Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Lawrenceburg Mayor & Board of Mayor and Council Election 2026
4 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 9 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 11 days left
Early voting ends (Oct 29): the election office's noticeThese links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
Mayor
1 seat- Roy StoryBusiness owner whose campaign site says he knows what it takes to drive the local economy and create jobs.4sourced
Darryl WatsonBusinessman and former Lawrenceburg city councilman. He says he and his wife purchased Crockett Cinemas and that he has served on various boards and committees.5sourced
City Council Seat 1
UnopposedCity Council Seat 2
1 seatCity Council Seat 4
1 seat- Shane HughesIndependent candidate for the unexpired two-year term in Council Seat 4.1sourced
- Greg KelsoIndependent candidate for the unexpired two-year term in Council Seat 4.1sourced
- Wes OrtonIncumbentInsurance agency owner and real estate broker appointed to the City Council in August 2026. He is a Lawrenceburg native with a finance degree from Middle Tennessee State University.1sourced
All five members are elected at large. Voters choose the mayor and Council Seats 1, 2 and 4; Seat 3 is not on the ballot. Seat 4 is an unexpired term of two years.
Also on your Nov 3 ballot
We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.
- GovernorOfficial candidate list, in its order
15 candidates on the ballot
- Marsha Blackburn · Republican
- Jerri Green · Democratic
- Misam Abidi · Independent
- Dean Brewer · Independent
- Ray Brown · Independent
- David Hatley · Independent
- Wendell Jackson · Independent
- Charles Van Morgan · Independent
- Eddie Lee Murphy · Independent
- Lauren Pinkston · Independent
- Victor L. Scoggin · Independent
- Dave Seeman · Independent
- Karl Knox Smithson · Independent
- L. Webb Taylor · Independent
- Robert C. Vick · Independent
- U.S. SenateOfficial candidate list, in its order
10 candidates on the ballot
- Bill Hagerty · Republican
- Marquita Bradshaw · Democratic
- Tharon Chandler · Independent
- Andrew Gerena · Independent
- Jeremy Dean Hearn · Independent
- Robert Jones · Independent
- James William Macon III · Independent
- Yoshi D. Matthews · Independent
- David Sutman, Jr. · Independent
- Catherine Barcel "Barcy" Whitson · Independent
- U.S. HouseDistrict 9
- Tennessee House of RepresentativesDistrict 71
- Statewide measures3 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.
Already on the council, not on the ballot
Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.
What the next council decides
01Property tax rate after reappraisal4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council approved the 2026-27 budget in May 2026 with the rate lowered after reappraisal, so reassessment did not raise city property taxes, according to the Lawrence County Advocate.
What's on the tableWhether the city keeps its tax rate at the certified level in future years and how it funds services within that rate.
- The property tax rate went from $1.0976 per $100 of assessed value to $0.8268 per $100. Lawrence County Advocate · Jun 1, 2026
- The council approved the budget unanimously on second reading at its May 28 meeting. Lawrence County Advocate · Jun 1, 2026
- The budget projects $18,581,000 in revenues, with approximately $10 million of that generated through property taxes and the local sales tax. Lawrence County Advocate · Jun 1, 2026
- On June 25, 2026 the council approved on second reading Ordinance 1456, adopting the tax rate for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 based upon the actual certified tax rate from the 2026 reappraisal. Lawrenceburg City Council meeting minutes, June 25, 2026 · Jun 25, 2026
02Flatwoods Road data center4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe Planning Commission approved the site plan on July 9, 2026 and forwarded it to the City Council for final consideration, while residents have petitioned against it.
What's on the tableWhether to give the Flatwoods Road data center site plan final approval.
- The proposed data center sits on land previously zoned Large Lot Residential, and the city council voted in January to rezone the property to Light Industrial. NewsChannel 5 · May 11, 2026
- A crowd packed the April 23 city council meeting, voicing frustration to the mayor and council for not providing more specifics about the project. NewsChannel 5 · May 11, 2026
- The Planning Commission voted to approve the development plan and forward it to the Lawrenceburg City Council for final consideration. The Tennessean · Jul 23, 2026
- A resident told the council in June 2026 that the petition against the data center had gathered more than 6,600 signatures. Lawrence County Advocate · Jun 29, 2026
03Springer Road extension and city borrowing4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council accepted a Doss Brothers bid for Phase II of Springer Road on July 23, 2026, and the city administrator reported on August 14 that Springer Road is open for travel.
