied Health Science from Austin Peay State University and Volunteer State Community College.
Eldridge said it is important to keep Clarksville moving forward through good working relationships with elected leaders and city officials. She said she is committed to maintaining safety and improving community resources. “I am running to fight for the concern of speeding motorists in our neighborhoods, lack of sidewalks for children walking to school or bus stops and adults trying to access the CTS bus stops,” she said. “Affordable housing has to be considered for our servicemen and women stationed at Fort Campbell and first-time home buyers wishing to reside in Clarksville.”
For more: m-eldridge.com
Jason Knight, 42, is an Army Reserve Officer and Montgomery County Commissioner. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Austin Peay State University, a Master of Business Administration in Information Systems Management from Grantham University, and is in the dissertation phase toward a doctoral degree in Information Management. He has lived in Clarksville for 12 years.
“I am running to continue my efforts to find solutions to speeding in residential areas to ensure the safety of our children and residents in District 18 and Ward 5,” Knight said. “I will continue to maintain transparency, and provide every constituent the opportunity to have a say in the decision-making process by conducting polls to ensure their voices are heard. I will also continue to fight for individual property rights and will continue to fight to keep property taxes from being increased. I also would like to continue to liaison with local and state officials and with CMCSS on behalf of disabled and any student on an IEP to improve the IEP & 504 plan processes. We have some amazing teachers, educators, and administrators, I myself have three children on an IEP, there is no reason why parents and educators can’t work together to help improve and iron out these processes.”
For more: www.JasonKnight.org
Council Ward 8: Wanda Allen or Faye Hobson
Wanda Allen, 43, is a licensed social worker with Fort Campbell Army Community Service and is an Army veteran. She has a master’s degree in Social Work, a master’s degree in Business Management, and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, all from Austin Peay State University. She has lived in Clarksville for 18 years.
“The time is right for a unique perspective that reflects our growing and diverse community,” Allen said. “My diverse life experiences, educational background and active service in this community to our children, families, schools, military, churches, businesses and government have given me a unique perspective that I can use to facilitate collaborative and inclusive efforts. As an advocate, I use my voice daily to ensure that the needs are met of the people I work with and their voices are heard. I will use that same voice to ensure that our community needs are met and the voices of our community are heard. My goal is to place a continued focus on community activities and facilitates for our children and families in Ward 8. … My goal is to ensure that our infrastructure meets the demands of our booming community and that our resources are disseminated using the most cost-effective methods to make the greatest impact.”
For more: www.voteallenforward8.com
Faye Hobson, 57, is a retired Department of Defense Education Activity teacher and served as director of Child Youth Services on several installations. She received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Excelsior (Formerly Regents) College, a Master of Arts in Education from Austin Peay State University and a Master of Arts in Education Leadership from Murray State University. She is a student at Liberty University and a candidate in the Doctoral in Educational Leadership Program.
Hobson said she looks to take her vast experience and passion for improving the lives of others by working to expand access to community assistance programs, expanding extracurricular resources for our youth and reforming Clarksville’s juvenile justice system. Hobson said there needs to be an emphasis on working towards improving the relationship between those in public service and the community they serve through transparency, and open dialogue focusing on increasing community involvement.
Council Ward 9: Scott Comperry, Christopher Lanier, Brad Morrow or Karen Reynolds
Scott Comperry, 49, is sales manager for Star Countertops. He graduated from Volunteer State Community College and has lived in Clarksville all his life.
“I have lived in Clarksville all my life. Watched it grow. At the age of 18, I fought for ward voting when there was six at-large and six representing an area. I was a volunteer for a while at East Montgomery Volunteer Fire Department. I pushed for the no trespassing signs on our state property, I support Manna Cafe for the work they do with our homeless population. I’m running for City Council because I care about Clarksville, I care about our roads and individual issues of each subdivision. I have a very flexible job that will allow me more time to look at an issue when told by our voters. The voters in my opinion are my boss, so I shall be their voice.”
Christopher Lanier, 40, is a landscape contractor with Lanier Lawn & Landscaping. He has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Austin Peay State University and has lived in Clarksville all his life.
“I have been involved in many things around Clarksville all my life,” Lanier said. “I am running for City Council because I believe it’s time for me to be able to give back in a greater capacity for the people. I am known for getting things done, and I want to use that attitude to further Clarksville and get things done for the people. This is a great city and with greater abilities, and I want to see us move in the right direction. Some of my concerns are traffic, education, housing and industry. I think all of these are attached to each other, and the growth of each helps the other. At the end of the day, I wish Clarksville to be where my children want to stay and raise their families as my wife and I have. I welcome thoughts and views of the citizens of Clarksville.”
