Early voting cheat sheet: Priorities for Wilson County's contested commission candidates

Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean
·8 min read

Here's a look at candidates who qualified to be on the ballot in contested races for Wilson County Commission seats that are part of the Aug. 4 election.

Early voting starts July 15.

The county's trustee office and Zone 2 constable seat are also contested. The Tennessean previously published a story looking at school board races. The Wilson County general election includes May's primary winners and all independent candidates.

Lakeview Elementary School on Election Day for the May 3 primary in Wilson County.
Lakeview Elementary School on Election Day for the May 3 primary in Wilson County.

District 1 County Commission

Robert Fields, 73 (R): The incumbent seeking a second term won a contested primary against Wayne McNeese. Retired as a sales and marketing manager. Became a Certified Public Administrator through the University of Tennessee’s County Technical Assistance Services program. Wilson County Emergency Management Agency staffing is among priorities for Fields.

Michelle Newton, 43 (I): Works in the insurance industry. Has been active with PTO groups with two children in Wilson County Schools. Competitive pay to retain teachers and preparing for growth in schools are priorities for Newton. Addressing the WEMA personnel shortage is also an important issue for Newton.

District 6 County Commission

Beth Bowman, 41, (R): The first-time candidate is a lifelong Wilson County resident who has lived 19 years in District 6. Has worked as a small business owner, CEO of a nonprofit and is currently vice president of Customer Success in Technology. Bowman ran “because it matters who shapes policy and makes decisions for our county.”

Kevin Graves, 60 (I): Tied with Kenny Reich four years ago for the District 6 seat. The county commission broke the tie, selecting Reich. Graves is a life-long District 6 resident who has worked for the county road commission and the city of Lebanon. “My priority is to voters of the sixth district. I attend all the meetings and I know what is going on.”

District 9 County Commission

Blake Hall, 37 (R): The Watertown High School math teacher won the Republican primary in a three-person race in May. Hall is a first-time candidate who describes a “conservative viewpoint,” and transparency. Schools and teachers and first responders and public safety are among Hall’s priorities.

Sara Patton, 65 (I): The incumbent is seeking a fourth term. Has worked as a nurse for more than 30 years. Priorities are equal services on the eastern end of Wilson County with the Norene and Statesville station directly affected by WEMA personnel shortages. Managing growth with larger tracts on the eastern end of the county is also a priority.

Luke McPeak, 36 (I): The first-time candidate works for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture as a livestock specialist and also farms raising beef cattle, hay and corn. Growth and its potential impact on a still rural portion of the county and services that include WEMA staffing for the Norene and Statesville stations are among concerns.

District 15 County Commission

Chris Dowell, 52 (I): The incumbent is seeking a second term. Dowell retired in May after 34 years as Lebanon’s fire chief. Reopening a quarry that has been closed for decades is a District 15 issue that Dowell considers a priority, along with maintaining the overall county budget and finances. “I speak and say what is on my mind and I’m at the will of the people."

Kevin Mack, 61 (R): The former Mt. Juliet city commissioner (1998-2000) and city mayor (2000-2004) now lives in the Tuckers Crossroads community. Priorities include maintaining quality for schools, law enforcement, emergency management and other county services amid growth demands through efficient funding and the lowest tax rate possible. Working with the state to widen I-40 eastward toward the Linwood exit and beyond is also a priority.

District 18 County Commission

Lauren Breeze, 46, (I): The incumbent is seeking her second term. A certified public administrator through University of Tennessee CTAS and is a certified county finance officer. Priorities: stretching tax dollars while maintaining quality county services with a focus on education and emergency services in conjunction with growth: “At the end of the day I want to solve problems.” Breeze currently serves on  the county commission’s education, emergency management agency and rules committees.

Terri Nicholson, 51, (R): Uncontested in the Republican primary. Presently the Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committeewoman for District 17, which includes Wilson County and a portion of Davidson County. “I’m always concerned with fair taxing (and) quality education and how that relates hand in hand. I'm running for County Commission District 18 for my district, which is a very important race to me.” Infrastructure to address growth is also a priority.

District 21 County Commission

Reece Dowell, 24, (I): The 2015 Lebanon High graduate owns an excavation company. Running for the first time because “people have asked,” with concerns especially related to development and inadequate infrastructure. Dowell also wants to  foster an environment for more activities and venues for Wilson County youth.

