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Cumberland City candidates outline jobs, roads and restoration plans at Stewart County forum
Summary
At a Stewart County–hosted forum, mayoral candidate Philip Taylor and Ward 1 candidates Lydia Spencer and Melissa Dunlap Cross highlighted priorities including attracting industry to the Stuart Houston Industrial Park, repairing roads, restoring community events and addressing local sewer and park maintenance concerns. Early voting runs through Oct. 31; election day is Nov. 5.
At a Stewart County forum, mayoral candidate Philip Taylor and Ward 1 alderman candidates Lydia Spencer and Melissa Dunlap Cross laid out competing priorities for Cumberland City, emphasizing jobs, roads and restoring community life.
The forum, moderated by a Stewart County representative, opened with candidate introductions. Taylor said he has lived in the area for more than 30 years and would bring project-management experience from TVA to the mayor’s office: “I’ve lived here 30 plus years,” Taylor said, adding he wants to “steer” coming change by building teamwork on the council. Dunlap Cross, a Cumberland City native and military veteran, said local roots and leadership training make her prepared to lead. Spencer, who moved to the city during the pandemic and serves on the Parks and Rec committee, said her priority would be to “advocate with and for the people.”
Why the race matters: candidates framed the election as a chance to prepare Cumberland City for growth tied to nearby expansion in Clarksville and to soften potential job losses from changes at the nearby TVA plant. Dunlap Cross and Taylor both urged recruiting employers to the Stuart Houston Industrial Park to keep jobs local; Taylor called industrial recruitment “one of our goals.”
On infrastructure, all three candidates acknowledged limited municipal funds. Road conditions and heavy truck traffic on Main Street and in the industrial park drew repeated concern. Dunlap Cross said many streets have been only patched, not fully repaved, and urged consequences for drivers or companies that damage newly paved roads; Taylor said he has been “brainstorming” and will work with the council to prioritize repairs.
Public safety and parks also featured prominently. Candidates supported community cleanup efforts and improved lighting for riverfront areas; Spencer described work she’s done on the Parks and Rec committee and efforts to raise money to bring back a lighting/festival event along the Cumberland. “Community involvement works,” Spencer said, describing a recent successful call to police after a break-in at a long-vacant house.
Residents used the public-question period to press candidates on retail access and utilities. One attendee asked whether the town could press Dollar General to convert the local store into a Dollar General Market (a larger store with groceries); Dunlap Cross, who has retail experience, said corporate decisions drive those choices and noted the nearest Dollar General Market is in Clarksville. Another resident said three homes on a nearby hill lack sewage service; candidates said they did not have full details but would look into water and sewer tie-in options.
The forum closed with candidates’ five-minute remarks. Taylor said a long-term goal would be seeing a K–5 school return to Cumberland City; Spencer reiterated her focus on constituent advocacy; Dunlap Cross emphasized restoring the town so future generations can take pride in it.
Early voting was announced to run through Oct. 31 with election day on Nov. 5. Stewart County thanked the candidates and attendees for participating.
