The last big race: Candidate qualifying wraps ahead of Nov. 8 Clarksville City Election

It's already been a busy election year, but Clarksville and Montgomery County officials are in the homestretch.

The Nov. 8 State General and Clarksville City elections are all that remains on the calendar as local voters prepare to head to the polls for the third and final time this year.

The candidate qualifying deadline passed at noon on Thursday.

This time around, voters will decide who will be the next Clarksville mayor as well as several city council seats. There are open spots in city wards 1, 2, 5 (unexpired term), 6, 7, 10 and 11.

At the state level, Montgomery County voters will help choose the next Tennessee governor and 7th District congressman, plus the District 23 state senator and state House representatives for districts 67, 68, and 75.

And then there are questions, such as whether to allow liquor by the drink to be sold in Montgomery County restaurants outside of the Clarksville City limits.

The Nov. 8 ballot will include a referendum on that topic, authorized in March by two-thirds majority vote of the county commission.

While local voter turnout in the first two elections of the year has been low, Elizabeth Black, local administrator of elections, says the third and final election should draw the most voter interest, based on history.

Change is coming:Who's staying and going on the Montgomery County Commission after election

Primaries:Results from State Primary and Montgomery County General Election

“November elections typically yield the largest voter turnout in any election year,” Black said, noting that there's still some time left for voters to get in on the action.

Voter registration deadline for the Nov. 8 election is Oct. 11.

Early voting is planned for Oct. 19-Nov. 3.

Reach Jimmy Settle at jimmysettle@theleafchronicle.com or 931-245-0247. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to TheLeafChronicle.com.

Who's running in Clarksville election

Here’s a preview of what's coming up on the ballot:

Clarksville Mayor

Joe Pitts

David D. Allen

A.C. “Big Sarge” Lopez

Tere Anne Kangas had picked up paperwork but qualification was pending as of press time for this story.

City Council Ward 1

Brian Zacharias

David Boyd II had picked up paperwork but qualification was pending.

City Council Ward 2

William F. Cody and Vondell Richmond have picked up paperwork but qualification was pending.

City Council Ward 5 (unexpired term)

Ambar Marquis had picked up paperwork but qualification was pending.

City Council Ward 6

Wanda Smith

Flora B. Awuku

Christopher Lamar Jones Sr. had picked up paperwork but qualification was pending.

City Council Ward 7

Travis A. Holleman

Garrett Rye

City Council Ward 10

Stacey Streetman 

Donald W. Pertzborn

City Council Ward 11

Joe Shakeenab