2024 Candidates
Montgomery County, TN Democratic Candidates
Leadership for Local Progress
We are dedicated to choosing leaders who embody the diversity of our communities and comprehend the distinctive challenges and opportunities in each neighborhood.
Ritchie Patton
Ritchie Patton, a US Army veteran and Clarksville native, graduated from Northeast High School and has three children in Clarksville-Montgomery County schools. He and his wife Amy run the Sunday Morning Flower Farm and the annual Natural Living Fair. Since leaving the military, Ritchie has worked in retail, restaurant management, and healthcare while raising his family. He holds a Bachelor’s in Sports Medicine and an MBA in Healthcare from Belmont University. Ritchie currently develops therapies for serious conditions like PTSD and cancer.
Bernard Carter
Carter, born in New York City, retired from the Army after 30 years and has lived in Clarksville for over 20 years. He is an active church member and holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Trident University International. Carter and his wife have two children, graduates of Rossview High School and Fort Campbell High School, one of whom is a teacher in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. He also has a grandson attending a local school.
Rep. Ronnie Glynn
Ronnie Glynn assumed office on November 8, 2022. Glynn graduated from Halls High School before serving in the U.S. Army from 1990 to 2014. He earned a B.S. in business administration from Trident University International in 2012. Glynn and his wife have four adult children and 11 grandchildren, eight of whom are students in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. Glynn is also a small business owner in Clarksville, TN.
Issues: Veterans and Military Families, Affordability, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Jobs, Protecting Voting Rights, Public Safety, Gun Violence, Education
Garfield Scott
Garfield Scott is a third generation Clarksville native, born and raised in the St. Bethlehem area. He has lived in District 68 all of his life. He is a married father of two grown children with one young grandchild. Prior to his almost forty year career as a professional truck driver, Garfield was a farmer on the family farm. He is a longtime member of St. Bethlehem church. Being one of ten children and a product of the Clarksville public school system, Garfield has learned the value of compassion and the ability to get along with friends and neighbors of all ages and backgrounds. Garfield Scott is running for the seat left open by the retirement of Representative Curtis Johnson.
Issues: Public Education, Infrastructure, Corporate Accountability
Allie Phillips
Allie Phillips is a lifelong Tennessean. She was raised in Ashland City and now calls Clarksville home with her husband and daughter. She received her bachelor’s degree in multimedia Journalism from Middle Tennessee State University. In November 2022, Phillips and her husband learned she was pregnant. During a scan at 19 weeks, doctors informed Phillips that her unborn daughter, Miley Rose, was not compatible with life and that Phillips’ own life was in danger the longer she remained pregnant. Because of Tennessee’s abortion ban, Phillips made the difficult decision of traveling to New York to terminate the pregnancy. Now, Phillips is running to help improve healthcare and abortion access in Tennessee. She will be challenging incumbent Jeff Burkhart.
Issues: Healthcare, Reproductive Rights, Public Education, Gun Violence, Infrastructure
Councilperson Karen Reynolds
After retiring as an Army Master Sergeant with 21 years of honorable service, Karen chose to return to Clarksville to raise her sons and fully engage in the community. She is married to Billy Burgett and a proud mother of three sons, one of whom serves in the U.S. Navy. Karen holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education from East Carolina University. She is a graduate of Leadership Clarksville and Leadership Clarksville Montgomery County School System. She worked as a Veteran Service Representative for the Veterans Benefits Administration and then as a Project Manager in Healthcare Informatics until 2021 at Blanchfield Army Hospital. Her education, experience, and commitment to others make Karen a valuable leader and resident in the Clarksville-Montgomery County community. Reynolds will be challenging incumbent Bill Powers.
Issues: Traffic, Equality and Equity, Affordable Housing, Renewable Energy
Megan Barry
Megan Barry is an American businesswoman and politician who served as the seventh mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County from 2015 until March 6, 2018. One of Barry’s accomplishments was the creation and expansion of the Opportunity NOW program, which aimed to reduce the rising rates of youth violence and unemployment by creating 10,000 paid job and internship opportunities for Nashville’s teenagers and young adults throughout the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Barry will be challenging incumbent Mark Green.
Issues: Drug Overdose Crisis, Gun Violence, Rural Hospital Closures
Marquita Bradshaw
Marquita Bradshaw is a Tennessee native, a Memphian who has extensive experience in the environmental justice movement and an advocate for human rights. Bradshaw grew up in South Memphis and is an alumna of University of Memphis. She is a single mom who raised her son on a working-class salary. Bradshaw’s career and service have spanned labor, environment, education reform, tax reform, trade policy, and social justice work. Her passion for a clean and safe environment drives her to raise awareness and fight for environmental justice which impacts the poor and most vulnerable in any society. She will be running against incumbent Marsha Blackburn.
Issues: Healthcare for All, Green New Deal, Restorative Justice, Public Education, Universal Background Checks, Protecting Democracy, Living Wage for All, DACA
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Rep. Gloria Johnson
State Representative Gloria Johnson has dedicated her life to serving Tennesseans, fighting for justice and standing tall for all who have been left out, left behind, or left without a voice. After the legislature took away a teacher’s seat at the table, she decided to run for the Tennessee House in Knoxville in 2012. In 2023, when a murderer stole the lives of three 9-year-olds and three adults in Nashville, she demanded Republican politicians in Nashville pass gun safety measures to prevent future shootings. Johnson is running for U.S. Senate because she knows it is time to shift power back where it belongs: with working and middle class families. She will be running against incumbent Marsha Blackburn.
Issues: Gun Reform, Reproductive Rights, Education
Civil Miller-Watkins
Civil Miller-Watkins is a native of Bolivar TN, Hardeman County. Her mother, Lois Bernice Miller, was a prominent Civil Rights activist and taught her children to care and advocate for ALL Levels of their community. Miller-Watkins, a dedicated middle school teacher, stands at the forefront of educational leadership in Fayette County Public Schools. Beyond her role in the classroom, she has been an instrumental figure in shaping the educational landscape as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Education. One of Civil’s significant contributions has been her work in budgetary approval and policy enhancement, crucial elements in ensuring the continued success of the school district. Through her efforts, Fayette County Public Schools have thrived, consistently achieving victories and advancing educational standards. She will be running against incumbent Marsha Blackburn.
Issues: Public Education, Reproductive Rights, Healthcare, Economy, Unions
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Vice President Kamala Harris
Vice President Harris was born in Oakland, California, to immigrant parents. Shyamala Gopalan, a breast cancer researcher who immigrated to the United States from India at the age of 19 and received her doctorate the same year Kamala was born, served as an inspiration for her and her sister Maya. Both parents were active in the fight for civil rights, instilling in her a desire to build strong coalitions for rights and freedoms. Kamala is a graduate of Howard University and UC Hastings College of Law. In 2014, she married attorney Douglas Emhoff. They have a large blended family, which includes their children Ella and Cole. Her mother advised: “You may be the first, but make sure you are not the last.”
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