7 candidates vie to replace Deanna McLaughlin on Clarksville City Council

The council heard from a diverse group of applicants to fill the vacant Ward 2 seat.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Following the resignation of Deanna McLaughlin from the Clarksville City Council in January, the council heard from seven candidates on Thursday night who are interested in filling the vacant Ward 2 seat. The candidates include a U.S. Marine Corps and Army veteran, a 22-year-old political science student, a senior healthcare manager, a U.S. Army veteran, a longtime local resident and wrestling champion, a community college employee, and a former firefighter. The council will vote on the appointment at a special meeting next Wednesday.

Why it matters

The appointment of a new council member is an important decision that will impact the representation and decision-making for Ward 2 residents. The diverse pool of applicants reflects the range of backgrounds and experiences that residents want to see in their local government.

The details

The seven candidates who addressed the Clarksville City Council on Thursday night to express interest in the vacant Ward 2 seat are: AC Lopez, a U.S. Marine Corps and Army veteran; David Upchurch, a 22-year-old political science major at Austin Peay State University; Deanna Shepard, the senior manager of quality and value-based care at Tennessee Oncology; Eric Claunch, another U.S. Army veteran; Jeff Loyd, a longtime Clarksville resident and the county's first state champion wrestler; Jeremy Wright, who works at Nashville State Community College; and Ross St. Louis, a former firefighter and technician who now works for Dash 10 Media.

  • Former Councilperson Deanna McLaughlin resigned from the Clarksville City Council in January 2026.
  • The council heard from the seven candidates at their regular session meeting on Thursday, February 6, 2026.
  • The council will vote on the appointment at a special meeting next Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Deanna McLaughlin

Former member of the Clarksville City Council who resigned from her Ward 2 seat in January 2026.

AC Lopez

A United States Marine Corps and U.S. Army veteran who is one of the seven candidates vying for the vacant Ward 2 council seat.

David Upchurch

A 22-year-old political science major at Austin Peay State University who is one of the seven candidates vying for the vacant Ward 2 council seat.

Deanna Shepard

The senior manager of quality and value-based care at Tennessee Oncology, and one of the seven candidates vying for the vacant Ward 2 council seat.

Eric Claunch

A U.S. Army veteran who is one of the seven candidates vying for the vacant Ward 2 council seat.

Jeff Loyd

A longtime Clarksville resident and Montgomery County's first-ever state champion in wrestling, who is one of the seven candidates vying for the vacant Ward 2 council seat.

Jeremy Wright

An employee at Nashville State Community College who is one of the seven candidates vying for the vacant Ward 2 council seat.

Ross St. Louis

A former firefighter and technician at Woodlawn Fire Rescue who now works for Dash 10 Media, and is one of the seven candidates vying for the vacant Ward 2 council seat.

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What’s next

The Clarksville City Council will vote on who to appoint to the vacant Ward 2 council seat next Wednesday during a special called meeting, which will begin at 4:30 p.m.

The takeaway

The diverse pool of applicants for the Clarksville City Council Ward 2 seat reflects the range of backgrounds and experiences that residents want to see in their local government, as the council prepares to make an important decision that will impact representation in the community.