CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Tomorrow’s leaders met with city mayor Kim McMillan during a full day touring the county and city government offices on Wednesday.

(TO SEE IMAGES OF THE MAYOR’S MEETING CLICK HERE.)

The Youth Leadership Clarksville class of 26 students from all over Montgomery County arrived to speak with McMillan on one of the first stops of their tour for the day. The young men and women listen to the mayor as she explained her history in politics and her eventual move into the city mayor’s position.

McMillan explained how Clarksville operates under a Private Act Charter which gives the mayor authority in the position. The mayor also told the young men and women that Clarksville was the only incorporated city in Montgomery County unlike some neighboring counties that can contain up to 12 incorporated cities. For McMillan, the first year of her time as mayor has been a positive one.

“I’ve enjoyed my first year,” said McMillan, “I’m looking forward to the next three years.”

The group listened intently to the city mayor as she spoke but when McMillan opened the floor for questions the students responded with silence.

“How often do you get a politician who says ‘ask me anything’,” McMillan joked with the group.

Following the mayor’s ice breaker the questions began to flow. One of the group wanted to know what the most difficult part of the mayor’s job was. McMillan said that was a difficult question to answer. The city mayor explained a large part of her job was working closely with each city department and employees to keep the infrastructure of Clarksville moving, but for McMillan, that part of the job was the easiest.

Mayor McMillan explained that the most difficult part of being city mayor was in relation to a state law requiring all government business be held open to the public. In Tennessee all meetings that discuss government law or policy between two or more elected officials must be open to the public. McMillan explained she is a stickler for following the law; however, this rule often results in items being brought before city council members sometimes the same day they must be voted on.

Sometimes there is not enough time to discuss and thoroughly explain some agenda items with the council McMillan explained. The mayor went on to say that although convincing council members to support issues in a short time period was the most difficult part of her job, she believes in having an open government.

When asked what made her want to run for mayor, McMillan said, “I really love public service.”

To further explain her motivation, McMillan said she was in the process of qualifying to run for Tennessee Governor when former Clarksville City Mayor John E. Piper announced he was not running for re-election. Although McMillan knew she would be able to give a great deal as state governor, she knew as city mayor she would have a greater effect on the community.

“I think in local government like being mayor you have much more of a direct impact,” said McMillan.

The city mayor left the students of the Youth Leadership group with some advice. McMillan told each of the young men and women to take active part in their government and vote. The mayor said that she could not do her job successfully without the active participation of the community.




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