Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Oakland Board of Mayor and Aldermen Election 2026

3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 7 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 12 days left

Find where to vote Check your registration

Early voting ends (Oct 29): the election office's notice

These 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.

Alderman Position 1

1 seat

Alderman Position 2

1 seat

Alderman Position 3

1 seat

Each of the three aldermanic positions up for election is a separate contest, and voters choose one candidate in each. The mayor and Positions 4 and 5 are not on this ballot.

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.

Governor
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
Official candidate list, in its order
U.S. Senate
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
Official candidate list, in its order
U.S. HouseDistrict 9 (96% of Oakland residents) · District 8 (4%)
Tennessee House of RepresentativesDistrict 94
Statewide measures3 on the ballot: the state's official explanations

Official voter lookup State voter guide Vote411 (League of Women Voters)

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.

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

What the next council decides

01Property tax and the town budget3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn June 2026 the board raised the property tax levy by 20 cents on a 3-2 vote and adopted the FY27 budget.

What's on the tableThe next board will set the tax rate and budget each year and decide what the added revenue pays for.

The first reading of the 20-cent increase set the FY27 property tax rate at .8342 and passed 3-2. Oakland Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, June 10, 2026 · Jun 10, 2026
Town Manager Ellis said the 20-cent increase would balance the FY27 General Fund budget. Oakland Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, June 29, 2026 · Jun 29, 2026
The finance director said a 20-cent increase would generate approximately a million dollars. Oakland Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, June 10, 2026 · Jun 10, 2026

02Growth, rezoning and mobile homes2 sourced facts

Where it standsA moratorium on mobile homes and mobile home parks runs to February 2027, and the board has adopted a lot-size policy for residential rezonings.

What's on the tableThe next board will vote on rezoning requests, the mobile home zoning rules and development approvals.

Resolution 26-42 extended the mobile home and mobile home park moratorium by six months, until February 2027, to allow more time to finalize the zoning documents. Oakland Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, July 16, 2026 · Jul 16, 2026
Resolution 26-43 sets the standard that the town will not support residential rezonings with lots smaller than the R-1 minimum of 15,000 square feet. Oakland Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, July 16, 2026 · Jul 16, 2026

03Water rates and meters2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe board cut the residential water minimum charge and approved a water meter replacement contract in July 2026.

What's on the tableThe next board will oversee the meter upgrade and set future water and sewer rates.

Ordinance 26-06 reduces the water minimum charge from $15.47 to $7.98 and the minimum usage from 2,500 gallons to 1,000 for customers inside town limits. Oakland Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, July 16, 2026 · Jul 16, 2026
Resolution 26-44 awarded the water meter replacement program to Core and Main in the amount of $2,883,094.86. Oakland Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, July 16, 2026 · Jul 16, 2026

04Industrial Development Board funding2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe FY27 budget includes funding for the town's Industrial Development Board.

What's on the tableThe next board will decide whether to keep paying for the Industrial Development Board's consultant and legal costs.

The FY27 budget allocates $72,000 for consultant services and $10,000 for legal services for the Industrial Development Board. Oakland Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, June 10, 2026 · Jun 10, 2026
Alderman LaBudde said there were things that could be cut, such as the IDB funding and street paving. Oakland Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, June 10, 2026 · Jun 10, 2026

1 note on these statements

The aldermen in Positions 1, 2 and 3 have terms expiring in 2026, and the town lists Position 4 as vacant. Town of Oakland

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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. Should Oakland raise the property tax rate to cover budget needs?
2. Should Oakland refuse residential rezonings that allow lots smaller than 15,000 square feet?
3. Should Oakland keep its pause on new mobile homes and mobile home parks?
4. Should Oakland keep lowering the minimum water charge for small users?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Early voting beginsFayette County Election OfficeOct 14, 2026
Early voting endsFayette County Election OfficeOct 29, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM)Fayette County Election OfficeNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Marilyn Austin, Adrian Wiggins3 on this ballot

5 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen is made up of the mayor and five aldermen, who hold numbered positions one through five and are elected at large. Town of Oakland Charter (MTAS)
The mayor presides at meetings and votes only to break a tie. Town of Oakland Charter (MTAS)
In November 2026, aldermen for Positions 1, 2 and 3 are elected to four-year terms; the mayor and Positions 4 and 5 are elected in November 2028. Town of Oakland Charter (MTAS)

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