CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A county commissioner said that he’s going to motion for Mayor Wes Golden to be replaced as the chair of the legislative body next week at the Montgomery County Commission’s formal meeting.

County Commissioner Walker Woodruff said at next week’s meeting, he plans to motion for County Commissioner Rashidah Leverett to replace Golden as the chair of the commission. Golden was nominated as the chairperson going into the meeting, and the position’s purpose is to preside over the County Commission’s Board of Commissioners.

According to county documents, the Nominating Committee makes a nomination each year for who they believe the chair of the legislative body should be. However, Woodruff disagreed with this year’s decision.

| BREAKING NEWS PUSH ALERTS: Sign up for our free Clarksville Now app

“To the public, and this commission, the mayor does not have to be the chair of this legislative body,” he said. “We can relieve him of that duty by letting him take the opportunity to go out and recruit more opportunity, more business for this community.”

Regardless of the result of the expected vote next week, Golden clarified and said as mayor, he would still have to attend all commission meetings.

Woodruff said several other counties across Tennessee have placed a county commissioner in the chairperson position. He said previously, only a judge or mayor could serve as the chair of the legislative body.

“Now, the new writing states that a county commissioner can be chair,” he said. “Folks want a change, and I think that we need to try to give them (that). You can see by the number of people who have been elected to this county commission.

“It’s fitting that next week we should elect County Commissioner Rashidah Leverett as legislative body chair. We shouldn’t be afraid to do that; what do we have to lose. I think we can only grow with a county commissioner being chair,” Woodruff said.

What’s next

The Montgomery County Commission will meet next on Monday, Sept. 14. With Woodruff’s expected motion, the commission will anticipate voting to approve the next chair of the legislative body for 2026-27.

| ADD US ON GOOGLE NEWS: Click here to see more local news from Clarksville Now