Elections held in four municipalities

Spring elections were held in four municipalities this spring, including a highly publicized referendum on the role of the mayor in Germantown. 

GERMANTOWN 

A special election was held in Germantown on May 5 on whether or not the charter should be amended to give the mayor a full-time role rather than part-time. 

The measure received 5,097 votes against making it a full-time position– roughly 76% of the vote – while 1,570 residents voted in favor. A total of 6,667 voters participated in the election, of some 33,000 registered voters in Germantown. 

The proposal was initially brought forth by former alderman John McCreery in 2022, citing significant changes to the city’s population since its charter was set forth 50 years ago.  

The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen adopted a resolution allowing for the election in October 2024, which was later authorized by the Tennessee General Assembly. Had the referendum passed, the full-time mayoral position would have begun Jan. 1, 2027 with the winner of the November 2026 mayoral election. The mayor’s term would have remained for the same but with a salary set by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.  

LAFAYETTE 

Voters went to the polls in LaFayette for a municipal election on May 5.  

City council incumbent David Kempf will be joined by newcomers Scott Gammons and Lynn Newberry after defeating challenger Peter Groesbeck for the three open seats on the council. Kempf led the vote count with 386, Gammons with 366, Newberry with 350, and Groesbeck and 338. 

Gammons and Newberry will take the seats previously held by Steve Turner and Dale Hix, who did not seek re-election.  

LORETTO 

A municipal election was held in Loretto on April 28.  

Incumbent Steve McMasters ran unopposed for the mayoral seat and was re-elected with 83 complimentary votes. 

Newcomer Louis Andy Etienne defeated fellow challenger Ridge Mattox for the open alderman seat with Etienne earning 53 votes to Mattox’s 50. Etienne will take the seat previously held by John Pettus, who did not seek re-election.  

ROCKFORD 

Rockford held a municipal election on May 5.  

Incumbent Kenneth Arwood and challenger Jim Jamison were elected to the city council, defeating incumbent Matt Hester. Arwood led the vote tally with 98, followed by Jamison with 67, and Hester with 63.