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Montgomery County Commission - Dist. 9

The Montgomery County Commission is the chief legislative body of Montgomery County and is responsible for conducting the legislative business of Montgomery County.

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  • Candidate picture

    Lekeshia A. Hicks
    (Dem)

  • Candidate picture

    Jorge L. Padro Jr.
    (Rep)

Biographical Information

How will you ensure the needs of the Montgomery County community are reflected in the annual budget?

What infrastructure improvement projects would you prioritize to improve the day-to-day life of Clarksville residents?

Campaign Phone 4042758287
Candidate- Why Love brought me to Clarksville, but love for this community is what keeps me here. I live in District 9. When our neighbors' homes flooded last April, that wasn't a headline to me, those were people I know. When families drive 50 miles to Nashville for emergency care, I feel that too. I'm a retired U.S. Army Major and professional policy researcher. My career has been built on asking hard questions, digging into data, and finding solutions that actually work. When I started attending commission meetings, I kept seeing the same pattern: strong words, limited action. I believe District 9 deserves a commissioner who shows up prepared and stays accountable, not just during election season.
Candidate- What My priorities are the issues directly affecting District 9 residents right now: flood preparedness and infrastructure accountability, expanding healthcare access, responsible growth that doesn't outpace our roads and drainage, fiscal transparency in county spending, and community-based approaches to juvenile justice that are proven to work. I also believe every senior in this county deserves affordable, accessible services.
Candidate- How I will do the homework. Before any vote, I'll read the research, request the data, and ask the questions residents deserve answered. I'll hold open community meetings in District 9, not just at county offices. I'll push for transparent budget processes so residents can see where their money goes. And I'll build coalitions across the commission, because with 21 seats, nothing passes alone. My background in workforce policy, military leadership, and DE&I consulting has taught me how to bring people together around facts, not just politics.
The budget is a values document. What we fund and what we don't tells residents exactly what their government prioritizes. I intend to take that seriously. First, I'll continue to attend every budget hearing prepared. That means reading the full budget submission, comparing proposed expenditures against documented community needs, and asking questions on the record when the numbers don't match the rhetoric. I'll also hold community budget conversations in District 9 before hearings begin, not after decisions are made. Residents shouldn't have to navigate a county meeting to have a voice in how their tax dollars are spent. I'll bring the process to them.
District 9 needs infrastructure that matches how our community actually lives. My priorities: fixing our flood drainage systems so families aren't losing their homes to preventable flooding; ensuring new development includes roads and stormwater infrastructure before approval, not after the damage is done; and expanding green space on our side of town, including a park and community garden where families can gather and grow food together. I'll also push for broadband access in underserved areas and support the new hospital on Tiny Town Road. Infrastructure isn't just roads and pipes, it's everything that makes a neighborhood livable.
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