CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville mayor and half the City Council are up for election in November, and candidates are actively campaigning. To help voters with their decisions, Clarksville Now is publishing their written responses to a series of questions on key issues.

The current Ward 6 council member, Wanda Smith, is term-limited and running for mayor. The candidates for the open Ward 6 seat are Justin Swallows, Charles “Chas” Uffelman and Zachary Walker. Here are their responses on five key topics. The candidates, presented here in alphabetical order, were asked to respond in 100 words or less. Walker has not returned the questionnaire.

1. Streets, sidewalks

Clarksville continues to play catchup in improving/constructing streets and sidewalks. What should be done to speed up the process?

Swallows: Too many Clarksville neighborhoods are still waiting for the streets and sidewalks they need while we continue stretching infrastructure farther outward. We need to update Transportation 2020+, rank projects based on safety, traffic and neighborhood needs, and give residents realistic timelines we can follow. Better coordination with utilities, aggressive pursuit of grants and cost effective in-house construction can help us move faster. We should also encourage development on vacant and underused property, especially downtown, where infrastructure already exists. We can welcome new neighbors without forgetting the people who already call Clarksville home. Their needs should come first!

Uffelman: We are working on “Transportation 2020+” in the year 2026. We should plan for 2060 not 2020! I’ll push to connect a disconnected Clarksville. We’ve made progress on sidewalks, but not all sidewalks connect. We should connect them and create real pedestrian pathways. Like the county is doing with 374, the city should invest in major road projects early to move them up the to-do list. We need more ways to move as a city. We need bus routes that connect people quickly to their work, play, and life. We need a mass transit connection to Nashville to help commutes.

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2. City budget shortfall

Mayor Joe Pitts pushed for a large tax increase to cover what he called a revenue shortfall, then halted several capital projects when the increase wasn’t fully approved. What should be done to address this problem?

Swallows: I attended the City Council meetings where this budget was discussed, and what concerned me most was the lack of understanding. Council members and taxpayers deserve clear information, respectfully provided. Department heads should explain their priorities and show what can realistically be accomplished at different funding levels. We also need a transparent capital plan that separates urgent needs from projects that can wait while pursuing efficiencies and outside funding. Tax increases should never feel like an all-or-nothing ultimatum. If residents are asked to pay more, we owe them an honest explanation of exactly what their money will accomplish.

Uffelman: I was disappointed to see a tax increase coupled with a cut to public school funding in the first proposed budget, and was glad to see we avoided that in the final budget. We should be finding ways to partner with CMCSS to increase youth services and education, not moving backwards. The most important budget is the household budgets of working families. We need to invest in things that lower costs for working people. I’ll focus on affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, and our youth. Much of that can be funded through grants and partnerships with the state and federal government. 

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3. Affordability

Costs of housing are rising dramatically in Clarksville. What should be done to address the need for more affordable housing?

Swallows: If housing affordability truly matters to us, we must let our city be a city. That means duplexes, townhomes, apartments and smaller homes in appropriate places, especially on vacant property downtown where infrastructure already exists. We can welcome more housing while protecting the character of established neighborhoods through good design. We should also partner with nonprofit, faith-based and private developers to preserve the affordable homes we already have. My family started in a $450/month fourplex on Seventh Street. It was modest, affordable and ours. Every Clarksville family deserves the chance to find a nice place where their story can begin!

Uffelman: The city needs to move fast on affordable housing. The Housing Authority has a lot of tools at its disposal such as working with nonprofits and private companies to redevelop neighborhoods with developments small and large. We need more tenant owned housing cooperatives that are much cheaper for working people to actually own their home and work with their neighbors to manage their own property. I spend many nights a year in the emergency warming shelter, and so many are seniors. The housing authority should build more senior living communities for folks who can no longer enter the workforce. 

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4. Higher-paying jobs

Wages have improved in Clarksville but continue to lag other regions. What should be done to improve household incomes?

Swallows: This should be about the quality of jobs we create, not simply the quantity. When Clarksville offers incentives, we should prioritize employers providing strong wages, benefits and opportunities to advance, then make sure those commitments are kept. We must also help local businesses grow and connect Austin Peay, TCAT and our schools with the needs of employers. More than 11,000 students are attending Austin Peay State University. I want those graduates, and our children, to see a future here. They should be able to find meaningful work, raise a family and build a great life without leaving Clarksville.

Uffelman: We make sure every city employee can afford to live in Clarksville. Whether its first responders, parks employees, or bus drivers we have to ensure wages are keeping up with housing and other rising costs. I’m a union member and I’ll support all workers’ right to organize and fight for better jobs. Workers negotiating on their own behalf is the most sustainable way to have long term benefits. We should also look more closely at the tax benefits we give to big corporations who promise to bring good jobs here. If they don’t deliver, taxpayers shouldn’t keep footing the bill. 

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5. Flood prevention

Several Clarksville properties flooded during recent rains. What should be done to address stormwater issues to prevent this from happening again?

Swallows: Flood prevention must begin before another family watches water enter their home. Clarksville needs a drainage plan that identifies trouble spots, ranks projects by risk and gives residents a realistic timeline. Development rules must reflect the conditions we face today, and those standards must be enforced. We should never approve construction that worsens runoff or puts families in harm’s way. I worked downtown during the 2010 flood and watched the water climb Main Street. I have never forgotten it. Growth matters, but protecting people and their homes has to matter more. That’s just responsible planning.

Uffelman: In my life we have had two “hundred year” floods and multiple major weather disasters. Our climate is getting more extreme and our zoning and codes should keep up with the times. That means stronger requirements for drainage in new developments. We need to catalog the many intersections that regularly flood and design drainage for our roads as well. One of the best defenses against flooding is trees. We have decimated our tree canopy and it’s time to go big on planting trees that will soak up water faster and keep our city cooler in the summer.

| MORE: Mayor of Clarksville candidates on streets, taxes, flooding

About Clarksville Ward 6

Ward 6 covers downtown Clarksville, roughly bounded by the Red River, the Cumberland River, the Bypass and the end of Crossland Avenue:

Clarksville City Council Ward 6 (Contributed, City of Clarksville)
Clarksville City Council Ward 6 (Contributed, City of Clarksville)

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How to register, how to vote in November

The State General and City of Clarksville election will be Tuesday, Nov. 3, with governor, Congress, General Assembly, city mayor and half the City Council on the ballot.

The voter registration deadline is Oct. 5. Early voting will be Oct. 14-29.

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Tennessee voters are required to show a valid photo identification. A driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Tennessee state government, or the federal government are acceptable, even if expired. College student IDs are not accepted.

For more information on voting, including registering to vote, go to the Montgomery County Election Commission website, visit their office at 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 404, email vote@mcgtn.net or call 931-648-5707.

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