Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Martin Mayor & Board of Mayor and Aldermen Election 2026
5 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 10 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
Not sure who to vote for? Answer 5 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.
No sign-in. Your answers stay on your device. We never endorse anyone.
How to vote · 11 days left
Absentee ballot request deadline (Oct 24): 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 seatAlderman Ward 1
1 seat- David HartDavid Hart is an accountant and a member of the Martin City Finance Committee.3sourced
- Lori MilesLori Miles is a Martin small-business co-owner and a member of the city Finance Committee.4sourced
- Tony PrinceTony Prince is a Martin business owner and Planning Commission member running for Ward 1 alderman.5sourced
Alderman Ward 2
UnopposedAlderman Ward 2
1 seatCity voters choose the mayor, and each ward elects its own alderman. Mayor has two candidates, Ward 1 has three, Ward 2 has one, the Ward 2 unexpired term has two, and Ward 3 has two.
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 5
- Tennessee House of RepresentativesDistrict 76
- 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
01City manager government3 sourced facts
Where it standsMartin has moved to a city manager form of government; Brittany Newton is interim city manager.
What's on the tableThe next board will work with the city manager and shape how the elected mayor and the manager divide the work.
- The board unanimously approved adding a city manager; the mayor remains an elected position and department directors report to the manager. WPSD Local 6
- Under the charter, the board appoints the city manager, who serves at the board's pleasure. Charter for the City of Martin, Tennessee (Private Acts 2026, ch. 48)
- Brittany Newton, identified as interim city manager, briefed aldermen on the Weldon Building in July 2026. Thunderbolt Radio · Jul 16, 2026
02City finances and oversight4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe state comptroller told Martin to rebuild cash reserves and retire debt over five years, and the board has been reviewing oversight practices.
What's on the tableWhether to follow the comptroller's reserve plan, how to set pay and spending, and how much the board shares with residents.
- Martin had $257,000 in its cash fund at the end of fiscal 2025; the comptroller's plan calls for more than $2.7 million by 2030. Tennessee Lookout · Dec 18, 2025
- The board accepted the resignations of former Mayor Randy Brundige and economic development director Bradley Thompson on Nov. 25, 2025. Tennessee Lookout · Dec 1, 2025
- The board approved Vice Mayor David Belote as mayor 4-1, to serve until the next city election in November 2026. Tennessee Lookout · Dec 1, 2025
- The Finance Committee met about once a year in May during the last three years of the former mayor's administration. Tennessee Lookout · Dec 18, 2025
03C.E. Weldon Building and City Hall3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe board has asked for an appraisal of City Hall and cost estimates for moving city offices into the Weldon Building before deciding.
What's on the tableWhether to sell, lease, repurpose or keep the Weldon Building, and what to do with the current City Hall.
- The Weldon Building was appraised at $365,000, the city spends about $20,000 a year on it, and no related grant funding is available until July 1, 2027. Thunderbolt Radio · Jul 16, 2026
- Aldermen voted to have the current City Hall appraised and to obtain cost estimates for relocating city offices into the Weldon Building before making any decisions. Thunderbolt Radio · Jul 14, 2026
- In December 2025 the Finance Committee discussed exploring a sale of the Weldon Building, which has leak and air-conditioning damage not covered by insurance. Tennessee Lookout · Dec 18, 2025
04Housing and growth3 sourced facts
Where it standsA strategic-planning process gathered feedback from nearly 1,600 residents and put housing among its main priorities.
What's on the tableHow the city encourages new housing and business growth, including partnerships with UT Martin.
- The Vision, Voices and Viability plan used feedback from nearly 1,600 residents and more than 50 planning committee members and focuses on economic development, housing, UT Martin partnerships and quality-of-life projects. Thunderbolt Radio · Aug 7, 2026
- A survey presented to the City Board in September 2026 showed a need for more housing options in Martin. Thunderbolt Radio · Sep 25, 2026
- Alderman Kent Kelso said housing options were among the biggest concerns raised through the plan. Thunderbolt Radio · Aug 19, 2026
05Tourism funding for local events3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe board approved $30,000 in hotel-tax funding for the Grassroots Soybean Festival on a 3-2 vote in July 2026.
