CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – In a surprise turn of events, political newcomer and Robertson County attorney Ben Dean defeated longtime District 19 Chancellor Laurence McMillan of Clarksville, who has been in the judicial seat for 17 years.

“I wanted to say from the very beginning my opponent ran on his slogan of ‘Experience matters,'” Dean told Clarksville Now. “But the voters of Montgomery County and Robertson County have spoken. While experience matters, character matters. How you treat people matters.”

In Robertson County, Dean won with 77% of the vote. In Montgomery County, he won by a slimmer margin at 53.37%. With all totals combined, Dean defeated McMillan 14,254 votes to 9,013.

Circuit Court Judge Candidate Joel Wallace speaks at the 114th Annual Lone Oak Picnic in Cunningham Tennessee on, July 30, 2022. (Lee Erwin)

Wallace wins Circuit Court judge race

In the race for Circuit Court judge, Joel Wallace defeated Kimberly Turner.

“I’m just honored the voters of Montgomery and Robertson County chose me,” Wallace told Clarksville Now.

In combined Montgomery and Robertson County totals, Wallace had 14,170 votes to Turner’s 9,008.

“I just spoke with my opponent. We ran a good positive race,” he said. “I am thankful to all the people who supported me. My wife is a teacher at Rossview Elementary, and she spent all summer on the campaign trail; she will be going back to school any day now.

“I look forward to serving in an independent and impartial manner.”

General Sessions & Juvenile Court Judge Candidate Reid Poland speaks at the 114th Annual Lone Oak Picnic in Cunningham Tennessee on, July 30, 2022. (Lee Erwin)

Poland wins General Sessions judge race

In the race for General Sessions and Juvenile Court judge, Reid Poland was the winner.

“It’s been a long 19 months since we decided we were going to run. October of 2020 we started planning it then,” Poland told Clarksville Now.

Poland had 9,675 votes. Merriel Bullock-Neal had 5,011, and James Bagby had 1,549.

“Me, Neal and Bagby, we were in a clean race,” Poland said. “We are thankful to all the people who came out and helped. My wife and I couldn’t do it alone. We are looking forward to rolling up our sleeves and working for this county.”

Chris Smith contributed to this report.

MORE: Final results for all races in Montgomery County election and local results of state primary