CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Montgomery County Commission held an election for the position of mayor pro tempore at this week’s meeting, which included two nominations for the position, a passionate debate and some commissioners questioning the nomination process.

A designated member of the County Commission serves in the position of mayor pro tem, who functions as a temporary substitute in the absence of the mayor. But Mayor Wes Golden pointed out that this person would also sit in the mayor’s office if anything were to happen to him to the point where he couldn’t proceed with his duties as mayor.

‘There’s not many opportunities for other people’

Discussion on the topic began last week when Commissioner Joe Smith was nominated by the Nominating Committee for a one-year term.

Commissioner Joshua Beal pointed out that there was more than one person interested in the position.

Commissioner Rashidah Leverett said there was more than one name discussed by the Nominating Committee, and she wanted to talk about the process. “Because it seems right now, we’re just consistently only given two names,” she said. “It seems like we have created just a system where there’s only one or two names (every year) given for mayor pro tempore to represent Montgomery County in the absence of the mayor, which gives the impression of either favoritism, insider politics, or whatever it is.

“My issue with that is that this practice signals to not only this body, but it signals to the members of our community, that there’s not many opportunities for other people, other commissioners to exercise their leadership ability to represent the county.”

Leverett said rotating between the same two people every year robs the county of its growth and its ability to show the different leaders the commission is made up of. She then expressed her interest in the position.

Commissioners Smith, Leverett both nominated

Monday night, after Smith’s nomination was announced, Commissioner David Shelton nominated Leverett as well, which led to a vote after further discussion.

Commissioner John Gannon, who had been serving as mayor pro tem since the last nomination process, said he wanted to clear up a few things. “There seems to be some discussion about the Nominating Committee and what they do, and things of that nature,” he said. “The Nominating Committee goes through and looks at who is on the least number of committees.”

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Gannon pointed out that he has served as the mayor pro tem four out of the last seven years, but he believes his 16 years of experience speaks for itself. “I don’t know why that’s a controversy, but apparently it is. I waited a long time before I got to be mayor pro tem.”

He also recognized the mayor’s role in the process and said he’s going to support the mayor’s choice, and he hopes others would do the same.

‘This is the person that would sit in the mayor’s office if I were to ever become dead’

Shelton asked if there is a way to make the nomination process more transparent. Golden responded that the process plays out in an open meeting, and he believes it is very transparent.

“This is the person that would sit in the mayor’s office if I were to ever become dead, ill or unable to proceed. It’s a very serious position,” Golden said. “I was elected by all the people of Montgomery County through an election process, and I try to choose folks that I believe could do the job and also share my values and vision for the community as a whole.”

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Beal said there are more than two people who are qualified for the role. “For seven years now, this position has bounced back and forth between the same two people. That tells me that you don’t have faith in the rest of us to serve in this position. I’m not saying that you feel that way, but I’m saying that’s how it looks to us,” Beal said.

Commissioner David Harper said that while some commissioners are more than qualified, some cannot serve in the position due to time constraints. “There’s a lot more variables associated with the selection,” Harper said.

Commission election results: Smith narrowly wins

Once the conversation ended, the commission voted to elect Smith as mayor pro tem, 12-8.

Voting in favor of Smith were Commissioners Gannon, Jason Knight, Rickey Ray, Michael Lankford, Nathan Burkholder, Joe Creek, Beal, Harper, Ryan Gallant, Billy Frye, Autumn Simmons and Smith himself.

Voting in favor of Leverett were Commissioners LaTonia Brown, Jorge Padro, Jeremiah Walker, Carmelle Chandler, Walker Woodruff, Chris Rasnic, Shelton and Leverett herself.

Commissioner Lisa Prichard was not in attendance for the vote.

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