CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Candidates for City Council Ward 1 and 5 seats addressed current council members Thursday night in hopes of representing their communities on Clarksville’s top governing body.

Richard Garrett and Jason Knight, who represented Wards 1 and 5 respectively, stepped down from the City Council in July due to issues of residency.

13 candidates addressed the Clarksville City Council in hopes of being selected to represent their wards. These are the candidates that spoke Thursday.

Ward 1

Sabrena Gillespie

Sabrina Gillespie told council members that she is an APSU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. She is a federal employee and serves as president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2022 at Fort Campbell.

One of Gillespie’s primary concerns was infrastructure and quality of life in Ward 1.

“Living in Ward 1, I have seen vast growth, yet there’s so much work to be done,” Gillespie told council members. “Things like infrastructure, and community commodities like parks and a community center would greatly benefit Ward 1.”

Tiffinea Reid-Johnson

Tiffanea Johnson is a clinical social worker, psychotherapist and founder of Remade Counseling and Consulting. She told council members one of her primary concerns as a prospective City Council member is increased walkability and more activities for children in her ward.

Reid-Johnson serves as membership chair for the Community HIV/AIDs Partnership and received a gubernatorial appointment to the HIV/AIDs Center of Excellence in 2017.

“Strong communities are anchored in a sense of unity and tolerance,” Reid Johnson said.

David Boyd

David Boyd has been a teacher at CMCSS Alternative School, Rossview High School, Christian County High School and Hussian College (previously Daymar College-Clarksville).

Boyd said that, as a disabled man, he believes himself to be a in a position to represent Clarksville’s disabled community on the Council.

“To say that I’m not a Black man, to say that I’m not disabled, to say that I’m not a teacher; that would be a disservice to everyone,” Boyd said. “I’m just here to serve the community that I love, and that’s why I’m here.”

Brian Zacharias

Brian Zacharias is an Army veteran, having served 22 years as a signals intelligence analyst and Arabic linguist. He has  a bachelor’s in political science and a master’s degree in secondary education. Zacharias teaches U.S. government, civics, computer science foundations and cyber security at West Creek High School.

A political newcomer, he told council members his military experience would serve him well if selected to represent Ward 1.

Zacharias cited increased housing costs; support for veterans, active-duty servicemen and their families; and at-home Wi-Fi access as “stressors” he hopes to tackle as a council member.

Adolph Dagan

Adolph Dagan is a French teacher at Rossview High School and the owner of Dagan African Market on Fort Campbell Boulevard. He was born in Togo, West Africa. He came to Fort Campbell in 2007 as a military service member and made Clarksville his home.

“I decided I had to be part of this,” Dagan said. “The way this city was growing so fast, we have to be a part of it. We have to help.”

Dagan has a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s degree in teaching. He serves as president of Togolese Diaspora of Tennessee. He told council members he hopes to help local businesses and support cultural diversity in Clarksville.

“The world is changing, and we need to change too,” Dagan said. “We need to be open for culture. We have to find common ground to live together, even though we have some disagreement. We need to accept each other.”

Loralee Childers

Loralee Childers told council members she is a proud military spouse with a love of politics. She is a sales and distributions representative at Gladiator Brewing and the founder of Finders Keepers Cat Rescue, an animal care nonprofit that finds homes for cats and offers resources to help curb the local stray population.

As Ward 1’s council member Childers said she hopes to “effect more positive change for the animal rescue community, who are regularly overwhelmed by this area’s rapid growth without any growth to available services, facilities or funding.”

Ward 5

Joey Dasinger

Joey Dasinger ran for the Ward 5 seat in November 2020. He previously ran for City Council in 2016 and County Commission in 2018. Despite those losses, he hopes to represent Ward 5 now.

In a past interview with Clarksville Now, Dasinger cited concerns for government spending practices. He told council members that he “would like to see how we could best manage our budget and give the taxpayers a break on their taxes.”

“I’ve seen the growth that has taken place in this area over those years, including challenges involved with traffic and housing. I have experience firsthand the rising cost of living,” Dasinger said.

Catarino Guzman

Catarino Guzman settled in Clarksville in 2005 after retiring from the Army. He is married to Valerie Guzman, who previously represented Ward 5 on the City Council and now serves as CEO of United Way of Greater Clarksville.

Guzman told council members he wants to ensure Clarksville citizens are not left behind in the wake of rapid growth.

“Community service is not just what I do. It’s who I am,” Guzman said. “Our city is growing, and it’s going to continue to grow. We need to manage that growth so that some areas don’t get forgotten, but we don’t want to stifle that growth. … The more a dollar circulates in Clarksville, the more everyone benefits.”

In response to a question from Ward 7 council member regarding his wife’s position at United Way, Guzman said he would abstain from any votes regarding the organization so as to avoid conflicts of interest.

Joshua Wikholm

Johua Wikholm came to Fort Campbell in 2012 via the U.S. Army, eventually settling in Clarksville. He has been recognized for his work with disabled veterans by former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and was awarded the title of Kentucky Colonel.

Wikholm told council members he has advised and assisted current and former city representatives, and he previously said on Facebook that his close relationship with former council member Knight, for whom Wikholm served as campaign manager, makes him the best choice to carry Knight’s ideas forward.

“I aim to ensure smart growth while our city prospers, and preserve greenspaces which will promote clean air and water for future generations to come,” Wikholm said.

Friday morning, Wikholm reached out to Clarksville Now to add this statement: “I am not Jason Knight, I have my own platform, which has been shared on social media as well; however, I must respect what the constituents of Ward 5 voted for in an overwhelming landslide.”

Jeffrey James

Jeffrey James is an U.S. Airforce veteran who moved back to Clarksville in 2014. James works with disabled veterans to help secure them assistance. He is also a local Scoutmaster.

James told council members he would like to see a community center and parks in his area.

“I see these basketball goals facing toward the street. The kids are playing basketball in the streets, an I think we can do better than that as a city,” James said.

Alexander Allen

A retired U.S. Army veteran and counselor, Allen told council members he is concerned about the state of public transportation and infrastructure in his ward.

“I will drive through every community, assessing and making personal introductions, seeking information including but not limited to potholes, sinkholes and one-way-in, one-way-out subdivisions,” Allen said. “Safety and well-being will be a top priority.

Ambar Marquis

Having moved to Clarksville from an urban area, Marquis said she hopes to help preserve Clarksville’s sense of small-town community through long-term infrastructure planning.

“As our population continues to grow, our residents will begin to lose their voice and sense of community just as those in giant cities have. I believe Clarksville’s growth needs to be looked at with long-term goals and not short-term projects to accommodate current numbers,” Marquis said. “At the end of the day, we have to remember why people are seeking to call Clarksville their home.”

Christopher Richardson

Richardson is a U.S. veteran and formerly worked for the Social Security Administration. Richardson told council members he applied for the Ward 5 seat because he wishes to return to public service.

“What can I do to help do better around me?” Richardson said. “Our climate has changed, our government has shifted. We’ve done a lot of things. If I could be anything, I’d like to be a voice of reason.”

Current Council members will vote on candidates Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 4:30 p.m. at City Council Chambers.