Image Credit: Allie Phillips for Change / Facebook & Commissioner Michael Lankford / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
In an extremely tight vote that required the County Mayor to cast a tie-breaking ballot, the Montgomery County Commission voted to appoint a Republican as the interim replacement for deceased State Representative Jeff Burkhart (R-Clarksville-District 75).
Six candidates were in consideration to fill the remainder of Burkhart’s term, including Democrat Allie Phillips who ran against Burkhart in the 2024 election and is a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state of Tennessee over abortion laws.
Because two of the candidates were also members of the commission, the majority quorum dropped to 10, meaning a candidate had to get at least 10 of 18 votes to secure the appointment.
During the first round, Phillps won 8 votes while the remaining 10 votes were split between three other Republican candidates- Michael Lankford, Nathan Burkholder, both current county commissioners, and Kent Griffy, a school board member. The two remaining candidates did not receive any votes.
The second round of voting was identical to the first, with Phillips maintaining 8 votes, and the remaining 10 split amongst Lankford, Burkholder, and Griffy. As the other candidates again received zero votes, they were dropped from the ballot.
After the third round, which yielded the same results as the previous rounds, the top three candidates, Phillips, Lankford, and Burkholder, moved to the fourth round.
From the top three, Phillips held steady at 8 votes, Lankford received 6, and Burkholder got 4. Therefore, the final contest was between Phillips and Lankford. In a somewhat surprising move, one commissioner changed their vote in the final round, giving each candidate 9 votes and requiring a tiebreaker.
County Mayor Wes Golden then cast the deciding vote in favor of Lankford, certifying the Republican seat stayed as such.
“I appreciate the confidence the commission has in me and I look forward to working with this body in the future at the statehouse,” Lankford said to the commission after the election.
The commission also appointed a replacement to fill a vacancy for a Division V General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge. Three individuals applied for the position and presented their pitches to the commission just before the formal meeting.
Of the three applicants, Erin Poland Nolder secured 16 of 20 votes, giving her far more than the simple majority required to win. Nolder is a Clarksville native and has a background in mental health and two decades of legal work with children and families.
She completed her law degree while working as a therapist and has spent 18 years practicing in Montgomery County, handling cases involving the Department of Children’s Services, private custody disputes, guardianships, adoptions, estates, divorces, orders of protection, and has argued cases for the Tennessee Supreme Court.
“I’ve been called upon by peers and judges to assist in court on various issues in recognition of my knowledge and experience,” she said. “I’ve worked with at-risk youth my entire adulthood- from community-centered action to mental health hospitals.”
It is likely both candidates will be quickly sworn into their respective roles, especially as the 2026 legislative session is set to begin in just over a month and Lankford will be needed to ensure District 75 is not without representation in the General Assembly. Lankford will serve until the next state election in 2026, with the primary in August and general in November.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
