Only 8.4 percent of registered Williamson County voters cast ballots during early voting, with more than 90 percent of those participating in the Republican primary.
The race for Williamson County’s next mayor has taken center stage with both County Commissioner Mary Smith and Andy Marshall hitting the podcast (friendly) circuit, including an appearance by Smith on the Franklin-based, internationally-known Shawn Ryan Show, whose other past guests have included President Donald Trump.
Marshall and Smith’s supporters have verbally dueled on behalf of their preferred candidates in endless social media posts and comment sections, while the candidates have been pitching their platforms at forums, debates and community conversations.
On Sunday, Smith held a private prayer gathering with staff and supporters, and on Monday, Marshall will rally with supporters at Puckett’s Restaurant in Franklin, ahead of polls opening on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Campaign finance reports reveal that Marshall — who is endorsed by current Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson, every city municipal mayor in the county and Gov. Bill Lee — has a lead in funds.
Marshall’s pre-primary report showed him with around $123,000 cash on hand after spending $167,516 since the beginning of April. His campaign has also has a $100,000 loan, sourced by Marshall himself.
His financial backers include notable people in Tennessee politics, including former Gov. Bill Haslam and Stuart McWhorter, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Sen. Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) also donated through his political action committee — Jack PAC.
Marshall also received donations from local politicians in the Franklin Board of Mayor and Alderman’s Greg Ceaser, Beverly Burger, Brandy Blanton and Patrick Baggett. Other checks were written by Williamson County School Board member Dennis Driggers, Nashville car dealership owner Lee Beaman and outgoing Williamson County Commissioner Besty Hester.
PACs also supported the campaign, particularly notable from Gresham Smith and the Tennessee Tourism and Hospitality groups.
Smith has less money on hand than Marshall at $53,158. She spent $41,207 since the beginning of April. She has no outstanding loans or debt, according to her pre-primary filing.
The county commissioner has run in part on not accepting PAC money in the race, after she was endorsed by the now-defunct Williamson Families PAC in 2022, which supported disgraced former Franklin Alderman Gabrielle Hanson in her bid to become Franklin’s city mayor.
She also received a donation from J&J Ventures, which is connected to ousted lawmaker Jeremy Durham.
The legislature expelled Durham connected to an Attorney General’s 50-plus-page report released in July that accused him of sexual misconduct while in the Tennessee General Assembly.
Smith has received donations from NASCAR legend and car dealer Darrell Waltrip, former State Sen. candidate and Tennessee Stands founder Gary Humble, former Williamson County Republican Party Chairman Tracy Miller, WCS Board Members Donna Clements and Margie Johnson, County Commissioners Bill Petty and Barb Sturgeon.
You can check out the filings here.
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