What's on the tableHow the board uses hotel-tax tourism money for events and how it weighs future requests.
- The funding comes from hotel tax revenue, which Tennessee law designates for tourism promotion, and not from the city's general fund. Thunderbolt Radio · Jul 14, 2026
- Mayor David Belote and Aldermen Danny Nanney and Jacob Crowe voted for it; Aldermen Lynette Wagster and Terry Hankins voted against it. Thunderbolt Radio · Jul 14, 2026
- Alderman Kent Kelso recused himself from the vote. Thunderbolt Radio · Jul 14, 2026
5 notes on these statements
Kent Kelso is running for mayor of Martin against David Bell. Thunderbolt Radio · Aug 26, 2026
Lynette Calhoun Wagster is on the ballot only for the unexpired Ward 2 term, in which she faces Blake McCollum. Thunderbolt Radio · Aug 26, 2026
Mayor David Belote, who was Vice Mayor and succeeded former Mayor Randy Brundige, is not on the ballot. Thunderbolt Radio · Aug 24, 2026
Celeste Taylor and Jacob Crowe were elected to the board in November 2024. Thunderbolt Radio · Nov 6, 2024
Mayoral candidates David R. Bell and Kent Kelso are scheduled to appear at a public forum at UT Martin on Oct. 8. Thunderbolt Radio · Sep 25, 2026
No sign-in · answers stay on your phone
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 Martin do with the C.E. Weldon Building?
2. A local festival asks for $30,000 in hotel-tax tourism money. What should the board do?
3. What should Martin emphasize to add housing?
4. How should the city set pay for its employees?
5. How should the board share information about its meetings?
Key dates
- Voter registration deadlineWeakley County Election CommissionOct 5, 2026
- Mayoral candidates forum, UT Martin (6:30 p.m.)Thunderbolt Radio · Sep 25, 2026Oct 8, 2026
- Early voting beginsWeakley County Election CommissionOct 14, 2026
- Absentee ballot request deadlineWeakley County Election CommissionOct 24, 2026
- Early voting endsWeakley County Election CommissionOct 29, 2026
- Election DayWeakley County Election CommissionNov 3, 2026
- New terms begin (first Monday in December)Charter for the City of Martin, Tennessee (Private Acts 2026, ch. 48)Dec 7, 2026
The seat math
2 stay (not up this year): Jacob Crowe, Celeste Taylor5 on this ballot
7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.
- The Board of Mayor and Aldermen is the mayor and six aldermen, and holds the city's legislative powers. Charter for the City of Martin, Tennessee (Private Acts 2026, ch. 48)
- The city has three wards. One alderman is elected from each ward at each election, held every two years in November, for a four-year term. Charter for the City of Martin, Tennessee (Private Acts 2026, ch. 48)
- The mayor is elected city-wide for a four-year term, presides at board meetings and has a vote on matters before the board. Charter for the City of Martin, Tennessee (Private Acts 2026, ch. 48)
- The winner of each contest is decided by plurality, and a tie is decided by the incumbent board. Charter for the City of Martin, Tennessee (Private Acts 2026, ch. 48)
- Terms begin at 7:00 p.m. on the first Monday of December after the election. Charter for the City of Martin, Tennessee (Private Acts 2026, ch. 48)
- A vacancy on the board is filled by a majority vote of the remaining members, for the unexpired term or until the next regular city election. Charter for the City of Martin, Tennessee (Private Acts 2026, ch. 48)
- The board appoints a city manager, who serves at the board's pleasure and administers city departments; board members deal with city staff through the manager. Charter for the City of Martin, Tennessee (Private Acts 2026, ch. 48)
- Election officials list no party affiliation for the municipal candidates. Thunderbolt Radio · Aug 26, 2026
Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
See something wrong? Report an error
Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.