Mike Kurtz, 51,June 18 (I): The incumbent is seeking his second term. Kurtz also works as the student services administrator for the Lebanon Special School District and is a former employee with the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office. “I feel like my experience and community involvement has prepared me to help our county, to make good decisions and provide good leadership.” Priorities include water quality for all District 21 residents and managing growth.

District 22 County Commission

Wendell Marlowe, 66, (R): The long-time incumbent and retired Wilson County Schools administrator was uncontested in the Republican primary. "I still enjoy working with the people and for the people." Priorities: the local school district and adequately building staff for Wilson County Emergency Management Agency and the sheriff’s department.

Matt Wilson, 57 (I): Wilson ran for the commission seat in 2018 and finished second in a four-candidate pool. “You won’t find anyone who works harder than I do and I hope to carry that into the commission seat if I’m elected.” Wilson owned a towing business for around 35 years that he recently sold. Better pay for emergency and safety workers and roads in District 22 that need attention are among Wilson’s priorities.

Wilson County Trustee

Jim Major, 77 (R): The incumbent is seeking his fifth term and won the primary over Larnie Lasater. Major pointed to experience; programs he’s launched that helped qualified military veterans and seniors and different ways the county has saved money, including competitive shopping for certificates of deposits.

Charles Leeman, 67, (I): Leeman ran for Assessor of Property two years ago and lost. Retired in 2018 after 34 years working as an appraiser for the state division of property assessments under the comptroller of the treasury. "Through that I’ve learned tax system from a “first-hand basis.” Now substitute teaches and works as a real estate agent.

Constable Zone 2

Jeff Joines, 58, (I): A past county commissioner for 12 years running for constable for the first time. Has 21 years experience in U.S. Army and Army National Guard.

Wesley Winthrop Thompson III (I), 61: The incumbent is finishing his second term and eighth year in the position.

Uncontested seats

  • Wilson County Mayor: Randall Hutto (R – incumbent)

  • Wilson County Sheriff: Robert Bryan (R – incumbent)

  • Wilson County School Board Zone 3: Melissa Walker Lynn (R – incumbent)

  • Circuit Court Clerk: Debbie Moss (R – incumbent)

  • District Attorney General 15th Judicial District: Jason Lawson (R)

  • Public Defender 15th Judicial District: Shelley Thompson Gardner (R)

  • Criminal Court Judge 15th Judicial District: Brody Kane (R)

  • General Sessions Judge Division I: Barry Tatum (R)

  • General Sessions Judge Division II: Jimmy Lea (R)

  • General Sessions Judge Division III: Ensley Hagan (R)

  • Register of Deeds: Jackie Murphy (R)

  • Chancellor 15th Judicial District: C.K. Smith (R)

  • Circuit Court Judge – 15th Judicial District Division I: Clara Byrd (R)

  • Circuit Court Judge – 15th Judicial District Division II: Michael Collins (R)

  • County Clerk: Jim Goodall: (R)

  • District 2 county commissioner: Rick Brown (R)

  • District 3 county commissioner: Bobby Franklin (R)

  • District 4 county commissioner: Chad Barnard (R)

  • District 5 county commissioner: Jerry McFarland (R)

  • District 7 county commissioner: Terry L. Scruggs (R)

  • District 8 county commissioner: Kevin Costley (R)

  • District 10 county commissioner: Tyler Chandler (R)

  • District 11 county commissioner: John P. Gentry (R)

  • District 12 county commissioner: Haskell Evans (R)

  • District 13 county commissioner: Jeremy Hobbs (R)

  • District 14 county commissioner: Tommy Jones (R)

  • District 16 county commissioner: Diane G. Weathers (R)

  • District 17 county commissioner: James “Rusty” Keith (R – incumbent)

  • District 19 county commissioner: William A. Glover, III (R)

  • District 20 county commissioner: Glenn Denton (R)

  • District 23 county commissioner: Jeremy Reich (R)

  • District 24 county commissioner: Dan Clark  (R)

  • District 25 county commissioner: Justin T. Smith (R)

  • Constable Zone 1: Jacob Austin (R)

  • Constable Zone 3: Frank H. Guzman (R)

  • Constable Zone 4: Jenny-Lenning-Faulk (R).

Early voting

Dates: July 15-30.

Times: 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday.

Locations:

  • Wilson County Election Commission, 230 E. Gay Street, Lebanon

  • Mt. Juliet Community Center, 1075 Charlie Daniels Parkway

  • Gladeville Community Center, 95 McCrary Road

  • Watertown Community Center, 8630 Sparta Pike

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wilson County's contested commission races as early voting begins