Clarksville Mayor · Nov 3, 2026
Brian Zacharias
Candidate for Mayor
Brian Zacharias is running for mayor of Clarksville in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Mark Riggins and Wanda Smith.
Voter registration deadline · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayClarksville mayor pro tem and Ward 1 City Council member, an Army veteran and STEM teacher. He served 22 years in the Army, 12 of them assigned to Fort Campbell.
- Campaign website
- www.brianzacharias.com
Brian Zacharias is running for mayor instead of re-election in Ward 1. Clarksville Now · Oct 2, 2026
Through the second-quarter filing period, Mark Riggins had raised $149,500, Brian Zacharias $12,771 and Wanda Smith $8,285. Clarksville Now · Aug 18, 2026
Where Brian Zacharias stands: positions on the record
Budget and taxes4 sourced positions
Voted yes on the FY2026-27 budget, which set the property tax rate at $1.01, a 9-cent increase (passed 7-6, July 2026).
Council voteClarksville Now · Jul 9, 2026
Voted yes on the FY2025-26 budget on second reading (passed 6-4, June 2025).
Council voteClarksville City Council minutes, special session, June 26, 2025 · Jun 26, 2025
Voted yes on lowering the city's minimum unassigned fund balance from 20% to 17% of General Fund expenditures (passed 10-3, June 2026).
Council voteClarksville City Council minutes, June 4, 2026 · Jun 4, 2026
Says residents should not pay more taxes and that the city's problem is the structure of its funding, not spending.
“Clarksville residents should not pay more taxes, they should get more for the taxes they already pay.”
Own statementClarksville Now · Sep 27, 2026
Police and fire pay1 sourced position
Voted no on asking Human Resources to study a pay plan for Fire and Police Department employees separate from the general city pay plan (failed 6-7, September 2025).
Council voteClarksville City Council minutes, Sept. 4, 2025 · Sep 4, 2025
Performing Arts Center1 sourced position
Voted no on deferring the Performing Arts Center interlocal agreement until February 2027 (passed 9-3, October 2026).
Council voteClarksville Now · Oct 1, 2026
Fire safety1 sourced position
Voted no on first reading of an ordinance requiring fire sprinklers in certain residential dwellings (passed 9-3, April 2026).
Council voteClarksville City Council minutes, special called meeting, April 29, 2026 · Apr 29, 2026
Sales tax split1 sourced position
Proposed that the city negotiate with Montgomery County to raise its share of the local option sales tax from about 24% toward 50%.
“If the city kept 35% of the local option sales tax, instead of 24%, the gap closes in the first year with no rate increase.”
Own statementClarksville Now · Oct 2, 2026
City money for schools1 sourced position
as quoted by Clarksville Now
Said the school system should be the last place the city looks for cuts.
“I think our school system should be the last place that we look for cuts.”
Forum answerClarksville Now · May 8, 2026
Housing1 sourced position
Says he would work to remove obstacles that make small homes, townhomes and mixed-use projects harder to build than large-lot subdivisions.
“I will work with the Regional Planning Commission and Building and Codes to remove the obstacles that make small homes, townhomes, and mixed-use projects harder to build than another large-lot subdivision.”
Own statementClarksville Now · Sep 27, 2026
Flooding and stormwater1 sourced position
Supports a stormwater division under Gas and Water if it is funded and staffed.
“A stormwater division under Gas and Water makes sense structurally, but only if we fund and staff it.”
Own statementClarksville Now · Sep 27, 2026
Jobs and wages1 sourced position
Says city incentives should go only to companies that commit to wages and benefits worth the public money.
“we should only hand out city incentives to companies that commit to wages and benefits worth the public money.”
Own statementClarksville Now · Sep 27, 2026
Past candidacies1 sourced position
Ran for City Council, Ward 1 in 2022 (won).
Own statementMontgomery County Election Commission · Nov 8, 2022
What Brian Zacharias said vs. how Brian Zacharias voted
Budget and taxes
In their words
Says residents should not pay more taxes and that the city's problem is the structure of its funding, not spending.
Sep 27, 2026 ·Clarksville Now · Sep 27, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on the FY2025-26 budget on second reading (passed 6-4, June 2025).
Jun 26, 2025 ·Clarksville City Council minutes, special session, June 26, 2025 · Jun 26, 2025
Voted yes on lowering the city's minimum unassigned fund balance from 20% to 17% of General Fund expenditures (passed 10-3, June 2026).
Jun 4, 2026 ·Clarksville City Council minutes, June 4, 2026 · Jun 4, 2026
Also running for Mayor
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