People

TML Director of Corporate Sponsorship and Conference Expo Debbie Kluth has been honored by the National League of Cities (NLC) with an award for 25 years of service. 

Kluth was presented with NLC’s John G. Stutz Award for her contributions made to the advancement of municipal government through...

Kelly McKinley will serve as the Tennessee Municipal League’s (TML) Director of Corporate Engagement and Member Benefits, transitioning to the role from her current position as Director of Digital Strategy. 

McKinley began the new role on Sept. 1, 2026, and will be responsible for  TML’s corporate...

Jacky Cagle, longtime East Ridge City councilmember, died Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, at the age of 78. Cagle spent 44 years in service to the city, both on the city council and as a city employee. He joined the city’s vehicle maintenance department in 1976, working his way up to supervisor before...

J. Blake Anderson, the longest-serving municipal judge in the city of Jackson’s history, died Sept. 5, 2026, at the age of 71. Anderson was first elected municipal judge for the Jackson City Court in 1996, serving until his death. A Jackson native, he earned his bachelor’s degree in political...

Angie Carrier has been named the executive director of the University of Tennessee’s Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) after serving as interim executive director since October 2025.  

Carrier began her permanent role on Sept. 1, 2026.  

“After conducting a search and considering several...

Tim Dockery, longtime parks and recreation director for Newport, died unexpectedly Aug. 28, 2026, at the age of 64. A Newport native, Dockery attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga before taking his first role with the South Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Department. He then returned to...

Steve Neilson has been named as the new planning director for Johnson City. Neilson comes to Johnson City from Morristown, where he spent the past decade as community development director. Prior to joining the city of Morristown, he served as Johnson City’s development coordinator from 1995 to 2016...

Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower has announced upcoming leadership changes in the Division of Investigations.  

Director of Investigations Jeff Puckett retired Sept. 1, 2026, after more than four decades of public service. Puckett spent 34 years with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI)...

Dhathri Chunduru has been selected as the new senior advisor of housing to Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office. Chunduru will lead coordination between Nashville departments, build strategic partnerships, guide cross-sector collaboration, and remove barriers to advancing the Unified Housing...

David Queener, Clinton City councilman and longtime police officer, died Aug. 20, 2026, at the age of 68. Queener spent more than 43 years as a member of the Clinton Police Department, serving as the agency’s first detective and ultimately retiring from the position of chief of detectives. In 2022...

Sherry Green, former mayor and member of the La Vergne Board of Mayor and Aldermen, died Aug. 17, 2026, at the age of 87. Green was first elected to the board in 1996, serving as an alderwoman until she was selected as vice mayor in 2000. In 2004, she was elected mayor of La Vergne and served in...