CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Jason Knight, District 18 county commissioner and Ward 5 City Council member, announced Friday that he has officially resigned from both seats after damage to his home and harassment forced him and his family to move.
Knight announced Thursday night that he would likely be resigning his Montgomery County Commission seat after a series of events forced his family to move from their home on Broadripple Drive in June. Today, Knight said that he had officially resigned that seat, as well as his seat on the Clarksville City Council.
While he continues to live in council Ward 5, Knight told Clarksville Now that recent events led him to the decision to step down.
“I just saw this as an opportunity to spend more time with my family and be a more present father and husband,” Knight said. “I enjoyed my time with both the city and with the county. I have accomplished some great things, from Second Amendment legislation to helping start the process to building a new branch library in Clarksville, which is something that’s truly needed.”
Knight said that he was not ruling out the possibility of running for office again in the future, but would be taking a break from politics from the time being.
“It’s not out of the realm of possibility to run for office, but for now, I just need to take some time and enjoy being with my family,” Knight said.
Knight served less than a year on the City Council, a position he ran for while already serving on the County Commission. In a Clarksville Now interview in 2020 while he was campaigning, he addressed concerns that holding two elected offices would be a problem.
“If a citizen has the time, energy and desire to serve his or her community in various capacities that are not full-time, but part-time held positions that afford them the time to serve, they should be allowed to do so,” Knight said at the time.
Knight was elected to the County Commission in 2018. In 2019, he made an unsuccessful bid for state senator.
Second resignation this week
Knight is the second City Council member to resign his seat this week. On Thursday, Ward 1 council member Richard Garrett resigned following the announcement of two civil lawsuits filed against him by the State of Tennessee for living outside his ward.
The council is expected to vote to select the two interim members on Sept. 2, following a 60-day application period, in which eligible citizens can apply, according to city spokesman Henry Kilpatrick.
The open wards are both in north Clarksville.
Ward 1 borders the Kentucky state line and straddles Fort Campbell Boulevard, extending from inside Fort Campbell to Allen Road on the east.
Ward 5 is next to Ward 1, touching the Kentucky state line and bordered roughly by West Fork Creek, 101st Airborne Division Parkway, and Fort Campbell Boulevard and Tobacco Road.
No action has been taken by the Montgomery County Commission regarding a replacement for Knight; however, the county requires a mandatory application period before voting on an interim commissioner. County spokesperson Michelle Newell said an announcement regarding applications could be made as early as next week.
District 18 runs along the Kentucky state line and straddles Big West Fork Creek.
Chris Smith contributed to this report.
Correction: Knight’s county district is 18. This article has been updated.