For more: www.facebook.com/lanierward9
Brad Morrow, 40, is retired from the Army. He is owner of Bespoke Business Innovations International and is sales manager for Advisor Tactical Products. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Management from Austin Peay State University and is pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching, in chemistry, at APSU. He has lived in Clarksville/Montgomery County for 10 years.
“I am running to represent the families of Ward 9 with transparency, responsiveness and common sense,” Morrow said. “I have no hidden agenda or special interest. I am not one of those people seeking office simply because I feel entitled to it, and I will faithfully advocate for the needs and concerns of all Ward 9 citizens. My top priorities are traffic/infrastructure improvements, managing growth so we do not harm existing neighborhoods, improving public safety through increased support for our police, fire and EMS services, and ensuring that the city government remains as small and efficient as possible. Clarksville is an amazing place to live and work. With the right leaders listening to their constituents and working hard for their interests, we will achieve even greater things together in the years to come.”
For more: https://morrow4tomorrow.com
Karen Reynolds, 57, is a business process analyst at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, and is retired from the Army as a master sergeant. She has a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education from Wayland Baptist University and a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College. She has lived in Montgomery County for 19 years.
“As a civil servant and retired Army master sergeant with more than 36 years of service to our nation, I am running on values I developed during my military career – courage, candor and commitment,” Reynolds said. “My husband, Billy Burgett, and I worked to instill those values in our three sons, one who is on active duty with the Navy. I plan to build a mental health outreach and in-reach programs to support our public servants and shelters assisting the most vulnerable citizens of our community. Through my work experience in project management, healthcare informatics, Veteran’s Benefits Administration and health technology training, I learned to work as a productive team member with people from widely varied backgrounds, to listen well and to communicate concisely and effectively – all skills necessary to represent you and our Ward 9 neighbors on the Clarksville City Council.”
For more: https://www.karenreynoldsvote.com
Council Ward 11: Jimmy Brown, Ashlee Evans or Gary Norris
Jimmy Brown, 48, is a sergeant with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. He’s a graduate of Montgomery Central High School and of Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. He has lived in Clarksville for 31 years.
“I want Clarksville to continue to be one of the best places in America to live,” Brown said. “For that to happen, we need to manage the growth in our city responsibly. Roads: Working in patrol and administration at the Sheriff’s Office, I have seen firsthand the problems we have with traffic and roads in our community. I will work with state and federal officials to leverage any tax dollars available for our community to improve our roads. Housing: As our city grows, responsible urban development becomes more important. Infrastructure, utilities, and school capacity are all factors we need to consider as we continue to meet the housing needs for residents in our community. Jobs: A key component to a strong economy is access to well-paying jobs. I will work with city and community leaders to ensure we retain and recruit top companies to our city.”
For more: www.facebook.com/JimmyLBrownforWard11
Ashlee Evans, 27, is a stay-at-home mother due to COVID-19 and is enrolled at Austin Peay State University pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design. She has lived in Clarksville for about 15 years.
“I am running for office because I believe I represent the average citizen here in Clarksville,” Evans said. “I am a mother, an activist and a humanist. I want to encourage regular and younger folks that they can do this, too. I want to fight for equity for everyone in Clarksville. We can no longer turn a blind eye to the inequities in our city by painting over them with rose colors. We need to build infrastructure that will benefit us in 20 years, not just right now. We need to be prepared for the amount of growth projected for the next decade. I believe in Clarksville, and I strive for transparency in local government. I am that representation.”
For more: www.AshleeEvansFor11.com
Gary Norris, 76, the incumbent councilman in Ward 11, is retired from Red River Block Company. He graduated from Clarksville High School and the Winona School of Professional Photography. He has lived in Clarksville a total of 70 years.
“Clarksville is experiencing an increase in growth, and I believe that working with the City Council and the Regional Planning Commission we can manage this growth,” Norris said. “Growth is good for the local community as it provides more jobs, increases the presence of larger retail stores, gives more small businesses the opportunity to survive, and with the increase of property tax and sales tax revenues, provides more money to the local government. Traffic has become a concern and the City Council is working with the Street Department to address these concerns. I will work with the mayor and City Council members to increase the budgets of all the departments that are working to solve the growth issues in Clarksville. The problems that we are facing did not happen overnight, and solving them will take some time. I believe in the people of Clarksville, and I know that working together we can continue to make Clarksville the greatest city in in the United States.”
Council Ward 12: Trisha Butler, Jon Lockwood, Joe Shakeenab, Guy Stanford Jr., Adam Walker or David Webb
Trisha Butler, 37, is a reporter for Scoop Clarksville. She is served twice in the US Army and was honorably discharged as a sergeant. She earned a culinary diploma from Bidwell Training in Pittsburgh, attended American Military University, and is a sophomore at Austin Peay State University, majoring in History. She has lived in Clarksville a total of about nine years.
