Lebanon mayoral candidate banned from city hall
A Lebanon man is running for mayor despite being banned from City Hall by a court-ordered restraining order.
Derek Dodson, 59, qualified as a candidate by gaining the required 25 signatures, saying his purpose was to use his candidacy as a platform to speak out against incumbent Mayor Philip Craighead’s bid for reelection. Bernie Ash, a Lebanon councilman, is also running for Lebanon’s mayor as early voting begins Wednesday.
“I don’t have the name recognition and have not asked for one vote,” Dodson said. "I just want to expose Craighead and I hope at least half the city feels that way."
Craighead, who believes the city "is stronger than it's ever been," didn’t comment directly on Dodson’s candidacy, but said of the restraining order: “We’re able to have council meetings and run them with a lot more dignity than before.”
The restraining order against Dodson came after a Feb. 11, special-called Lebanon council meeting that didn’t allow public comments. Dodson spoke anyway in what the city labeled an outburst.
City Attorney Andy Wright said the request for the restraining order was a culmination of “an ongoing chain of events.” Dodson was also accused of stalking and intimidation, according to court documents. Dodson has denied those allegations.
A judge later issued two injunctions that barred Dodson from City Hall and council meetings, each for three years to run concurrently, according to court documents. Dodson has appealed, but the injunctions are in effect during the appeal.
Dodson hasn't actively campaigned.
Wilson County election guide
Lebanon mayor
Bernie Ash
Age: 69
Occupation: Wilson County Veterans Service Officer
Family: Three children and eight grandchildren
Political experience: Present Lebanon councilman in Ward 4 (elected in 2014). Also a past Wilson County commissioner of 16 years.
Comment: “The reason I ran is I feel my experience in local government of 18 years would benefit the city … We’re going to grow, but we need a little more planning with the high density developments being rushed through right now. All growth is not good growth. We need to take care of our infrastructure to help take care of the growth that is coming.”
Philip Craighead (incumbent)
Age: 61
Political history: Elected mayor in 2008 and 2012
Comment:
“We have a lot going on, a lot of projects I initiated and I like to finish what I start. I feel the city is stronger than it’s ever been. With that, there is a lot of growth and pressure on our budget to keep up. We’ll also look at the next steps to improve the community and we still have to work on infrastructure.”
Derek Dodson
Age: 59
Occupation: Inventor/entrepreneur
Political experience: None
Comment: “Lebanon has major corruption issues. I’m an active citizen, mainly (focusing) on land use policy. When you have (a) hot real estate market, people cut corners.”
Lebanon city council
Ward 1: Joey Carmack (unopposed; Carol Worthington is registered as a write-in candidate, but will not be on the ballot).
Ward 2: Fred Burton (incumbent), Liz Reese, Marilyn Bryant
Ward 5: Robert “Tick” Bryan (unopposed)
Mt. Juliet mayor
Mayor Ed Hagerty (incumbent)
Age: 60
Occupation: Teaches economics, American government and personal finance at Heritage Christian Academy.
Political background: Seeking his second full-term as mayor, Hagerty was elected commissioner for three terms starting in 2000 and in took over as mayor in 2011 to finish out Linda Elem’s term when she was elected state representative.
Comment: “We’re the No. 3 most family-friendly city in the state and I want to continue to focus on those quality of life issues. Traffic is the big issue. We have the $25 million Eastern Connector (scheduled to open) in July 2017. The other big relief project is widening the bridge that is now over I-40 to add another northbound lane. We’re adding a turn lane at Belinda Parkway, widening Mt. Juliet Road to the south approved … which is going to be a developer driven project.”
Jim Bradshaw
Age: 65
Occupation: Retired from the state; substitute teacher for Wilson County Schools.
Political background: Mt. Juliet city commissioner for more than 17 years until November 2014. Also served one term as a Wilson County commissioner from 2010 to 2014.
Comment: “We’re behind on infrastructure, roads is the main issue. And I love the way we’ve grown … but we have to work on infrastructure and traffic solutions to push that at more elevated speed. The other is when I left office in 2014 we had put a lot of money into the animal shelter. I’m not saying it’s bad, but it’s not what it was … I want to see it restored.”
Mt. Juliet city commission
District 1: Ray Justice (incumbent, unopposed).
District 3: Art Giles (incumbent, unopposed).
Watertown
Mayor: Mike Jennings (incumbent, unopposed).
Three at-large alderman seats: Brandy Baird Holcomb, Tony Lea, James T. (Tom) Nix.
State House
District 46
Amelia Morrison Hipps
Party: Democrat
Age: 56
Residence: Lebanon
Occupation: amHipps Consulting
Family: Married
Mark Pody, incumbent
Party: Republican.
Age: 60
Residence: Lebanon
Occupation: Insurance
Family: Married, 2 children, 12 grandchildren
District 57
Trisha Farmer
Party affiliation: Democrat
Age: 33
Occupation: Entrepreneur (insurance)
Residence: Mt. Juliet
Family: Married, two children
Susan Lynn, incumbent
Party affiliation: Republican
Age: 52
Occupation: Regulatory compliance manager for Simplicity Creative Group, a division of Wilton Brands.
Residence: Old Hickory.
Family: Married, two children, four grandchildren
Early voting in Wilson County
Oct. 19-Nov. 3
Times: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays.
Early voting locations
- Wilson County Election Commission office, 203 E. Main Street, Lebanon.
- Mt. Juliet Community Center, 1075 Charlie Daniels Parkway.
- Watertown Community Center, 8630 Sparta Pike.
- Gladeville Community Center, 95 McCreary Road.
- Lighthouse Church, 6141 Saundersville Road (closes 5 p.m., Wednesdays).
Reach Andy Humbles at 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @AndyHumbles.