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Nolensville commissioners appoint Joshua Shrufert to vacant seat after multi‑round ballot; sworn in
Summary
After three rounds of secret ballots, the Town of Nolensville Board of Commissioners selected Joshua Shrufert to fill a vacancy. The appointment drew public criticism from speakers who said residents should have decided in an election.
The Town of Nolensville Board of Commissioners voted to appoint Joshua Shrufert to a vacant commissioner seat on Aug. 7, 2025, after a multi‑round secret ballot and a formal swearing‑in at the meeting.
The appointment followed a process established by the town: six applicants were placed on a ballot and commissioners held iterative secret ballots until a candidate received at least three votes. In the final round Shrufert received three votes; the mayor then moved to appoint him, a motion seconded by Commissioner Gill, and the motion passed unanimously. Shrufert was sworn in immediately and recited the oath required by “the state of Tennessee state statutes” and the town charter.
The ballot process had produced no majority in the first round: two votes for Shrufert, one for another candidate identified as Mary Poloris and one for Clark Gray; commissioners eliminated candidates with no votes and proceeded to a second and then a third round. Commissioners discussed whether to call a special election — a motion to hold a special election failed for lack of a second — and staff reminded the body that the charter provides a timeline and that the mayor would need to notify the election commission within five days if the board did not fill the seat within the charter timeline.
The appointment prompted several speakers during the public‑comment period to criticize the timing and process. Resident Joel Miller said the board “held the vote, did it before citizen's comments … not going to the vote is simply subverting the will of the people.” Robert Hatcher, another speaker, urged the new commissioner to study town matters and warned of ongoing legal and budget risks for the town. Commissioner Gill, speaking during the selection discussion, said his “fiscal conservatism tells me that it's spending anywhere from $14,000 to $20,000 on a special election” and indicated a preference to appoint rather than trigger the cost of a special election.
Town manager Victor explained the ballot procedure used that evening and city attorney Charles Powell recommended a formal resolution to memorialize the appointment; the board approved a resolution adopting the appointment after the vote and then recessed to administer the oath and swear in Shrufert.
The board’s agenda packet had invited applications and set a noon deadline earlier in the week; commissioners said they had shared the list with the public and followed the iterative vote method recommended by staff and the town attorney. The newly sworn commissioner took his seat immediately and joined the remainder of the meeting.
What’s next: The charter timeline remains in effect for filling vacancies, and commissioners or members of the public who wish to contest the appointment retained the legal avenues available under town rules and state law.
