Spring Hill Mayoral Race Intensifies

There are still a few weeks left for prospective candidates to turn in the required petition with 25 signatures from city residents. The deadline is noon Jan. 15 to the Maury County Election Commission...

From The Tennessean

UPDATE: From The Columbia Daily Herald

Spring Hill has two candidates in the race for mayor in the April 9 city elections, but neither is incumbent Mayor Danny Leverette.



Alderman Michael Dinwiddie recently qualified to run in the mayoral race, and Spring Hill Chamber President Cindy Jobe qualified in October. Leverette said he expects to be making a decision this week.

"I give it thought every day," Leverette said. "Yeah, there have been a few bumps in the road. But we have made tremendous strides in the last three and a half years."

Leverette has been at the helm during some key moments in recent city history: He led the charge to eliminate the last 19 cents on the city's property tax rate in August 2005 and was still at the helm in June, when the board reinstated the property tax rate after discovering a nearly $3 million revenue shortfall.

Dinwiddie could not be reached for comment. He is two years into his term in Ward 1. Previously, he ran against Leverette, then an alderman, in 2005 for mayor after Mayor Ray Williams' death.

There are still a few weeks left for prospective candidates to turn in the required petition with 25 signatures from city residents. The deadline is noon Jan. 15 to the Maury County Election Commission, which conducts Spring Hill elections because City Hall is on the Maury County side of the city.

In addition to the mayoral race, one alderman seat will be open in each of the city's four wards. Ward 2 Alderman Jonathan Duda has qualified to run for re-election, and newcomer Brady Knight Jr. has qualified to run in Ward 3.

Three seated aldermen have decided against seeking re-election. Vice Mayor Miles Johnson and Aldermen Domingo Gallardo and Charles Raines are giving up seats in wards 1, 3 and 4, respectively.

Duda said he realizes that it may be difficult to defend his seat, particularly because he is the board's representative on the city Planning Commission, where controversial decisions are made.

"I feel that we've taken great strides. I call it kind of an adolescent phase for the city, going from 7,000 people to 25,000 in such a short time," Duda said. "There's still a lot of work to be done, and I'd be honored to continue serving the city."

All of the Spring Hill seats are four-year terms. Those interested in running for office must be a registered voter and must have lived in the city for at least a year. Candidates in the alderman races must live in the ward they wish to represent. For more information, call the Maury County Election Commission at 931-381-4691.