“I decided to run for office simply to serve again and do something for the community,” Butler said. “I’m also a huge believer in liberty, the Constitution and civic responsibility. Mostly, I just volunteered to be a voice for the people, to get government power back in the hands of the citizens. I don’t promise much – I’d be one representative out of 12 – but I do promise to listen, care and try. I will fight for the people whenever I can. I have nothing to personally gain from the position, no agenda, no person or affiliation has strings on me. I cannot be bought or sold. Citizens deserve unwavering representation and council members who are accessible and active within the community. Most importantly, someone real who will always put people over politics. I hope to prove to Ward 12 I am that person.”
For more, www.trishabutler.com
Jon Lockwood, 59, is a contractor on Fort Campbell and works as a motor vehicle mechanic lead. He retired from the Army as a sergeant first class and he has a Bachelor of Science in Christian Ministries from Lee University. He has lived in Clarksville for 27 years.
“I am running for City Council because I believe in Clarksville,” Lockwood said. “I believe principles matter. Principles of leadership, accountability and transparency. I am a conservative Republican. I wish to help fund and work with our local police and first responders. I have a desire to see traffic issues in Ward 12 addressed, and have some that are state roads with pending projects pushed higher by our state leaders. I look forward to working with other council members to benefit Clarksville. I’m not looking for a title, I’m looking to make Clarksville a better, safer place for you, your children and grandchildren as well as my own.
For more, https://jonlockwood.com/
Joe Shakeenab, 52, retired from Army Special Forces as a warrant officer. He has a master’s degree in Strategic Leadership from Austin Peay State University and has been a resident of Clarksville for 30 years.
“I enjoy serving in my community,” Shakeenab said. “I’m an active listener and problem solver. I have a strong background in developing plans, managing operations, facilitating training, and accountability. I enjoy learning, helping others, and being challenged – mentally and physically. Leadership Clarksville, Class of 2017, was an eye-opening educational experience for me. Taking a look at the various entities within the city and county, and hearing about their challenges, was thought-provoking. Being a part of the Montgomery County Veterans Coalition and learning of the organizations that work to be a resource, is humbling yet inspiring. I’m ready to give more of my time, talents and resources at the City Council level. I have the relevant education, experience and community engagement to contribute to a stronger Clarksville.”
For more: Go to Facebook, Shakeenab, City Council, Ward 12
Guy Stanford Jr., 24, is a self-employed investor. He has a bachelor’s in Business Administration and a master’s in Strategic Leadership from Austin Peay State University. He is pursuing a Master of Business Administration from Trevecca Nazarene University. He has lived in Clarksville/Montgomery County for 24 years.
“I want to make an everlasting impact in my community,” Stanford said. “I feel that I have the resources and connections to do just about anything that the city needs. I know it will not happen overnight, but I feel very confident that I can fill the void of the community. I will go above and beyond to make sure Clarksville is in a great position to succeed.”
For more: Go to Facebook, Guy Stanford Jr. for City Council Ward 12
Adam Walker, 24, is a representative with U.S. Law Shield and is CEO/co-owner of Cerberus Security. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science and has lived in Clarksville for five years.
“All I want to see is the continued growth of this great city,” Walker said. “However, that can’t happen without the right leadership. We need someone that understands fiscal responsibility, transparency and communication. I want to bring Ward 12 together so I can serve them, not myself. The median age of Clarksville as of 2017 is roughly 29 years old. As the youngest candidate, my drive and determination is met by none. Being this ‘young buck’ will allow me to bring high energy to the City Council and connect more with our residents here in Clarksville.”
For more: www.adamwalkertn.com
David Webb, 38, is a U.S. Air Force veteran. He has a Bachelor of Science in Geographical Information Analysis from Austin Peay State University and has lived in Clarksville for 33 years.
“I’m a conservative running for Ward 12, City Council,” Webb said. “I believe the citizens of Clarksville deserve to have their voices represented by their elected officials. This is something I feel is lacking currently within our government. I am a strong supporter of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I believe that our decisions while serving in political office should be guided by these documents. My goal is to see Clarksville grow and thrive while ensuring it remains safe and its citizens have access to quality jobs, healthcare, government and great education. I strongly support our first responders, law enforcement and educators. Support for these professions has been lacking not just in our community but on a national scale. I promise to always be available and to vote in a manner that represents the people of Ward 12.”
For more: www.facebook.com/davidwebbWARD12
How to vote
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, and early voting will Oct. 14-29. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, voters are encouraged to vote early. Early voting takes place at the Montgomery County Election Commission Office, 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 404. For more, call 931-648-5707.