What's on the tableHow the city pays for and completes the extension and other capital projects, including the land the road needs.
- Mayor Blake Lay and Council Members Robin Williams and Chad Moore approved a $2.8 million bid from Doss Brothers for a phase of the Springer Road project. Radio7Media · Jul 23, 2026
- The proposed route would extend beyond Mattoxtown Road, behind Walmart, and connect to Good Hope Road. Radio7Media · Jul 23, 2026
- Questions remain about the property involved, as the City of Lawrenceburg reportedly does not currently own all of the land included in the project area. Radio7Media · Jul 23, 2026
- On July 23, 2026 the council approved a resolution authorizing a general obligation capital outlay note of not more than $2,500,000. Lawrenceburg City Council meeting minutes, July 23, 2026 · Jul 23, 2026
04Rezonings and zoning rules4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council approved two residential rezonings on first reading on August 14, 2026, and second readings and public hearings were set for September 10.
What's on the tableFinal votes on pending rezonings and how the rewritten zoning ordinance is applied.
- On August 14, 2026 the council approved on first reading Ordinance 1459, rezoning 13.31 acres on West Point Road from R-2 to R-4 for a subdivision named Trinity Cove. Lawrenceburg City Council meeting minutes, August 14, 2026 · Aug 14, 2026
- On August 14, 2026 the council approved on first reading Ordinance 1460, rezoning 53.74 acres at 196 Gimlet Road from R-2 to R-3 for a triplex subdivision. Lawrenceburg City Council meeting minutes, August 14, 2026 · Aug 14, 2026
- The September 10, 2026 council agenda lists public hearings and second readings for Ordinances 1458, 1459 and 1460. Lawrenceburg City Council agenda, September 10, 2026 · Sep 10, 2026
- Resident Elle McCann said the city followed the legal minimum required by the Lawrenceburg City Charter, which includes notices published in the local paper and a posted sign at the site. NewsChannel 5 · May 11, 2026
3 notes on these statements
On August 14, 2026 the council unanimously appointed Wes Orton to Seat 4 to complete Darryl Watson's term. Lawrenceburg City Council meeting minutes, August 14, 2026 · Aug 14, 2026
The Lawrence County Election Commission's sample ballot lists Chad Moore as the only Council Seat 1 candidate. Lawrence County Election Commission · Sep 1, 2026
Mayor Blake Lay announced in August 2026 that he will not seek re-election. Lawrence County Advocate · Aug 22, 2026
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Who matches you?
Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.
1. What should the city do about the Springer Road extension?
2. How much public notice should rezonings and large projects get?
Key dates
- Voter registration deadlineLawrence County Election CommissionOct 5, 2026
- Early voting beginsLawrence County Election CommissionOct 14, 2026
- Early voting endsLawrence County Election CommissionOct 29, 2026
- Absentee request deadlineLawrence County Election CommissionOct 24, 2026
- Election DayLawrence County Election CommissionNov 3, 2026
The seat math
1 stay (not up this year): Jamie Sevier4 on this ballot
5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.
- The governing body is the mayor and four council members, known as the Board of Mayor and Council, all elected at large. City of Lawrenceburg charter (MTAS)
- The mayor and each council member serve staggered four-year terms. City of Lawrenceburg charter (MTAS)
- The mayor may make motions and has a vote, but no veto, on matters before the Board. City of Lawrenceburg charter (MTAS)
- After each general city election the Board elects one of its members Vice-Mayor for a two-year term. City of Lawrenceburg charter (MTAS)
- A council member who files for mayor while their own seat is not up for election must resign at least thirty days before the filing deadline. City of Lawrenceburg charter (MTAS)
- City elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every two years, and winners take office December 15. City of Lawrenceburg charter (MTAS)
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