Clarksville council deadlocks repeatedly in Ward 2 appointment; recess set for Feb. 19

In a specially called Feb. 11 session, the Clarksville City Council repeatedly deadlocked while trying to fill a Ward 2 vacancy and agreed to recess the appointment process until Thursday, Feb. 19 at 4:30 p.m. The council could not produce the required majority — seven votes of the full council — for either finalist after many successive roll-call rounds.

The impasse began after the clerk read seven applicants for the Ward 2 seat: Eric Claunch, AC Lopez, Jeff Lloyd, Deanna Shepherd, Ross Saint Louis, David Watson Upchurch and Jeremy Wright. City Attorney Mister Bittner outlined the procedure the council must follow under the governing voting rule: members cast one roll-call vote per round; if no candidate receives a majority of the council, rounds continue with the lowest vote-getters eliminated and, when required, a runoff between tied candidates. "The applicant with the highest total number of votes in the runoff shall continue to the next round for voting consideration by the council," Bittner explained during the debate about procedure.

After several elimination rounds reduced the field to two finalists — Eric Claunch and AC Lopez — the runoff produced repeated 6–6 tallies. Council members questioned whether the mayor should vote in the runoff; the attorney repeatedly advised that the mayor votes only to break a tie and that a candidate must still reach a majority of the entire membership (seven votes) to be appointed.

Tension grew as the council cycled through repeated roll-call rounds. "It's gonna make us look crazy," Councilman Chandler said during debate over how to end the cycle. Several members proposed procedural work-arounds, including allowing the two finalists to address the council briefly — an idea the council adopted without objection. Claunch thanked the council and said he was "humbled" by the process; Lopez said his service background motivated him, telling the council: "I help people because that's what I was taught." (Each candidate was given three minutes.)

Councilman Chandler moved to postpone and recess the runoff to a date within the charter's 14-day requirement so staff could confirm notice requirements. After the attorney and clerk consulted with council, Chandler amended the motion to recess until Thursday, Feb. 19 at 4:30 p.m. The council adopted the amendment by recorded vote (10 yes, 2 no, 0 abstain) and then adopted the amended motion to recess by recorded vote (9 yes, 3 no, 0 abstain). The recess preserves the two remaining candidates for the next session; no appointment was made during the Feb. 11 meeting.

The council invited public comment at the end of the special session; no members of the public came forward. Mayor Pitts then adjourned the meeting. The runoff will resume on Feb. 19, when the council must again attempt to reach the required seven-vote majority to appoint a Ward 2 representative.

Votes at a glance: Amendment to set reconvening date to Feb. 19 at 4:30 p.m. — adopted 10 yes, 2 no, 0 abstain. Final motion to recess to Feb. 19 at 4:30 p.m. — adopted 9 yes, 3 no, 0 abstain.