FranklinNot a ballot

Franklin · On the record

How the council voted

Every recorded council vote in this guide where two or more of the people we profile voted, side by side. Each line was checked against the meeting minutes it links to. Only candidates and members with a page in this guide are listed; open the minutes for the full roll call.

Franklin voter guide

City budget

Jun 9, 2025

Appropriating $90,575,442 for city government in fiscal year 2026

Result as recorded: passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent

  • YesLinwood W. JohnsonVoted yes on appropriating $90,575,442 for city government in fiscal year 2026 (passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent).
  • YesMark R. KitchenVoted yes on appropriating $90,575,442 for city government in fiscal year 2026 (passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent).
  • YesPaul E. KaplanVoted yes on appropriating $90,575,442 for city government in fiscal year 2026 (passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent).
  • YesWynndolyn H. CopelandVoted yes on appropriating $90,575,442 for city government in fiscal year 2026 (passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent).

Franklin City Council minutes, June 9, 2025 · Jun 9, 2025Link

City manager hiring

Jan 28, 2026

A motion to discuss hiring procedures for city manager and city attorney before hiring

Result as recorded: failed 2-5, January 2026

  • YesGregory McLemoreMoved and voted yes on a motion to discuss hiring procedures for city manager and city attorney before hiring (failed 2-5, January 2026).
  • YesLinwood W. JohnsonVoted yes on a motion to discuss hiring procedures for city manager and city attorney before hiring (failed 2-5, January 2026).
  • NoMark R. KitchenVoted no on a motion to discuss hiring procedures for city manager and city attorney before hiring (failed 2-5, January 2026).
  • NoPaul E. KaplanVoted no on a motion to discuss hiring procedures for city manager and city attorney before hiring (failed 2-5, January 2026).
  • NoRichard GrizzardVoted no on a motion to discuss hiring procedures for city manager and city attorney before hiring (failed 2-5, January 2026).
  • NoWynndolyn H. CopelandVoted no on a motion to discuss hiring procedures for city manager and city attorney before hiring (failed 2-5, January 2026).

Franklin City Council minutes, January 28, 2026 · Jan 28, 2026Link

Feb 4, 2026

A motion to accept Brian Thrower's signed contract as city manager

Result as recorded: failed 3-4, February 2026

  • YesMark R. KitchenMoved and voted yes on a motion to accept Brian Thrower's signed contract as city manager (failed 3-4, February 2026).
  • YesPaul E. KaplanVoted yes on a motion to accept Brian Thrower's signed contract as city manager (failed 3-4, February 2026).
  • YesRichard GrizzardVoted yes on a motion to accept Brian Thrower's signed contract as city manager (failed 3-4, February 2026).
  • NoGregory McLemoreVoted no on a motion to accept Brian Thrower's signed contract as city manager (failed 3-4, February 2026).
  • NoLinwood W. JohnsonVoted no on a motion to accept Brian Thrower's signed contract as city manager (failed 3-4, February 2026).
  • NoWynndolyn H. CopelandVoted no on a motion to accept Brian Thrower's signed contract as city manager (failed 3-4, February 2026).

Franklin City Council special called meeting minutes, February 4, 2026 · Feb 4, 2026Link

Feb 4, 2026

Asking former City Manager Rosylen Oglesby whether she would return to the job

Result as recorded: passed 6-1, February 2026

  • YesGregory McLemoreMoved and voted yes on asking former City Manager Rosylen Oglesby whether she would return to the job (passed 6-1, February 2026).
  • YesLinwood W. JohnsonVoted yes on asking former City Manager Rosylen Oglesby whether she would return to the job (passed 6-1, February 2026).
  • YesPaul E. KaplanVoted yes on asking former City Manager Rosylen Oglesby whether she would return to the job (passed 6-1, February 2026).
  • YesRichard GrizzardVoted yes on asking former City Manager Rosylen Oglesby whether she would return to the job (passed 6-1, February 2026).
  • YesWynndolyn H. CopelandVoted yes on asking former City Manager Rosylen Oglesby whether she would return to the job (passed 6-1, February 2026).
  • NoMark R. KitchenVoted no on asking former City Manager Rosylen Oglesby whether she would return to the job (passed 6-1, February 2026).

Franklin City Council special called meeting minutes, February 4, 2026 · Feb 4, 2026Link

School funding

Feb 23, 2026

A budget amendment appropriating about $421,000 in added grant funding for Franklin City Public Schools

Result as recorded: passed 6-1, February 2026

  • YesGregory McLemoreVoted yes on a budget amendment appropriating about $421,000 in added grant funding for Franklin City Public Schools (passed 6-1, February 2026).
  • YesLinwood W. JohnsonVoted yes on a budget amendment appropriating about $421,000 in added grant funding for Franklin City Public Schools (passed 6-1, February 2026).
  • YesPaul E. KaplanVoted yes on a budget amendment appropriating about $421,000 in added grant funding for Franklin City Public Schools (passed 6-1, February 2026).
  • YesRichard GrizzardVoted yes on a budget amendment appropriating about $421,000 in added grant funding for Franklin City Public Schools (passed 6-1, February 2026).
  • YesWynndolyn H. CopelandVoted yes on a budget amendment appropriating about $421,000 in added grant funding for Franklin City Public Schools (passed 6-1, February 2026).
  • NoMark R. KitchenVoted no on a budget amendment appropriating about $421,000 in added grant funding for Franklin City Public Schools (passed 6-1, February 2026).

Franklin City Council minutes, February 23, 2026 · Feb 23, 2026Link

Taxes

Jun 9, 2025

Raising the city meals and beverage tax to 8%

Result as recorded: passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent

  • YesLinwood W. JohnsonVoted yes on raising the city meals and beverage tax to 8% (passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent).
  • YesMark R. KitchenVoted yes on raising the city meals and beverage tax to 8% (passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent).
  • YesPaul E. KaplanVoted yes on raising the city meals and beverage tax to 8% (passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent).
  • YesWynndolyn H. CopelandVoted yes on raising the city meals and beverage tax to 8% (passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent).

Franklin City Council minutes, June 9, 2025 · Jun 9, 2025Link

Utility rates

Jun 9, 2025

An ordinance to increase rates and fees for city electric service

Result as recorded: passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent

  • YesLinwood W. JohnsonVoted yes on an ordinance to increase rates and fees for city electric service (passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent).
  • YesMark R. KitchenVoted yes on an ordinance to increase rates and fees for city electric service (passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent).
  • YesPaul E. KaplanVoted yes on an ordinance to increase rates and fees for city electric service (passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent).
  • YesWynndolyn H. CopelandVoted yes on an ordinance to increase rates and fees for city electric service (passed 5-0, June 2025; two members absent).

Franklin City Council minutes, June 9, 2025 · Jun 9, 2025Link

Jun 16, 2026

The fiscal year 2027 utility rate ordinance, which raised electric rates 7%

Result as recorded: passed 5-2, June 2026

  • NoGregory McLemoreVoted no on the fiscal year 2027 utility rate ordinance, which raised electric rates 7% (passed 5-2, June 2026).
  • NoLinwood W. JohnsonVoted no on the fiscal year 2027 utility rate ordinance, which raised electric rates 7% (passed 5-2, June 2026).

The Tidewater News · Jun 16, 2026Link

A “—” means the line records something other than a plain yes or no (a motion, an abstention, or two votes in one line); read the line itself. How this guide works